The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-07-21

tnlnk, VINO wouldP declare, Gus, do
see how the river risesl It's mad
enough now, goodness knows, and do
believe the covered bridge will boom
down and take the mill with it," They
struggled on.
"SeeI seel the water IL running in at
the windows this very minute. Run,
Gus, run, or we can't get near the
house."
They lost no time, poor wet lads, in
getting to the highway and to the verge
of the running water that came up the
road. The little house lay below the
road, between it and the river, but well
above the touch of any ordinary freshet.
"Let us call out" said Andrew.
"Hesteri Hesteri" they screamed.
All was silent within.
"Nobody there" thought Gus.
"But suppose they are drowned in
there. I'm going in," announced An
drew.
"Ohl Andy, Andy, don't. can't
spare you. Wait till somebody comes
along"
No time to wait. I must find OUT"
urged Andrew.
Even as he spoke, he ran to the stout
est tree by the roadside and swung
rope-end about it, made it fast, and said
to Gus:
"You stand by, whatever happens,
and you pull with a will when give the
signal" Zoe
"Good-bye, Andy" whimpered Gus,
shaking in his wet clothes, as his broth
er with the rope stepped into the cold
flood.
At that moment sash was raised in
an upper window, and pale, agonized
face glanced up the river, and from that
to the clouds.
Gus saw that it was Hester, and that
she was praying, although no word es-
capped her lips.
She did not see the small figure stand
ing by the great tulip-tree across the
road, but suddenly Gus called out:
"Open the door for Andy! Andy is
at the door. Let him in, quicki"
The sash was left up; the face disap-
peared. Never did feet descend steps
with more willing speed to admit sue
cor. As soon as Hester could get away
the packing at the sill, the door was
opened, Andy climbed in, and the door
closed. The water went in with him.
"Hesterl where'syour motherp" was
the first question.
elm bed; and oh, AndyI I've had
such hard work to keep her from know
ing. She thinks we've moved down by
the sea, and she likes the waves SO much.
Oh, Andy, you mustn't stay. You must
60 right now, or you'll go down too.
Col Col" she begged.
al am going, and you, too"
"I'n never leave my mother-neyer,
Andy Steele" I
"Of course not. Do as tell you.
Get a lot of dry blankets-all you can
carry-bundle 'em up, quick" The
blankets were tumbled out of q big chest
that stood handy, and were wrapped
up.
"Now, tell your mother that you've
taken another house, cause the tide
comes too high here, and you just wrap
blanket around her, and give her to
me. I'm going to carry her"
Hester obeyed, and her mother as
sented, without trouble. She even per-
mitted the rope to be tied about her
waist.
SCOT clothes-line, HesterP" asked
Andy.
"Right here" answered Hester.
"Put it around your waist, and give
me the other end, in case anything hap
pens to you while am gone"
Now, we are all ready. Going to
move into another house, Mrs. Pratt"
said Andy, gently. "I'n carry you."
Hester, Hester, Hester, HESTER"
moaned Mrs. Pratt. She never forgot
Hester, even when she was at the wild
est. She clung to that name, and it
seemed sometimes as if that name were
the one little ray of reason left in her
darkened life.
"Yes, mother; I'm going, too, but
you know L 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.
ssLet 90, Hester, and mind the line. You
stay till come for you"
Andy put q 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 flood arose about the poor
woman-so wan, so weak, so insanei
She gave one shrek that might have
pierced any heart; and then she shiver-
ed and clung and clung, and, but for the
steady rope that Gus drew, she would
have taken Andrew from his feet.
"It's all right, now, Mrs. Pratt, I" said
the boy, as he got where he could lift
her moro 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 q man
on horseback, suddenly splashing into
the scene, his horse breathing twenty
breaths minute, as he threw himself
off, and proceeded to receive the helpless
figure that Andrew bore.
"I thought should be in time," he
gasped. 'sNever rode horse so 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 goi" 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, Hesteri" said Andy, 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 rigL aoso."
"An rightr" demanded Hester. "An-
dy Steele, what do you meanp Tell
me-"
$50 and speak to her." was Andy's
answer, " and you'll find out, maybe"
"Here I am, mother" said Hester,
approaching her gently; +" and wen soon
be in the new house, now," she added.
ingi Why, Hester, haven't seen such
a flood since was a little bit of n Girl