The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-16
THE DAILY STAR
FOR LIFE AND LOVE

nearly two weeks. Harriet Getder re
ided with her aunt, Miss Hannah Lin
wood, in Thornway, a village about eigh
miles from Northern town where Flor
IN Courtland held a good situation in
bank, and Florian grew impatient fo
fair weather and chance to visit his pc
euliar beloved. There was little immedi
ate prospect of a cessation of the rain
and one Sunday morning the arden
lover resolved to set the weather at def
ance, and accordingly he set out for hi
horse, and prepared for his stormy ride
He came down from his room, arrayed il
. waterproof coat, thick boots and coars'
gloves, glazed hat covering his curling
golden hair, and a riding whip in hi
hand. The parlor door stood partly oper
and as he was passing it, on his wa!
through the hall, Mrs. Maurice, the lad.
with whom he lodged, came out.
"Dear me, Mr.. Courtland," she ex
claimed, with glance Of surprise at hi
rough-weather dress, ''is it possible tina
you are going out in this rainT'
'The rain will do me no harm; vol
zee l. am prepared for it." answered Flo
rian, smiling.
"But it is so unpleasant" urged the
lady. "Where in the world can you wish
to 20 In such weather." she added, curl
osity getting the better of politeness.
"To Thornway," replied Florian, blush
ing slightly.
"Whats that, Mr.. CourtlandY' called
out Maurice, who was reading his morn.
ing paper in the parlor.
"He says he is going to Thornway; ac'
tually to Thornway, on such day as
this?" said Mrs. Maurice, responding for
Florian.
"Mr. Courtland, you are crazy" said
the gentleman, joining his wife at the
door. "The roads are in horrible condi-
tion, and will be worse by night. Come,
listen to reason, and stay at home"
But Florian refused to listen to reason,
and took himself off in spite of warning
or entreaty. On any other erraLd it
would have been an exceedingly dispir-
iting ride, and if he had been bound for
any other destination he would have
turned back; but the thought of meeting
Harriet spurred him forward. The way
grew worse with every mile; his horse
plodded slowly through the mud, STUN
bling now and then in some of the many
ruts and pitfalls; the rain poured stead
lily down, beating into his face and run
ming in streams from his cap; and he was
very thankful when at last he came with
in the vicinity of Linwood, as the estate
of Harriets aunt was named.
He had taken a seldom-used by-road
to shorten the distance to Linwood,
where the road was divided by small
stream, which bounded one side of the
estate, and was crossed by fording.
But now, the long rains had swollen the
waters to food, and the stream lashed
into foam and tossed into pillows by it's
own velocity, rushed onward at a rate
that made the thought of fording it a
wild insanity. With a mental anathema
against his own stupidity in not thinking
Of this, Courtland turned to retrace his
way to the main road, two miles back
where the little river was spanned by a
bridge. Opposite him, across the stream,
he could see the gray walls of Linwood,
and in his anxiety to be within them
the two miles seemed like twenty.
But the bridge was reached at last and
crossed. Florian had noticed, as he ap
preached the bridge, that the land, at 6
little distance below it, which was low
hand fiat, was completely flooded, th'
river overfowing here, having sub
merged it to wide extent. A point O.
knoll of land, close upon the rivers bank
remained dry, forming little island il
the midst of the whirling muddy food
and upon this island stood a small
wooden house, which, as Florian per
ceived with concern, was evidently oc
cupied, for thin blue wreath of smok,
was ascending from the chimney. 1
there were people in that dwelling, theil
position was most perilous, as the watel
was rising fast, and threatened soon t(
cover the land and sweep away tht
house.
Florian turned aside from the high
way and rode down to the edge of tht
flooded lowland; as he approached the
waters edge, he saw female form ap
pear at the window of that threatened
dwelling, and handkerchief was waived
impIoringly toward him.
Unhesitatingly he rode into the water
which for some distance was not over hi.
horses back; but it soon drew deeper
forcing the animal to swim. Floriar
urged him forward, and, drawing neal
the house, the door was thrown open
and he cried out in affrighted surprise
for there stood Miss Linwood and Harriet
Gelderl
"Harrietw cried Florian, "Ifor Heavens
sake, how came you hereg' ~.
"We came to see sick woman" re
piled Harriet, with. prompt coolness
s'and the water rose before we"
'Gt is rising now, and fast" he inter
rupted, excitedly, sand there is no tim,
to waste. My horse will carry two
which of you shall take first?''
"The sick woman FIRST" said Harrie
quietly.
Flirt, coquette, as she was called, ant
not without cause, yet the element O
heroism was in her nature. She was al
calm and cool now as she had ever beer
in her life, while her aunt stood trem