The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-12-05
The state OF the roads was a much
more serions consideration.

more serions consideration.
How high the waters we're, and still
rising.
MANY houses in the valley were al
ready isolated, ana unless a speedy
change took place-of which, alas !
there was 40 symptom-the result must
inevitobly he grave disaster.
The wind lulled for an hour or two
while Roger transacted his business.
But it arose in redouhled fury as he
commenced his return ] 'urnev.
Darkness added to The difficulty and
the danger OF the route.
Turning sharply round corner into
Bsysditch Valley, Roger was hailed by
a terror stricken voice behind him.
H pulled hastilv up.
whats wrong2" he asked.
Pant, pant, pant! and then white
face with awed, dilated eyes CLEANED up
on him in the mist.
"Porley Dam be bursten!''
"No!-sure2 ?"
Roger comprehended in an instant
what that message meant, and his &C
cents were as hoarse as the strangers
CAY; certain. 'Tis tearing through t
Iembankment like q cataract. Gettin
bigger every minute, and noane can't
stop it"
"Then Baysditch must he flooded ?"
Eyes. be goin' to warn IT,"
slump up here "
And Roger drove as if for his own
lie, instead OF other peoples.
The alarm soon spread, and scene
Of terror and confusion ensued which
might have APPALLED, the strongest. Wa,
ter was swiftly rising in The single Will
age street, and the mutter Of the on
sweeping torrent grew louier every min,
ute Homeless. and sadly deficient in
both food and clothing, dozens of fam
lilies d TO the hillsdes while there was
yet time.
Where was Ada Carft lodging2 Mil.
ton Villa, old Luke Catfit's home, was
some distance beyond the clustering Will
age roofs, and r ,ger experienced some
delay in reaching it. The inmates, only
three IN number besides the two maid
servants, were bnt just alarmed, and
their retreat was cut off before even Ro
ger was aware of it. Ada was as pale
as death. hut strangely calm and self
possessed Roger remembered after
wards how, at least once in that hour OF
awful peril, her eyes were fixed on his
as if they would read bis very SOUL
But it was time for action and not SEN
timent.
From the edge'of the lawn-now the
bed of roaring stream-the ground
tren'led gently away to the uplands, and
there the only hope lay. II was m IRE
than probable that the house would give
way under the avalanche of water which
had still to descend. "Porley Dam"
was the current designation Of the re-
seTvoir that supplied all Scarborough
Roger Herlestone swan across with
bis horse and turned the animal loose
Then, estimating as best he could the
distance and his own powers, he return
ed and briefly explained his plan There
was NO boat within reach. Elch mem
her of the household must trust 10 him
and he would return for each. 1t was
that Ads should 60 first; but
she refused, AMI time was too precious
to be spent in haggling. Mrs. Carit
and her husband and the maids were all
saved thus; and, nearlv exhausted, 70.
ger wen, back for tue obstinate girl who
still fingered.
"Whether die or live, this shall be
my revenge" he muttered to himself.
Ada was in his arms now, and the
cross-current running heavily against
him 1t was desperate struggle, and
growing every instant more dangerous
by reason OF uprooted trees and other
wreckage, that came swiftly down the
valley.
Would he succced7 How the specta.
tors held theif breath and trembled! ! Al
last, with faint "Hurrah!' he made
terra (irma with his burden. But then
he tainted, and for the first time the res
cued household observed that he was
wounded. A tree trunk had struck him.,
and il 4 cted gbastlv wound on the
head But for the present all they could
do was to grieve. ard tend him as he
lay They were outcasts, like doz,ns
of others.
That fl)o will he long remembered.
and not least by R 'ger Herlestone and
the girl he saved.
Brain fever supervened. and Roger
was i'll for manv weeks. Ada CarGt was
his chief nurse. and her character SEEM
ed entirely changed, so humble and as
siduous was she.
There came day when, with new
light in his eye, Roger looked up and
whispered:
"Ada!"
She averted her face. But he had
caught the vision of tear--one of
thankfulness and j,y. He took her un-
resisting hand.
81 have a confession to. make" he
whispered. at was in sheer revenge
saved you. Can you forgive me, Ada ?
And after all -care-a little p
"Forgive! And I-let me tell, too,"
she cried. brokenly, Il loved vou, though
I didn't know it, when you asked me
first, Roger