New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-02

honest man; but you hadn't capital enough, and
you've let The land get the master of you instead of
| being master OF the land that's where it isD
IL might be very true, but was not cOnsolatory,
and he came out of the door even more down
hearted than he went III. The wind was rising as
he passed down the little street. and the gusts blew
In his lace. but 1t was not raining. lie went on,
full of his own troubles and scarcely looking about
him till he came in sight of the broken ground
above the river there was distant roar of water
louder than the wind and the storm, and 1T was
coming nearer and nearer.
The walls and hedges above town has been hold
ing back the Hood like dam, and smmingly they've
giy way and bursted at last said passer-by,
Heaven help the houses by Dollonds and SeddOns.
'Seddons" cried Gilbert, rushing down the lane
which led to the open green where. on the low
ground between the stream and the river stood the
old tlmbered house. The sun near setting, but
there was full moon, and, though her face could
not be seen. her light shone through the great
clouds which were drifting fur Ousy across the sky,
and 1t was not dark. The additional rush OF water
was driving all before ii branches of trees planks,
thatch, and broken palings, torn up by its force in
the upper valley, were whirng along IN the cur
rent, threatening everything that came in their
way IL had now surrounded the Seddonss Old
house which was lettering under the tremendous
force of the wave OF water now fast undermining
the foundations. There was not moment to be
lost; he could see the at the upper win
dows waving their handerchiefs for help, which
there seemed to be no one TO give. He ran back to
the main road beyond where the boat was still ply
ing; it had Just landed from n cruise. You must
come of directly, said Gilbert, jumping IN, there's
SeddOns drOwndcd Outr
i won't go TO no such place. said the man the
boat can't live in them currents, and no end of
broken spars and walls all round it..
Currents or no currents, you'll have TO come
muttered Gilbert, he seized and pushed Oft.
You'll pay well. else you shanna STIR said
the man, hanging back in way to prevent the
boats progress; how much will yc give for the
job
Seddon's a rich man. you're quite safe cried
Gilbert; Mind that there bit O tree round the
cOrncrp
BY ,lint Of some Of the hardest work Gilbert had
ever done IN his life, they forced t4e boat across,
and up TO the Seddons's house. The water now
REACHED above the lower VIM but there was
still great space TO the sills of the upper Ones and
lrsc were very Sihh,l, "hl1 MIS-. Heuuon was 'er!
large aud unwieldy However VIII she get
Through Gilbert had time TO think WITHIN him.
sell but 10 his relic. he saw that they were forcing
out the rckcty old easements bodily which luckily
did net resist He could see Rosy ut w0r, As they
fell with a splash into the current. Mrs Seddon
hal head on her shoulders; but when II came to
climbing on the narrow sill, ami dropping down
INTO the beat tar below, her courage failed;
caDna do il. I'm too heavy; you'll both be
drowndcd, waiting for me; get you down ana leave
me- she repeated 20 Rosy ana tie maid, amidst
shouts from the two men Of Make haste, make
haste, we Gamma hold IN much longer.
Nonsense Here, Lizzie, heaYe her up tother
side cried the girl as they lifted her M on the
window with might and main. rs you must
make haste you'll drown us both ii you don
Nothing shall make me stir till you're out 50 help
1t was hard task. Mrs. Seldom was 50 helpless
aud SO heavy, that though the two Girls above held
ON with all their strength TO shawl round her
waist and Gilbert bore up her weight from below,
as far rs ms shifting standing would allow, the
boat almost fOundcred with the shock OF her de-
scent Rosy followed lightly and quickly
And me- screamed the poor maid: you're not
a'coing to leave me behind like this here. Wait,
oil watt
Tho boats full I'll he back directly they're
landed-I swear IT, shouted hilbert IN return.
The freight was indeed a dangerous one; the
water reached 10 the gnnwalcs, and, though the
shore WAS not above thirty yards of. the boat
nearly sunk before it could touch dry land. There
were plcrty Of people there however ready to drag
fla fulltI Sin on fO lp
edge. where her fat little husband was running up
and down looking like a drenched hen Wrngng
his hands and doing absolutely nothing lor thc
relief of his household. Rosy sprang out alter her
cousin. much too agltated TO speak to Gilbert, even
if there had been moment. teiOre ne OF again
to the rescue OF poor LiZZle whose cries cOulu DC
1t was almost a more difficult matter to get at the
maid than it had been at the MISTRESS the boat
had drited with its heavy charge, and they had
now to row upstream; the house was beginning To
settle in the water. and it was dangerous to APP
proach il on the near side, while the other was
besct with outhouscs. between when they DANGER
ously sWcrVcd. Gct ont on the roof! shouted
Gilbert to the frightened girl, who came slipping
and sliding down the broken states. and fell before
she could reach the end OF the gable. There she
hung struggling to the end of beam. Leave 70;
drop in crcd Ollbart. hut IN vain. though 1t was
fall of not more than three or four feet 1t was i'm
possible to AXE her understand. and 10 was not till
The strength of In arms gave way and she tell into
the boat with blow which almost sank IT, that
At the top of a high wall alongside was a
wreched little dog. forgotten IN the yard next door,
who had broken his chain in the hubbub, ana now
ran ba .kward and forward. bowling miserably as
he loOked mt the rushing currents; ms entreallcs
for hcln were rs distinct as if he.coud have put
them in words, and Gilbert could not withstand
their coqucncc; lie turned the head OF the boat.
'Tl tell We It's murder aud rascally shame 10
20 back for the like o he" shouted the boatlnan.
pulling tho other way; but the beast had caught
his chance of help in Gllberts motion, made ms
leap. and scrambled in during the half-seeond OF
chance in spite of the bit o. hanging cham, WITH
tie help of friendly oar.
Tie currents were pcIpctuaily changing. and il
was now impossible for tlen To return 10 the same
side as before; they therefore dilited with the
stream TO the farther shore, and landed AT some
distance below. 1t was long way round by the
upper bridge to the place where he had left the
Scddons: for a moment. however. G. llbert had half
n mind TO return with the girl Nay. but | wunna
20 back inst TO be thanked, muttered he, and his
pride came tC the front. If she cared for that Sam
no longer ago nor yesterday 'twOuld be poor
loOll-ou. for me if she took to to-day because
boated her across ditch! he thought ;toutlly;
Youl remember me to them all, said he TO
Lizzie who was beginning TO recover her senses
and start on her road home
But you'll come home and be dried. and eat
summat. artcr all you've been and done for us =
inquired she anXiously.
There's not much home " left answered Gil
bert. pointing over the water to the old house
which gradually sinking before their eyes.
slowly breaking up piecemcal; the rush OF the
water was subsIdiug and the flood going down to
its previous limits bnt too late to save the Sed-
dons's home. No, Gamma come ye mum tell EN-
it's too late, and I'm too soaked he SAID res0-
lutely; and I'm gong home, and hopes they'll
none On them he the worse Of their voting.
And my money! inquired the man anSrlly.
You haven't paid me nothing.
Il haven't got none replied Gilbert, little
sadIv but you'll be no loser Lizzie yOu tell Mrs.
seldom from me rs promised him twelve shllings,
and she mum add some more tor the saving of You
and of the dog too he added STOPPING to stroke the
wet beasts head who rubbed its dirty sides CRATE
fully and aiiectOnatcly against his leg. Good-by,
Lizzie; shake hands,
Ii wasn't him bit as saved my llte; twas You,
rin1f no n
M the hill Hims good un TO both man and
beast: that's what he isl she added enthusiastic
ally if not dramatically.
He's got a strong arm as ever come across OBJ
hn nInn.t llitnl tho hnlt ont of