The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-01-17
A RACE FOR LIFE
Or, steam Versus Wafer
THE MESSAGE.

I
"My dear fellow, I an glad to see
you, exclaimed my friend McCausland,
! as he met me at the door Of his house.
/ 7 had gone on a visit to HOlmesdale, a
little town in the north Of England.
! McCausland was engineer to the water
company there, and had invited me to go
| down for a week.
After the usual interval for dressing,
We sat down to an excellent little dinner.
Not unnaturnIly the conversation turned
upon the weather.
'I am sorry this rain continues, said
McCausland 1" it spoils my water-suP-
ply. People bully me as if I could help
care your reservoirs near the town? q"
I asked.
"No," he replied, "away in the hills.
We can go over tomorrow If you Ike
I'm due there.
The excursion was arranged. We
agreed to start at eleven o'clock next
morning, and we started punctually.
We pursued our way up the hill, and
crossing the brow, reached small inn.
Here we found q country gig awaiting
us Into this We clambered, and pro-
ceeded along a wooded by-rOsd, stony
md ruS-full. at length, when hope had
lmost given way to bad language, we
pulled ND at another small inn called
the " Reservoir. We got out Of the gig
,ladly.
An engineer foreman hurried up and
pccosted us politely.
els all right, JohnsOn?" inquired
! McCausland.
/ Yes, all is right but"
Well, but what "
'I don't quite like the South Ressr-
voir embankment, was the reply.
McCausland turned pale to his very
lips.
1"Come with me, VI he said, abruptly.
We hurried after him In silence, and
with a strange dread upon Us.
We soon came in. sight ofthe exten-
sive embankment, which confined the
waters of the largest of the reservoirs OF
Holmesdale Company. A fresh breeze
was blowing the water In small though
noisy waves against the paved top OF the
bank. Here and there q tongue OF liquid
spat upon the stonework, and at one
spot it trickled down into and apparent
" came through the grass.
''This is the spot was looking at TIM
morning" said johnson.
You had better have a few men tc
puddle up this, said McCausland, lndl
eating a tiny crack that would have es
capped less experienced eyes.
We then continued our inspection, bu
during our progress round the WORK
s the clouds had massed themselves in wild
Z grandeur above the hills, and lay heavll.
above the Apps valley in front. Th'
railroad crossed the valley on q graceful
viaduct near Ammering Junction. TIT
dark slaty clouds hung suspended owe
this district. Long tendrils of the scuC
came forth from them hike fingers. Thes
clutched now O rock then q solitary tree
, now swept up again and brought down
larger mass Of cloud to place upon tn
ground-ever stealing onward and down
, ward, leaving all its stealthy track darl
fnd foggy. A low moaning sound wa
in the air. It was not the wind, for tn
breeze had strangely luIled. The tree
scarce moved, yet the water rolled u
sgainst the reservOir-baDks rs II agltaIe
bv an unseen wheel. We all seeme
conscious of the disturbance OF the a.
. mospheric conditions, and the leave
: whispered strange condolences to th
motionIess bough over our heads.
The men had all gone up to the resel
voirs. McCausland and sat chattln
together.
EDO you think you could find you
wav back aIone?" he asked, sudden
"Whv?" I said. "Do you inten
TO remain aars 5s IGsre anY aa77a11