The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-16
How high the waters were, and still

Many houses in the valley were al
ready isolated, and unless a speedy
change took place-of which, alas
there was no symptom--the result
must inevitably be grave disaster.
The wind lulled for an hour or two
while Roger transacted his business
But it arose in redoubled fury as he
commenced his return journey.
Darkness added to the difficulty and
the danger of the route.
Turning sharply round corner into
Baysditch Valley, Roger was hailed
by terror-stricken voice behind him.
He pulled hastily up.
"What's wrong p he asked.
Pant, pant, pant and then a white
face with awed, dilated eyes cleaned
upon him in the mist.
"Porley Dam be bursten !"
mo sure 2
Roger comprehended in an instant
what that message meant, and his &C
cents were as hoarse as the strangers,
"Ay certain. 'Tis tearing through
t embankment like cataract, Gettin'
bigger every minute, and noane can't
stop it,
"Then Baysdtch must be flooded ?"
eyes. | be goin' to warn t."
slump on here"
And Roger drove as if for his own
life instead of other peoples.
The alarm soon spread, and a scene
of terror and confusion ensued Mhich
might have appalled, the strongest.
Water was swiftly rising in the single
village street, and the mutter of the
onsweeping torrent grew louder every
minute. Homeless, and sadly deficient
in both food and clothing, dozens of
families fled to the hill side while there
was yet time.
Where was Ada Carft lodging {!
Milton Villa, old Luke Carfit's home,
was some distance beyond the cluster
ing village roofs, and Roger experien-
ced some delay in reaching it. The
inmates only three in number besides
the two maid-servauts, were Just alarm
ed, and their retreat was cut off before
even Roger was aware of it. Ada was as
pale as death, but 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 his very soul
1t was a time for action and not senti-
ment.
From the edge of the lawn-now
the bed of a roaring stream-the
ground trended gently away to the up
lands, and there the only hope lay.
1t was more than probable that the
house would give way under the ava
lanche of water which had still to
descend. "Porley Dam" was the cur
rent designation of the reservoir that
supplied all Scarborough.
Roger Herlestone swan across with
his horse and turned the animal loose.
Then, estimating as best he could the
distance and his own powers, he re-
turned and briefly explained his plan.
There was no boat within reach. Each
member of the household must trust to
him; and he would return for each. 1t
was proposed Ada should go first but
she refused, and time was too precious
to be spent in haggling. Mrs. Carft
and her husband and the maids were
all saved thus and nearly exhausted,
Roger went back to the obstinate girl
who still fingered.
"Whether l die or live, this shall
be my revenge" he muttered to him
self.
Ada was in his arms now and the
cross-current running heavily against
him. 1t was a desperate struggle, and
growing every instant more dangerous
by reason of uprooted trees and other
wreckage, that came swiftly down the
valley.
Would he succeed? How the spec
tators held their breath and trembled
At last with faint "Hurrah " he made
terra firma with his burden. But then
he tainted, and for the first time the
rescued household observed that he
was wounded. A tree-trunk had struck
him, and inflicted ghastly wound on
the head. But for the present all they
could do was to grieve, and tend him
as he lay They were outcasts, like
dozens of others.
That flood will be long remembered,
and not least by Roger Herlestone and
the girl he saved.
Brain fever supervened and Roger
was i'll for many weeks. Ada Carfi,
was his chief nurse, and her character
seemed entirely changed, SO humble
and assiduous was she.
There came a day when, with rev
light in his eye, Roger looked up ant
whispered
"Ada!'
She averted her face. But he haC
caught the vision of tear-one O
thankfulnes and joy, He took her un
resisting hand.
81 have a confession to make" h,
whispered "It was in sheer reveng,
| saved you. Can you forgive me
Ada? And after all-care-a little E?
Forgive! And let me tell, too,
she cried brokenly, Il loved you though
| didn't know it, when you asked M
first, Roger"