The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-06-24

nloaned Mrs. Pratt. She never forgo,
He ster, even when she was ct the Wild
est. She chung to that name, and Il
seemed sometimes Is If that name were
the one little ray Of reason left In hel
darkened life.
Eyes. mother; I'm. going, too, but
you know can't carry you. You must
let him." coaxed Hester.
She let him help, and, together, Andy
and Hester lifted the light figure from
the bed, and splashed through the water
with it to the door, which Hester threw
open.
1t was not more than sixty feet to the
highway and safety. The little rope
man stood at his post by the tulip.tree.
Steady, now, GUS" signaled Andy.
"Let 60, Hester, and mind the line. You
stay till come for you.'
Andy put stout young arm about
Mrs. Pratt's waist, and, mastering all
his strength, plunged with her into the
flood, knowing that every step would
be q step into less of water.
The cold flood arose about the poor
woman-so wan, so weak, so insane
She gave one shrek that might have
pierced any heart; and then she SILVER
ed and chung and chung, and. but for the
steady rope that Gus drew, she would
have taken Andrew from his feet.
"It's all right, now, Mrs. Pratt, +" said
the boy, as he got where he could lift
her more easily and mako his way out of
the water.
eyes, it's all right" said Mrs. Pratt /;
''but where is Hes:erp 1 want Hester. -
"What the mischief" cried . man
on horseback, suddenly spla.hing into
the scene, his horse breathing twenty
breaths q minute, as he threw himself
OFF, and proceeded to receive the helpless
figure that Andrew bore.
81 thought I should be in time" he
gasped. ''Never rode q horse 50 in my
life."
"I'm going now for HESTER" said An
drew, paying no attention to the horse
mans remarks, sand for some dry
blankets. I'll hurry"
''Better let me go!" said the new
conner, who held Mrs. Pratt.
"Save Hester. Col" moaned Mrs.
Pratt.
For the third time that day, Andrew
Steele plunged into the cold flood.
"Hold the bundle high as ever you
can, Hester!" said Andys as Hester
awaited him.
The water became deeper. He swan
with her few strokes. He whispered,
as he put her on her feet and received
the bundle to paddle out with, and she
heard the whisper above the flood, as
Andy softly said: ell believe, Hester,
that your mother is all right nou."
Gall right?" demanded Hester. can
dy Steele, what do you meane Tell
me-"
eco and speak to her," was Andy's
answer, "and you'll find out, maybe"
"Here l am, mother" said Hester,
approaching her gently =" and we'll soon
be in the new house, now," she added.
chester! Hester! My child! My dar-
ling! Why, Hester, 1 haven't seen such
a flood since was little bit of girl;
and father carried me out then; and the
water made me feel, remember, just
as it did to-day"
Certainly, these were not words of in
sanity, such as Hester was sadly accus-
toned to hear from her.
Hester Pratt's fingers shook, and her
heart was all a-tremble with gladness,
as she and Augustus got the blanket
bundle open, and wrapped many fold
about the shivering figure.
"Didn't I tell you SOP" whispered
Andrew, as the tears began to well over
from Hester's happy eyes.
"We must get out of this as soon as
possible, or the highway will be covered
before we can strike away from it,"
exclaimed the horseman, for the water
was rising faster than ever.
"There goes the bridge! There'l be
no getting home tonight" cried Gus,
as sections of the covered bridge from
above the mill went rushing down.
"My father helped build that bridge.
I remember it," said Mrs. Pratt, feebly.
The newcomer, Augustus, and An
drew lifted the blanket on which they
had laid the invalid, and prepared to
march to the nearest house-Hester led
the still painting pony. And it was her
mother who had told her she sought
not to ride when so chilled and wet"
Was not this what any mother would
say to her daughtera Hester felt no
chill, although her flesh was shaking
she would have walked forever in wet
garments with such joy in her heart to
keep it warm.
"After so many years." she MUIR
INJURED. "After so many years she will
get well at last-at last!" she repeated,
her eyes fondly resting on the covered
figure, borne on the blanket in front of
her, and then on the seething waters,
that rushed and crept, and crept and
rushed even into the road-bed, as they
went onward.
"Oh. you blessed, blessed Mad Riv-
er!" cried Hester, in her joy, forgetting
herself.
"What's the matter?" called back the
bearers, in front.
'Nothing," answered the happy fol-
lower; at which answer the pony whin-
MED a remonstrance, and deliberately
poked his nose over Hester's shoulder
into her face.