Richland beacon., 1880-06-12

TUn LIFE AND LUV E.
1t was in the spring time of the year,
and had rAined almost necessarily for
two weeks. Harriet Gelder resided with
her aunt, Miss Hannah Linwood, in
Thornway, q village about eight miles
from . Northern town where Florian
Courtland held a good situation in .
bank, and Florian grew impatient for
fair weather and a chance to visit his
peculiar beloved. There was little i'm.
mediate prospect of q cessation of the
rain, and one Sunday morning the ar
dent lover resolved to ret the weather Ut
defiance, and accordingly he sent out for
his horse, and prepared for his stormy
ride. He came down from his room ar.
sayed in . water proof coat, thick boots
and coarse gloves, q glazed hat covering
his curling, 60 den hair, and a riding.
whip in his hand. The parlor door stood
partly open, and as he was passing it on
his way through the hall, Mrs. Maurice,
the lady with whom he lodged, came
out.
"Dear me, Mr.. CourtIand," she ex.
claimed, with glance of surprise at his
rough weather dress, ait is impossible
that you are going out in this rain?''
The rain will do me no harm; you
zee / am prepared for it," answered
Florian, smilingly.
"But it 10 30 unpleasant" urged the
lady. "Where in the world can you
wish to 70 10 such weather. she added,
curiosity getting the better of polite,
ness.
ITO Thornway," replied Florian,
b,ushing slightly.
whats that, Mr.. Courtlandr called
out Maurice, who was reading his morn
ing paper in the parlor.
He says he is going to Thornway; &C.
tn lily to Thornway, on such q day as
this!' said Mrs Maurice responding for
Florian.
"Mr. Courtland, you are crazyw said
the gentlemen, joining his wife at the
door. "The roads are in horrible con.
dition, and will be worse by night.
Come, listen to reason, and stay at
home"
But Florian refused to listen to reason.
and took himself of IN spite of warninl
or ensreaty. On an; other errand It
wsuld have been an exceedingly dispirit-
ing 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, stumbl.
ing now and then in some of the many
ruts and pitfalls; the rain poured
steadily down, beating into his faca and
cunning in streams from his cap; and he
was very thankful when at last he came
within the vicinity of Linwood, a. the
estate Of Harriet's aunt was named
He lad taken . seldom-useo by-road
70 shorten the distance to Linwood,
where the road was divided by q small
stream, which bounded ono 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 its
own velocity, and rushed onward at
Ists that made the thought of fording
ita Wild insanity. With mental anath-
ema against his own stupidity in not
thinking Of thiA Courtland turned 10 n.
trace He WY to the main road, TIVE
miles back, where the little river was
gpa,ned 81 . btfdEs. OPpoate him,
across the stream. he could zee the gay
walls of Linwood, and in his anxiety to
70 be within them the two miles seemed
like twenty.
But the bridge was reached at last and
crossed. Florian had noticed, - he
approached the bridge, that the Land at
4 little distance below II, which was low
ma fat, was completely. flooded, tho
rivSs, SvetAowing here, having sub
nergedit to . wide extent A point or
Knoll of land, close upon the MYERS
hank remained dry, forming . little
;sland in the midst of the whirling;
muddy food; and upon this island stood
= mali wooden house. which, - tiorian
nsroeiyed with concern, was evidently
aecupied, for . thin blue wreath OF
smoke wss ascending from the chimney.
n there were people in that dwelling,
their position was most perilous, - the
vnter was rising fast and threatened
soon 70 cover Tie land and sweep away
the houso.
FIorian TUNED sside from the high
~ - ye1s. down 10 the edge ct the
Seoaed lOWiand; - he approached the
-.,.r's edse, he saw . female form aP
~, A ~ window Of that thrsatsned