The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-12-06

"Some bridge or building above has
been washed away, think
They had been watching those drift
ing timbcrs for little while when
jess turned round toward the open side
of the mill and toward the road.
Amy" she cried, the river is rum
ming all down the hill and through the
road. What can have happened?'
Both rushed across to small plat
form running out from the building on
the opposite side, and Amy said:
1.-THE river must have broken
through the dyke up at Harnden's fac
tory; and, do you see, dear, our foot
bridge is gone? The ditch there must
be ten feet deep, and it is full of water.'
''Amy!' jess seized her sisters
shoulders in her grasp; 30, Amy, there
is no danger?''
There is no danger SO long as the mill
stands firm
Amy spoke quietly. The lightning
was not quicker than Jess thoAght that
instant.
Buildings up above have gone. The
timbers are driving down stream. This
mill is a ruin ut best; why shouldn't this
go9' Then, aloud:
Amy, were not safe here single
minute. We must get out of this
mill instantly And She sprang to the
side of the platform.
''Wait, DEAR Amy's face was
white in the dusk, but her voice was
steady. 1--WE cannot get out of here. :"
Yes, wccan: we must. Why, Amy.
it's death to stay here when the mill
may go any minute! See, we can jump
off this side and wade across to that
rock. shall try
jessie and Amy hold her sister
by the arm. think 4 minute. In the
ditch there the water is over our heads:
and. even if we could get across that,
the rock wouldn't be safe. Don't you
see how the flood rises? And there is
beam washed up on the rock now
Let us try to be calm, dear, and think"
| "Oh. l can't think, Amy! You must
think" And poor Jess clasped her
hands. She was trying to control her.
self. So was Amy, and she succeeded.
She had learned more lessons in self
control than her sister, you see.
Look there, DEAR she whispered;
and that instant huge timber came
bearing down, swirling and dipping,
borne nearer and nearer to them as
they watched it. Then, on sudden,
it gave lunge against the upright sup
ports of the platform ON which they
were standing: they felt shudder UNI
der their feet. Back, Jess!' cried
Amy. Selling her sister and half-drac-
ging her away. A moment, and the
two were crouching over in the corner
by the window, and the platform was
gone!
The elder sister had covered her face.
For little while neither spoke. Then
jess. all terror in her tone, asked
Amy, what shall we do?''
:" don't quite know, dear; but we
won't give up
A moment more and her quick feet
were running round the four sides of
the mill. There was light enough still
for her to see from the window the
black rocks and white cataract; from
the end of the building steep bank
and the new stream at its foot; on the
other side the downcoming flood, which
they had been watching with its threat
cning freight of drift-wood On every
hand was the deepening dark and that
fearful rush of waters. Around, the
solemn hills, the STOPPING sky, the vii
lage mile away, and not soul with
in hearing Of their loudest cry. Only
| this. Amy in the dark then. over the
other side of the mill from jess, fell on
her knees and prayed little prayer
like the praying of a child.
| Dear Lord she said, in whisper,
Thou can see it all. If there is a
way out of here, please show it to us;
and oh, take care of us, of Jessie and
me- Then she rose up and went back
to where her sister still covered with
her eyes hidden.
80 Amy, is there any way out?''
Not now, dear; but don't think it
rains quite SO hard, and the water will
fall soon perhaps
jess spoke like one in despair; Amy
| like one all cheer.
"It does rain harder than ever. o
Amy. believe this is the end for YOU
and me Of this world-we two girls!
Oh! it is dreadful! And it was only
this afternoon that we were up at the
farm. and L was fastening those forget
mc-nots in your hair. Only few hours,
| and it seems ten yearsr'
"Jess!' There was no tremor. but
all sweetness in her voice. Could this
be the little much-afraid Amy, to whom
mice and spiders were a terror? jess,
there is nothing for us to do now but
to wait. If the mill stands, we are
safe; if it goes lower and sweeter-
''1hen hope we are safe still. Don't
you, dear?"
80 yes, suppose-yes, hope So
but it is all so terrible.''
There was long hush between them
then. They were thinking rs people
| think who find Death-whOm they be-
| lieved to be far away beyond old age
and gray hairs-Death relentless, ghast-
~. planting his feet directly in front of
them.
To Jess it seemed that all her fine
dreams and ambitions had suddenly
fled out of her reach. 1t was as though
the whole round earth had been de-
stroyed save this wretched ruin if the
midst of a roaring tlood--iust enough
left OF the things of time to make step
off into eternity.
Then she thought of the people she
had loved, of the family down at the
Cedars, grandfather and the rest; how
they would all sit round the breakfast
table tomorrow morning, and they
would not know. The sun would be
shining, and Dicks baby would be in
| the high-chair, and
80 Amy she spoke suddenly,
"Hugh was to have come in the morn
ing!'
Even in the dark, for there was a
moon behind the clouds, Amy's face
could be seen to whiten. Eyes, have
remembered" she said.
The two had not talked much about
it, but jess knew that Hugh's life would
never be the same thing to him again
if Amy was taken away out of the
world.
1t was more quiet now, but although
the rain had ceased and the moon came
out occasionally, the river still rose.
Amy came back from one of her little
tours of investigation, kneeled down