The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-05-27
FOR LIFE AND LOVE.

1t was in the spring time Of the year
and had rained almost necessarily fOl
two weeks. Harriet Gclder resided with
her aunt, Miss Hannah Linwood, in
Thornway, a village about eight miles
from Northern town where Florian
CORTLAND held good situation in q
bank, and Florian grew impatient fol
fair weather and chance to visit hi,
peculiar beloved. There was little i'm
mediate prospect Of a cessation of the
rain, and one Sunday morning the ar
dent lover resolved to set the weather a,
defiance, and accordingly he sent out for
his horse, and prepared for his stormy
ride. He came down from his room ar.
rayed in water proof coat, thick boots
and coarse gloves glazed hat covering
his curling, 60 den hair, and riding.
whipin his hand The parlor door stood
partly open, and as he was passing it on
his way through the hall, Mrs. Naurice,
the lady with whom he lodged, came
ont.
"Dear me, Mr.. Courtland," she ex-
claimed, with glance Of surprise at his
rough weather dress, " it is impossible
that you are going out in this rain%
1.-The rain will do me no harm; YOU
rec ! am prepared for it," answered
Florlan, smlingly
But it is so unpIcasant,' urged the
lady. "Whcrc in the word can You
wish to 20 in such weather. she added,
curiosity getting the better of polite.
ness.
"To Ihornwoy,' replied Florian,
b'ushing slightly.
What that, Mr.. Courtlaud% cal ed
cut 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 q,
thisl said Mrs. Maurice responding for
FlOrian.
"Mr CourtIanI, you are crazy" sid
the gentlemen, joining his wife il, 3d..
door. "lhc roads are in a horrible ..a-
dition, and will be worse by r.-at
Come, listen to reason, ami STAY .:
home"
But Florian refused to listen To- reason,
and took himself of in spite Of warning
or entrcaty, On any other crrand it
would have been an exceedingly dispirit
ing ride, and if he had been bound for
any other destination he would have
turned back; but the thoughtof meeting
Harriet spurrcd him forward. Thew
grew worse with every mile; his l..l.
ploddcd slowly through the mud .mu....
ing now aud then in some o' the many
ruts and pitfalls: the rain poured
steadily down, beating into h. lace and
running in stream from biz cap: and he
was very thankful when at la.t he came
within the vicinity Of Linwood, as the
estate Of liauets aunt was named
lie had taken a scldomu.co by-road
TO shorten the distance to liuwood.
where the road was divided by a small
stream. which bounded one side of the
estate, and was crossed by fording But
now the long rains had swollen the /
waters to Il flood and the stream Iu,bcd |
INTO foam and tossed into pillows by it.; |
own velocity, and rushed onward M n
rate that made the thought of fprdiny
tia wild insanity, With amcntaI analGpo
ema against his own stupidity in NOT
thinking OF this, CORTLAND turned to re-
trace ms way to the main road, Two
miles back, where the little river was
tPanned by bridge. Opposite HIM,
across the stream he could see the gray
walls of Linwood, and in his anxiety to
to be within them the two miles seemed
like twenty.
But the bridge was reached at last and
crossed. Floran had noticed, as he
approached the bridge, that the land ut
little distance below it, which was low
and flat, was completely flooded, the
river, Overlooking here, having sub
merged it to n wide extent. A point or
knoll of land, close upon the rivers
bank, remained dry, forming little
island in the midst Of the whirling,
muddy flood; and upon this island stood
a small wooden house, which, rs Fiorian
perceived with concern, was evidently
occupied, for a thin blue wreath of
smoke was ascending from the chimney.
IL there were people in that dwelling,
their position was most perious, rs the
water was rising fast and threatened
soon to cover the land and sweep away
the house.
Florlan turned aside from the high.
way and rode down to the edge of the
Hooded lowland; as he approached the
waters edge, he saw female form APP
,eaI ut the window of that threatened
iwelling, and handkerchief was waved
toward him.
Unhesilatingly he rode into the water
which for some distance WAS not over
lis horse back but it soon drew deeper,
orcing the animal to swim f.oran
.rged him forward, and, drawing near I
ne house, the door was thrown open, v
nd he cried out in ailrightcd surprise, S
or there stood Miss Linwood and Hair a
let Gelder! O
Harriet" cried Florian,. "foi
eaven's sake, how came you here?' h
we came to see sick woman" re. f
lied Harriet, with prompt GOODNESS s
and the water rose before We" n
ut is rising now, and fast, he inter. "
ipted, excitedly, land there is no time h
waste. My horse will carry two; 81
hich OF you shall | take iirstT 81
The sick woman first" said Harriet t,
lietly.
Flirt, coquette, as she was called, and fl
1t without cause, yet the element of c.
,rOlsm was in her nature. She was as q
I'm and cool now as she had ever been
her life, while her aunt stood trembl. in
with excitement. Florian trembled, 90
0, az he looked at the feeble old woman, an
ION Miss LinwOod was assisting from an
r chair to the door, and whom he had n s
noticed until Harriet called his at. nj,
ltion to her. He trembled with the he
palling fear that there would not be VII
e to go and return twice, before the spt