The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-06-16


appalling fear that there would not be
time to go and return twice, before the
swiftly rising waters should have torn
the frail structure from its foundations;
for there was already an inch of water
upon the floor. But he only cast one
glance at Harriet's calm face, and stopped
TO lift the sick woman up before him.
Without a word he turned his horse
toward the shore, and the good beast,
with its double burden, struggled back
through the food.
Harriet and her aunt waited, shiver-
ing as they watched the water growing
deeper and deeper upon the floor, and
heard the waves wash with an ever
louder sound against the frail four walls
that stood between them and death.
They saw Florian reach the shore, place
the sick woman upon the ground, throw
off the heaviest of his clothing, and turn
his now unwilling steed toward the
house again. E
They were standing knee-deep in water
when he once more approached the al
ready shaking building He did not
speak word, but looked silently from
Harriet to her aunt, his white face
growing whittier yet as. Harriet said, in
"Harriet-" commenced Miss Lin
wood.
"Go. Aunt Hannahl'
Harriet, won'tl"
"You mustW said Harriet firmly.
Harriet, Harrietl For pity sake"
"YOu are delaying her. Miss Hannah"
exclaimed klonan, hoarsely. Come,
she will not yield, if she dies!'
With Crraon Mics I inyx-cCI or,,-o. -.
and he lifted her upon his horse. The
turbulent waters washed into the room
and Harriet staggered and clung to the
wall for support. Florian's face was
CHASTITY, as he bent forward and placed
his hand upon her shoulder, whispering,
in choked voice. " Kiss me Harriet.U
she put her arms around his neck and
kissed him-a long, passionate kiss,
which was their first, and might be their
last. 1
He strained her to him, saying, " Har,
riet, do you love me?'
Yes, Florian."
She then leaned against the wall
again, as he went aud hid her face try
ing to shut out the sight of tho yellow
waters, C eeping up the side of the room,
higher. and higher with every wave that
10 tcNi III JlI uSu Tie UOOTs
As FlOrian reached the shore car
rage was approaching in the distance,
rocked from side to side, with the
furious speed to which the driver was
lashing the horses.
1t is the carriage from 1lnwood
said Miss Hannah; eve have been afraid
of freshet, and they have taken alarm
and come back to look for u.s."
Il 4 |.
ing his exhausted horse into the flood
again The poor beast trembled and
hesitated; but Florian spurred him
fercely on, shifting him with his
clenched fist and shouting at him in his
frantic excitement He was half mad
with agony as he look across the
turbid waters to the half-submerged
house and saw that they had risen above
the top of its door, and Harriet had
climbed up through the loft to the roof,
where she clung in momentary peril of
death.
When the hurrying carriage reached
the spot, and Miss Linwood's COachman
leaped to the ground, Florian was half
way back to Harriet. Mistress and man
stood with pallid faces and hearts that
hardly beat, silently watching the beau
tiful girl, as she chung to the frail sup
port, and the young man, with his white
face, and his golden hair blowing back
as he dashed madly through the flood
to her rescue.
While they watched, a great billow
came rolling in from the river, roaring
fearfully, and tossing it's yellow water;
as it dashed upon Harriet's refuge. Miss
Linwood screamed, and her servant ut
tered hoarse cry, for where the house
had been was a whirling wreck Of boards
and timbers, and Florian's horse was
struggling, riderless, toward the shore!
But another moment and they saw
that Harriet yet clung to the floating
roof, and Florian was beside her upon it
Seizing a long board, as the waters
whirled it within his reach, he guided
the fraiI raft with it toward the shore
! AS he neared the land, the coachman
from Linwood sprang into the water and
| came to his assistance; and in few
moments they were all standing upon the
land, wet, dripping, but profoundly
! thankful party.
They proceeded, as fast as the carriage
could carry them, to Linwood, where
they all found plenty of employment fol
the remainder of the day in getting ric
| of the effects of their perilOus adventure
so far as they could do so.
It transpired that the sick women haC
not received any injury; Miss HANNAH
had caught slight cold; Harriet haC
caught a severe one, and Florian haC
caught-Harriet.