The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-12-25
HoW a Won,a,, Saved T,vo
Hundred Peopze.

Hundred People.
1t was a small but thriving VII
lagc on the west coast Of Englane
All day long had the rain bee
pouring steadily down; for Il,
matter of that it had been doin
the same the day before, and til
day before that, and for five day
before that. Eight days Of cease
less down-poury il the Diluyial
days had returned, and Mill Villag
was to be washed from the sight Q
men.
Every house in the valley wor'
a water-logged look the sides o
the mountains were scored with ret
water veins, and Mill Brook, tha
most obscure of streams, who's.
only mission hitherto had been tc
turn twenty.water-wheels, wa.
tumbling over its narrow course
and snatching in its greedy lips
like some rabld dog, now n piece o.
meadow land, and now a cherished
hay-stack.
Toward the evening of the eighth
day small groups of men began tc
congregate about the streets Of the
village, and to gaze doubtfully up
at the sullen sky, while they
listened to the roar Of the noun.
tain cascades, and glanced in Won
der at the changed iace oftlieir own
sluggish brook.
Almost obliteratcd by the rain
were a number Of large bills posted
on the fences Of the market.placc
which announced that
"Madame La Tintorette, the
celebrated mcsmerist, well known
in all the principal cities ofEurope,
will give one Of her extraordinary
Seances, in the Town Hall of Mill
Village, this evening at eight
o'clock"
"Wc may have other fish to fry
than listening to madame's parley-
vooing," said a savant Of the
weather, examining a barometer in
the window Of the village watch
maker.
"What do you meant" demanded
an old man beside him.
"I mean just this" said the 9TH
er; "tle glass is ialling,but Salmon
Leap and allthe other falls-aren't.
Pm off to get my horse and ride
up TO sec the pool" and ofrhe hast
enc,l. =z5.5===
The pool was Il small sheet of
water caught in II hollow between
the upper hills some distance above
the village. II was usually fed by
a tiny cascade called Salmon Leap,
and from it flowed Mill Brook, tile
most work-a.day of streams.
Now, however, Salmon Leap had
been gorged by so many other
brooks, born within the last week,
that it plunged wildly into the
pool. which, ili its turn, becoming
swollen and bewillcred, foamed
round its confines, pressing even
more heavily against the'hiMsy
enbankmcnt, which was used to
dam IL up for the gentle feeding OF
Mill Brook.
But though some croakers were
beginning 10 talk Of Church Noun.
tain MS the most comfortable of
quarters for the night, the minority
Of tho village saw little reason why
what had stood them so well for
forty years, should fail them this
time. i,
So the town hall was lii up, and
glared rcdly through the falling
rain, and though it was not The
fashion for the old folks Of Mill
Village to frequent such places, the
young men and gay mailens came
crowding up the street, and down
tto Otroci and from the brook side,
and down from the mountains, and
up from the SEA, and filled the
seats until two hundred tickets had
been sold, and every place was oc'
cupied. 4.
Tie flower of many Il simple
house was there, the pride and stay
of many Il heart; the strength, the
beauty, the future Of the village;
all gathered in on this eighth day
Of The storm, while tho waters
came creeping, leaping, oozing,
boiling, ever nearer!
At eight o'clock, Madame La
TintOrette appeared upon Wy
platform, and greeted her audi
enec. 80,
She was II small woman, with
little physical force, but very large,
magnetic black eyes, and 4 pale,
eager face, which, though not hand
some. had the rare power .ot thrill
ing the beholder. .-
She sat down 10 n harmonltm
which she had on the platform,and
pIayed such II weird f''n'asis of
nystic fancies and fever-dreams
as loft her youthful audience en-
tranced.
As she closed, there was heard
BY those near tho door the galloping
Of Il horse and the loud shouts OF II
man.
.n ..,t..,,. bon,R thn r1arsOn's