The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-07-02

1" Bs..e, let ne eo!" ssid The new.
,ou,cr. who held Ns. Pratt.
"Savs Hester. Col" moaned Mn.
Pratt.
Steele plunged Into tho cold Hood.
"Hold lie bundle high - ever you |
can. Hesser!" said Andy, - Hester
lNaited him.
The water became deeper. He swan |
With her Q few strokes. He whispered.
% he put her on her feet and received
the bundle 10 paddle out with, and she
heard the whisper above the Hood, -
Audy softly said: ell belierc, Hester,
ihai vovv mother Is all right noV."
I" Al rightp" demanded Hester. IAN:
dy Steele, what do you mean? Tell
me-"
"Go and speak to her," was Andy's
answer, {" and you'll find out, maybe"
"Herc l am, mother" said Hester.
approaching her gently; "and we'll soon
DO In tho new house, now" she added.
I" Hester! Hester! My child! My dsr.
ling! WHY, Hester, I haven't seen such
. flood since I was little bit OF girl;
and father carried me out then; and the
water made me feel, remember, just
- II did to-day"
Certainly, these were not words Of In.
sanity, such - Hester was sadly sccus-
toned 10 hear from her.
Hester Prstt's fingers shook, and her
heart was all a.tremble with gladness,
Is she and Augustus got tho blanket:
bundle open, and wrapped many fold
about the shivering figure.
"Didnt I tell you SOP" whispered
Andrew, - the tears began to well over
from Hester's HAPPY eyes.
1--WE must get out OF this - soon %
possible, or tho highway will be covered
before We can strike away from it!''
exclaimed tho horseman, for the water
Va rising faster than ever.
"Thsre goss the bridge! Thsre1l b
no getting home tonight" cried Gus
% sections Of tho 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, aud An
drew lifted the blanket on which the!
| had laid the invalid, aud prepared 4
march to tho nearest Householder le'
the still painting pony. And 1t wss hs
wolker who had told her she cough
not 10 ride when 30 chilled and wet.
Was not this what any mother woul'
say to her dsughterl Hester felt n
. chill, although her flesh WAS shaking
she would have walked forever In VI
/ garments with such Joy In her heart :
> keep It warm. ...- ...,
"Aftsr sd many yeass:" she mu!
y INJURED. cater 90 many years che vi
get we'll 1t last at last!" che repsats'
, her eyes fondly resting on the covere
. figure, borne on tho blanket 10 front
4 her, and then on the seething water
that rushed and crept, and crept o.
J. rushed even into the road.bed, - th'
o went onward. :.
"Oh, you blessed, blessed Mad Ri
., er!" cried Hester, Ia her JOY, iorgetsi'
!. herself.
d "What's the mattsrl" called back q
bearers, in front. ..... +.
In "Nothing," answered tho happy 4
ID lower; at which answer the pony viii
n MED . remonstrancs, and deliberate
poksd his nose over Hestsr's should
a. snNn hep fann- ,......, ~
Z. That same afternoon The Pratt Gotta
was swept away. News went over
d. flood that the boys were oil right; I
he no code OF signals then known could |
the glad tidings that Hester Prst
II mother Wa no longer ''that poor on
woman" Steele's Mn stood throu
ID. the fr0het, and for . generation ct
ps ward ground wheat and corn. ]
&c. Steele rheumatism left him after .
Az weeks. The covered bridge, In
,cs time, was rebuilt; but the quaint h(
,or bridge, With its shaky hand-rail,
not "built up," and that river will no
v.s know it, like again. 't'
Hester Pratt rejoiced for many ye
,.d in . sweetly sane mother, her sanity
,~ work Of . Mad River irsshs.. Al,
hv oil the friends Who rejoiced With tn
cS there VA none more truly happy I
net the lad who hsd carried tho poor VOL
M. through the hood. So nobody Vas
prised when, later on. Hester and
mother went TO live with him and jol
,er. tho respected family Of the A. Steele
Sarah j. hichard, IN 81. Nicholas.