Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-06-23

moaned Ms. Pratt She never forgot
Hester, even when she was at Tie Wild
est She chung to that name, and Is
seemed sometimes q II thAt name W1re
the one little ray of reason len in her
darkened life
Yes, mother; I'm going, too, but
you know 1 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 fest 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 step into less of water.
The cold food arose about the poor
woman-so wan, so weak, so insane!
She gave one shrek that might have
pierced any heart; and then she shiver-
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 make his way out of
the water.
Yes, it's all right said Mrs Pratt;
"but where is Hester? want Hester. !"
"What the mischief" cried . man
on horseback, suddenly splashing into
the scene, his horse breathing twenty
breaths minute, as he threw himself
of, and proceeded to receive the helpless
figure that Andrew bore
"I thought should be in time" he
gasped. "Never rode horse 50 in my
Sim going now for Hester" said An
drew, paying no attention to the horse
mans remarks, stand for some dry
blankets. I'll hurry"
"Better let me co." 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.
"H0id the bundle high as ever you
can, Hester!" said Andy, as Hester
awaited him
The water became deeper. He SWAN
with her q 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 food, IS
Andy softly said: Ill beiiere, Hester,
that your mother is oil rigif nor."
"An right ?' demanded Hester. can
dy Steele, what do You mean? Tell
me-"
$50 and speak to her." was Andy's
answer, E" and you'll find out, maybe"
"Here am, mother" said Hester,
approaching her gently; Z" and Wen soon
be in the new house, now" she added.
Hester! Hesteri My child My dar-
ling! Why, Hester, haven't seen such
food since I 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 giadness,
as she and Augustus got the blanket
bundle open, and wrapped many . fold
about the shivering figure.
"Didn't / tell you SOP" whispered
Andrew, as the tears began to well over
from Hester's happy eyes.
ave must get out of this as soon rs
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 bridget Thereu be
no getting home tonight" cried Gus,
IS sections of the covered bridge from
above the mill went rushing down.
"My father helped build that bridge.
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 daughter? 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
latter so many years." she muir
INJURED. "After 50 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-
err" cried Hester, in her JOY, forgetting
herself.
..wha.'s the matter?'' called back the
bearers, In 'front.'
"Nothing," answered the happy fol-
lower; at which answer the pony whin-
MED q remonstrance, and deliberately
poked his nose over Hester's shoulder
into her face
That same afternoon the Pratt cottage
was swept away News went over the
flood that the boys were all right: but
no code of signals then known could tell
the glad tidin9s that Hester Pratt's
mother was no longer ''that poor crazy
woman" Steele's MIL stood through
the freshet, and for . generation after