The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-02

aid, kissing me- i VIII p'iiiS iieip
oon.n
Ny reflections, when | was LETT
lone, were not pleasant ones.
vas too weak TO. be fully conscious
# the danger; and yet the thought
hat / was a woman, sick, and alone
n the house with two children, with
. roaring torrent rising higher and
higher, TO our door, filled me with
error. But / prayed for strength
md courage as / tried 70 quiet poor
title Robbie, who was badly fright
ened. The baby slept on calmly
unconscious through it all, and it
comforted me to think that, as the
infant lay sleeping in my arms, even
so might | lie in the arms of my
Heavenly Father, peaceful in life or
in death.
But was not left long alone.
X atie soon returned, her clothes
wet and her cheeks flushed with ex-
citement. Her long hair had fallen
down and hung around her like a
golden veil. i had never seen her
look lovelier.
'Molly, darling" she said, eagerly.
''help will soon come to us now:
Tom will be here with men and
boats. and all viii be well"
Boats cried. "Is the water
high enough to float a boat, Katie?"
@Yes.n she answered, ''the water
has risen above the fei ces by this
time"
| sat up and looked at her. How
did you ever get to the factory, and
why did you not stay there |
asked.
Il did not go to the factory" she
replied, blushing. / met Mr..
Pierce"
"Mr. Pierce" ! echoed, in aston
ishment. "Where was he going?
Do. Katie, tell me all about it"
WELL" she replied, demurely,
''he was going TO the river, and the
river met him; so there was a col
lision. But lie down, Molly" she
said. with q change of tone, "and l
will tell you all. ] had not gone
far on my way before ] found that
there was to be struggle. The
water was already aooye my knees,
and the current so strong that L
could scarcely keep my footing, but
| managed pretty well for a time by
walking along by the fence; but
soon / had to cross the road, and |
think then, if L had not remember
ed YOU and the children, my cour-
age would have failed me, ] left
nv hold of the fence and stepped
boldly forward. Oh! How the riv-
er roared around me, as if TO mock
nv fear. Just at this instant | saw
a man walking through the flood
toward me. As he drew near, |
saw it was Mr. Pierce. / shouted to
him to 60 back TO the factory fol
help, but could no. make my voice
heard above the turmoil Of the wa
ter. ! saw his lips move but could
hear no sound. The water was by
this time above my waist, the rag
ing torrent broke in foam around
me, rs if angry at any obstacle that
would bar its way. | expected each
instant to be drawn swiftly down tC
the dark death below. | thought o.
the great mill wheel and shuddered
At last Mr. Pierce reached my side
He spoke no word; but throwing
his arm around me, supported me-
until | regained a little strength
Leave me- l cried, as soon as
could speak. and go back for help
Molly and the children are alone il
the house, helpless Leave me and
90 for Tom, before il is too late"
When you are out Of danger
then will return was his answer
They are safe in the house for some
time to come, and you must be ia
ken care of first. still urged him
to return; but he would not listen
Come he said. there is no time Il
be lost. The sooner you are out o
danger the sooner will help come Il
your sister, | yielded at that, and
struggled with the dark water tha
threatened every moment to engul
US, we slowly fought our way back tC
the house, and he has returned fo
help"
Katie had scarcely finished he
story when the door opened anC
Tom came in. He was pale, bu
calm and quiet.
Molly, dear,,' he said, coming tC
the bed and taking me in his arms
"we must leave this house as soor
as possible. l have procured helI
and you must be ready when j
comes"
"Tom," / cried, II cannot 20
Take Katie and the children and
leave me-"
| was trembling with fear and
weakness, and hardly knew what |
said. The river looked to me like
some mighty monster seeking to de.
your me. But Tom and Katie
soothed and calmed me, and iE {
very short time all was ready for
our departure. We soon ..heard g
great shouting, and, looking from
the window, saw eight or ten men
guiding a floating wagon. The wa
ter reached their breasts, and it was
with the greatest difficulty that
they guided the wagon close under
the window. As ] looked out,
saw there was a bed in this new
fashioned boat.
Molly" said Tom, ''you will
have to jump from the window into
the wagon. Courage, dear wife; the
trial viii soon be over"
The water by this time had come
in at the door, and was slowly, sure
ly making its wa from room to
room. Fear lent me courage and
strength. and, closing my eyes with
a silent prayer for help, | jumped
into the rocking vehicle below. How
the water ragged and surged about
u.s. For moment it seemed as il
we all must 90 down. But the men
held on with united strength. and
the wagon ceased to rock 80 yio
lently.