Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-28


breaking through the misty sky, and al
the world as raining. The water wa
splashing from the caves, and, minglinf
with the heavy crops, burst into sepa
rate stream in every rut and furrow
The wind beat the tall trees and roared
amid the branches. Ever and anon {
q sharp snap denoted a bough torn from
its place and whirled to the soaking
earth.
Idressed quickly, and joined M'Caus
land in the little parlor. He was study
ing a private copy Of the railroad
timetables, which, as an official, he al
ways carried.
Twill you take the horse and ride
down to .immering Junction with 6
message?"
His collected manner assured me.
Was this all? A ride through the rain
was not much. "Of course will go. u
He grasped my hand firmly. "Are
you nervous ?" he said, and he held ii
in his own steady grasp.
Nonsense" I replied, laughing.
"Ill be ready in five minutes, if it's
important. Is the horse here?"
ran up for my water-proofs. When
1 came down, the horse was at the door,
and M'Causland inspecting him.
I mounted. "Now," said, "for the
great message, if you please"
M'Causland's tone had something
very solemn in it as he replied:
'"Tell the station master at Ammering
Junction, and any people you see, that
the South Reservoir will not last three
hours. 1t will burst down the valley,
and will destroy the Apps Viaduct, and
carry away the bridges on the Holmes.
dale branch. Stop the traffic, and save
the passengers. God bless you! and
bark ye. ride for your life. / will fire
the signal as q warning. Good BY"
II.
A WILD RIDE.
Mechanically I gathered up the reins,
nodded to M'Causlsnd, for I was toe
stupified to reply in words, and started
upon my wild ride. Three hours hence
and the water would be pouring down
the valley through which my course
lay. No wonder I had to ride for my
life, and perhaps the lives Of hundreds
of my fellow creatures depended on
mine. Ammering Junction was some
miles away. My route lay through an
unknown country, across moorland in.
tersected by flooded streams, and swept
by the fierce wind and rain.
I must do it, I thought, as my horse
picked his cautious way amid the loose
stones down the steep by-road we had
assembled the previous day. I should
need all my strength, though, to exc
cute my task. so I pressed on. A valu
able slice out of my mind had been ex.
pended when I reached the broad high
way and urged my horse to higher
speed. I had to turn offagain, I knew, but
I fancied I should easily find the path
Besides, was there not sign-post
Therefore, urged by dreadful tidings
and with the fierce wind and biting
rain by turns and all together assailine
me, I urged my horse onward.
reached the turning, and halted to read
the direction I should take. I nearly
tainted with horror as I read. The
fatal finger pointed up the cross-road
was pursuing-'"To Holmesdale and
Seaham." The opposite index pointed
TO Ruddal and Ammerirg." + could
scarcely credit my senses. Surely ]
was right We had come up the pre-
vious day, and up the hill to tho ros
ervoirs. I had merely to reverse tn,
route We had travelled. At that mo
mont, if you will believe me; the tru,
state Of the case and my own stupidit,
flashed upon me. We had come from
Holmesdale. was now bound TO-
Ammering, which now lay at the op
posite side.
This was terrible mistake. It wa
now past 6 o'clock. One of the tire,
precious hours had elapsed, and I wa
further from Ammering than when
started. I was seized with dispair
what ever could do now? Two hour
remained, and had three uphill mile
to ride, and then about seven NOR
across the moor, before I could reacl
the junction, and before that tho train
might have started, and then
burst out into cold Precipitation a
the thought, and then, desperate On,
only half conscious. rode madly bacl
to the Ammering road and up the hill
again. But the storm fiend was abroad
and had arrayed all his forces agains
me.
As We gained the more open ground
the blast came down with such violenc
~ to stagger us. 1t tore across the hill
side, and whixzed and Kissed anon,
the gorse and swsyinR grass. Tho rail
came down more determinsdly thai
ever. At length I reached small clua
ter Of stone cottages. and halted unde
the lee Of the last one to take breatl
for . frssh struggle over the moo
which lay before me. A strait road IL,
over it, good road, but crossed at in
tsrvals by rapid streams which ha,
ovss0ovsd their usual limits, An,
svellsd over their boundaries in Ill tn
pride Of ''spats" across ths ilinty stone
which lad defied them al the summe
long. The submits Of the neighbornl
hills we're shrouded in q veil of mist
but far in advance, on the level. coul.
trace the railroad line. Prom the ele
walton at which / stood / could trac,
the channel of the Apps River dow