The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-06-28
comforts they had managed to Sc

cure.
Alter assisting Mrs. Lane and he1
family in their fight and securing
his own valuables the young master
turned his attention to his own
safety, but only to find that the flood
had widened and shut out all of the
valley leading to the beacon of safe
ty-that the only way to gain twas
along q dangerous cliff, and which,
after toilsome journey, would
bring him to the school house from
the other side of the mountain.
The morning was Just dawning as
he had accomplished the most dan
gerous part of his task, and he paus.
ed to rest and glance back upon the
scene of awful destruction. Every
where ran muddy little rills from
snowy heights to Join the madlv
rushing torrent of water which tore
through the narrow gorge and bear
ing ON III It's foaming bosom all that
opposed It's way. Huge boulders.
logs and uprooted trees all went
down in the boiling vortex until il
reached the broader valley and
there Jecamea lake ofseething foam
as it eugulted the little village.
As he stood thus in the chill gray
morning, both awed and fascinated
/ by the scene, his ears were startled
by peculiar prolonged cry like
that Of some suffering bird. Itcame
from the other side of . jutting cliff,
whore lay his path, and swelled out
even above the roaring of the waters
below. Then and almost n.tantlv
it changed to the warbling notes Of
a blue birds song; then again to
that of the wood thrush and the cat
bird, and ended in the low, plaintiff
cry of the whippoorwill Amazed
! he stood and questioned. Could
some poor, stOrm-5eaten. escaped
mocking bird be stranded in an
evergreen thicket and thus utter its
plant?
With the thought he fastened
around the point ana beheld to his
infinite surprise Lola Danforth
clinging to a tree that swayed in
dangerous proximity above a yawn-
ing prtcipice. \ faded scarlet hood
ed mantle hung loosely upon her
shoulders. her thick raven hair was
disheveied by the sport Of the
wind.
At the instant uaain the birds
song was repeated in n wonderful
variety. and could come only from
the scarlet lips Of the young girl.
Lola he exclaimed, reaching
out and snatchinc her back
from her dangerous position, what
is the matter? Do vou not know
that all who can, have sought shell
ter IN the school house? ? Come
with me- Every step Is dangerous,
and you will only be safe there"
MY brotherl' easped she, strug-
Cling away impetuouslv. "They
told me he had gone TO the school
house, but he is not there. and !
came back to seek him."
And 1t was TO him you were
sending forth such strange calls. Ii
was wonderful. Who taught you,
Lola ?"
II do not know. unless the birds"
she answered, smiling and showing
her magnificent teeth. "Robby says
they were born in my throat. But
/ must go back in search of him"
YOU Why, child, he cannot be
down there. Do you not see that
even the cattle have climbed the
hills for safety, and he would not
remain" ?"
Then something has happened
to him" she faltered, turning back
a terrified and pallid face.
The next moment she slid from
his grasp and darted downward.
clinginc to a sapling here and Z
shrub there. sliding, leaping, falling,
down she went. her companion fol
lowing, until they stood almost upon
the bank of the foaming cataract
And there, amid the debris Of dead
wood and the bodies Of dead ami
mails, they at last caught sight Of
little hand clingin@ to n timber, and
moment later Leslie was periling
his own life for the safety of the lit
tie waif. Robby. Presently he
struggled out of the food, spen, and
bruised, with his helpless and limp
burden ciasped in his arms.
For a brief time the earth seemed
to spin about MIN. Then he recov-
cred his senses as the girl caught /.
and pressed the dead face Of her
brother to her heart with ore long
wall of anguish.
Together they chaffed the cold I
linbs, endeavoring to bring back life, I
while Lola wound her scarlet man.
tie around poor Robby to give
warmth. Failing IN this, they strug-
up the mountains under their ghast- I
is burden. But at last they were
compelled to pause under L thicket /.
of evergreens and lay the poor dead /.
boy down upon a bed Of soft pine +!
needles. Then Lola sank down By
his side with 4 burst of tears that
told she also had given up all hope. (
II must 90 for help said Leslie. /
tenderly raising her up. Come
with me Nothing more can harm
him. tie is beyond all foods, all
tempests, all tears, and where sor-
row can nevermoTe come"
Clingine TO him and weeping as if
her heart would break, he bore her
up to the villagers. who tended, com
forted and did all in their power
for her, and when at last the food
had subsided they placed the poor
dead boy by the side Of bis parents
in the churchyard. and shortly af-
terwsrd there came a stranger who
claimed Lola to take her away 20 a
foreign home.
alone that night, in the little
school house on the hillside, the
young master sat facing the fact that
the little dark eyed Lola had taken
with her lis whole heart On his
desk Law a little note Of thanks
which said:
God bless you, dear Fir. Leslie,
for risking your life to bring to me
-. L. L. Z L-a+Ln- SknH n.-or