The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-04
LOST IN THE FLOOD.

why, Daniel. you talk as though
you doubted me!''
No, Ethie, no, no! don't want
you TO think that-you mustn't think sol
| But your father is so kind to me, and
treats me so well, and loves you so
much, that it does seem to me that if he
knew how the happiness of both was
bound up in it he would not refuse. He
| has known me from childhood. | have
been in his service now these five years
ever since l was big enough to do a
mans work-and he knows who and
what | am"
..Yes, Daniel, that is all true, and 1
do not wonder that you feel as you do.
But mother knows better than you or /
what his ambition is for me, and she as
sures me that did father suspect our
love, he not only would not employ you
for another day, but would forbid our
even speaking together"
"And then" Daniel cried impulsivelv,
81 could claim YOU, and we could defy
the world to keep us from each otherr'
No, no. not now-not yet! For the
present we must wait and hope. We
are both young, we see each other every
day; let us be patient for a time, and
| hope for the best NV father, as YOU
know, is very kind to me, and l love
him as child should love parent,
and | would not willingly displease
him."
II wish you loved me as much as you
do him.
The voice was petulant, but the tones
showed that the speaker did not distrust
| his companion. Ethie bit her lins in
| momentary vexation.
Daniel DeWolf, you must not talk so
| to mer she exclaimed. You know
| that | love you more than | love any
one else on earth, and if duty called me
| should follow your fortunes wherever
they might lead. But at present it is
| better as it is.
And Daniel, who knew that she spoke
the truth, craved her pardon for the un-
kind reflection, and they parted.
The scene, not devoid of certain
picturesqueness, could scarcely have
been called romantic, for the converse
ton just recorded had taken place in
the interior of 4 rude saw-mill, rising
almost from the bed of braw1-
| ing mountain stream known as the
Branch" The swirl of the water
among the ROCKS, the patter of rain
upon the roof, and the ceaseless tear of
the great upright saw through the mas
sire log mingled with the voices of the
| lovers, while a brace of antiquated lam
terms gave an unearthly distinctness to
| the chill interior.
1t was early autumn, and long
| drouth lad prevailed, but now the first
considerable rain was falling, and the
stream was high enough to allow the
continual running of the mill which was
pressed with demands for lumber which
| had been delayed by the low water.
| Daniels assistant had long since gone
home. but the former had volunteered
TO run the saw mill into the night, and
Ethie had come through the storm with
q pail of hot coffee and lunch; and it
may be readily supposed that the op-
portunity was not allowed to pass with
| out few sentences of endearment, for
the young couple were ardently in
| love-
The situation is made reasonably
| plain by their conversation.
Hugh Crittenden. the father of Ethie,
was the one man of the section in which
| he lived. From small beginning he
| had become comparatively wealthy.
| His were the mills, the country store,
the postofiice, the local magistracy-in
fact, the business and social life of the
little community revolved at his pleas
ure.
1t was but natural that the father
should take great pride in his sweet and
beautiful daughter, now some nineteen
years, of age. There was, in fact, no
limit to his ambition in her behalf-an
ambition which Ethie no longer shared.
since her heart was given to Daniel
DeWolf, worthy young man in her
fathers employ, whose fortune she
would be content to share.
''She must go into society in the
cities" her father had said only the
evening before our story opens. 'She
is qualified, and she'll shine there
mind what / tell you, she'll shine
therer'
For week the storm had continued
almost without cessation So great a
rainfall had scarce been known, and
the Branch. which haG shrunken almost
to succession of pools, now roared
and dashed with trightful energy past
the old brown lill.
All day long, and far into the night,
the keen-toothed saw tore its way
through the endless succession of logs
and Daniel often gazing out upon the
mad waters fancieI that they reflected
his own heart, for truth to tell, he was
far from calm. He loved intensely, but
it was by no means clear to him how
his love was ever more hopeful phase
than at present.
And when at last the gates were shut,
and the wheel ceased its revolutions, he
would retire to the little office" in
which couch had been placed. and di-
vide the few hours of rest between sleep
and the futile efforts TO see beyond the
dark veil of the future.
The office was a narrow room, built
out from the side o. the mill, and pro-
jecting directly over the bed of the
stream. and the food dashed 5y now SO
close TO the flooring that il almost