The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-04

voir for supplying the town with water
large circular mound on hill, ORIGIN
ally above the town, though the houses
were now creeping up to it.
There had lately been ominous ruomos
OF the insecurity Of the reservoir. some
said the side nearest the town was giving
way; that the severe frosts of the nasf
winters had damaged the stone and
earthworks, and there were manv who
predicted that one fine morning wonld
find the town drowned.
1t was Sunday, and as Colonel Pentwell
and his two daughters entered the church
they regularly attended, ray of sunlight
fell upon the old soldiers white hair
and lig hted up his youngest daughters
pretty face. on which the expression of
pride had given place to look of hum
Die faith and resignation such as it had
never worn before.
She had at that moment forgotten
George Ashbury and tie love SO Ii htlv
transferred; had forgotten her sister; air
that troubled and oppressed her. So
complete was her abstraction, that it was
almost with start OF pain she heard
George Ashbury speak to her, and hest
tated while he took her listless hand.
The Colonel invited his intended SON
ln-law to return to dinner with them as
usual, and the party went home. George
walking as was his custom, by Alice's
side; but their was constraint felt bv
both. If Alice had not heard those words
in the garden, all might have bsen well.
1or George already repented his apostasv.
and desired to return to his old allegiance.
Awkwardly and painfully the day pass
ed with them all. They had scarcely
reached home when a storm. uneonaled
IN violence for years past, burst over the
town. Lightning and thunder flashed
and pealed necessarily; the rain fell in
sheets rather than in showers; the wind
howled and dashed itself against houses.
churches and public buildings, as though
on mission Of destruction. George and
Alice set apart, each with book before
them, but ever and anon g]ancing up at
the furious elements, till reading became
nothing but pretense.
Still the storm RACES without. the
streets are flooded, and the water rushes
down them in streams
family retired for the night-a feeling of
subdued anxiety, a feeling of coming
misfortune, upon them all.
1t must have been past midnight when
the sleepers were awakened by the house
rocking as though shaken from its foun-
| dalton.
George Ashbury, who had remained
for the night, had scarcely slipped on
some clothing, when a woman's shrek
rose above the roar of the water, and he
ran out of his room, to be met almost at
the door by the Colone. and Alice, who
were hurrying to the room whence the
scream proceeded.
With word or two of concern and
wonder, he followed them, to Mrs. Lay
toms apartment. AS they opened the
door, the light was extinguished by a
gust of wind; yet, for an instant, it had
revealed an open window, and white
figure standing near it.
The noise had ceased, and before an
other light could be obtained, the room
| was filled with rush Of water Crop
ing in the dark, George managed to drag
the old man and Alice from the place;
then tried again to get a Light, and return
to rescue Mrs Laytbn but her room being
half flight OF stairs lower than any Of
the other bedrooms Of the house, the open
window had admitted tn, rushing torrent
of water without resistance, and now the
room was filed, the furniture floating, the
water pouring down the stairs, and join
ing the accumulation in the lower rooms;
but not trace of the figure seen for a
moment at the window, was discernible.
1t was terrible morning for the inhab-
itants Of Marlpits, one to be remembered
for many year. Men, women and
children were among the drowned, Mrs
Layton one of the number; the rush of
water had swept her off as she stood by
the open window. =
Her remains were found more than a
quarter of mile from the house. She
was dead now She had once been too
dear for either Alice or George to speak
aught Of reproach against her memory.
Once more are their hands lovingly
clasped as they look upon the yisage now
so calm and still in its cold and motion
less repose. A silent, but mutual: COM
pact was sealed between them in that
presence, which, when living, would have
separated them. The fckleness and
enlargement would be buried with its