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

log and went under, carried doWu oy
the currsas, boz sdn O,ingias lest 70
the rope.
In that moment, Andrew Steele be.
came . doycs boys In one. lie fought
with icc-cakcs, and water, and cur
rent; fought for the little figure that wss
bobbtne up and down. So near, and
yc, 20 far! Bu, he felt the strain on tho
rvpc. and Il gave him csurags.
There was no human eye TO witness
the strife, ~ he got 10 his brother and
struggled with him 10 the firm land, ON
which tho boys sank Tor moment.
"That was . pretty bsd time, wasn't
Il. Buba" said Augustus, ~ soon ~ his
eyes and ears were clear III water. 81
don't want ANY moro II that"
"Oh. We pulled out 6rs,rate: and now
We must hurry, or there won't be . stone
left In poor Hc.tcr's chimney, for | don't
see how the house Il going to stand up |
before this flood. Maybe Il II gone
now"
Ia, the house with tho stone chimney
was not gone, and presently Il came into
view.
"Good gracious!" cried Andrew, ~
he took Ia the sight. The cottage looked
lower and smaller than ever. II was
standing, window deep, In . SEQ Of snow.
water, with icc.cakes humping at the
door every moment. 100. =.
"Oh, they are out. Somebody must
have thought Of 'em. I know somebody
must" argued Augustus, - they
trampsd through the water''oaked
snow.
"Anyhow, we'll make sure Of Il. We
are the nearest to 'cm, and II We didn't
think, who wouldP I declare, Gus, do
Gee how tho river rises! It's mad
|. enough now, goodness knows, and DO
believe the covered bridge viii boom
, down and take the mill with IT," They
struggled on.
. "Sse! see! the water Is running In At
the windows this very minute. Run,
. Gus, run. Or We can't get near the
house."
A They lost no time, poor wet lads, In
getting to the highway and to the verge
( Of tho running water that came up the
4 road. The little house lay below the
q road, between II and tho river, but well
n above the touch OF any ordinary ireshet.
4 "let 10 call OUT" said Andrew.
4 "liester! Hcstcr!" they screamed.
All was silent within. %.
% "Nobody there" thought Gus. .
VI "But suppose they are drowned II
|. there. I'm going In" announced An
}, drew.
3 "Oh! Andy, Andy, don't. cam
d spare you. Wait till somebody comes
q "No time TO wait. I must 6nd out,
urged Andrew. Hy
r. Even as no spoke, no ran TO the stout
= est tree By the roadside aud swung
I'd rope.cnd about It, made It fast, and sal
70 Gus:
~ "You stand by, Whatever happens
Of and you pull with : viii when I give tn
"a signal"
:. "Good.bys, Andy" whimpered Gu!
~ shaking In his wet clothes, - his brotl
70. or with the rope stepped into the col
III food. -
m AZ that moment 4 sash WAS raised
an upper window, and pale. agonizt
mr. face glanced up the river, and from tn
R.. to the clouds.
m Gus saw that it was Hester, and th
TO she Was praying, although no word Z
capped her lips. IL
IN She did not go tho small figure stan
~. ine by the great tulip.tree across &
r.. road, but suddenly Gus called out:
law "Open the door for Andy! Andy
III. ct The door. Let him In, quick!"
I'm The sash was left up; tho face disa
-. reared. Never did lest descend sls
IA with moro willing speed to admit 81
~ cor. Az soon % Hester could get ~
,;th the packing as the ell, the door y
IA opened. Andy climbed In, and the Dc
~: closed. The water went In with him
On. "Hester! where's your mothsre" 7
all. the first question.
our "In bed; and oh, Andyl I've
and such hard work TO keep her from knt
imp ing. She thinks we've moved down
this the sea, ard she likes the waves 20 mu
Ill Oh, Andy, you mustn't stay. You %
hill 70 right now, or you'll 80 down
y 70 Go! Col" she begged.
An. ~ am going, and you, too"
here "l'll never leave ny mothsr-nes.
Ike Andy Steele" Il
"Of course not. Do - I tell }
and Get . lot Of dry blankets-all you
rom csrry-bundle 'em up, quick"
blankets were tumbled out OF sbig d
He'd that stood handy, and were wrap
boys up. ~
< 70 "Now, tell your mother that yo'
taken smother house, cause the
her comes too high here, and you Just =
. blanket around her, and give he
last, me. I'm going to carry her."
nade Hester obsyed, and her mother
sented, without trouble. She even
hear mitted tho rope to DO tied about
waist. a.a
cred. "Got . clothss-lins. Hsstsre" .
when Andy. p.
0nw "Mght here" answered hesset:
idge, "Put II around your waist, and
While No To other end, In case anything
they pens 70 you while I am gons."
gave Now, ~ 40 I'll ready. Cotr
mid. move into another house, Mn. Pr
other said Andy, gently. I'm carry yos
"Hsstsr, Hester, Hester, Hss
lorr' mooued Mn. Pratt. She never h
. Hester, even when che was q tho
10 ct. She clung 70 that name. :
ought seemed sometimes = 4 tAae name = }.
ssvs ths one little ny Of reason Lett y
"a dafkoned lie.
Duma. "Yos, mother; I'm going, TO-
la&lsr yoa know ! can't carry Jon. Ion
whose let him" ooaxed Hester.
, ever She 1t him help, and, together.
{ my and Hester hfted tho light ag9re
ID Ct to bed, end splashed through ~,
'oysl" With h b Tie door, which Hsster