The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1884-06-13
MOONLIGHT AND FLOODS.

Tho floods were out AZ Wendethorpc.
Boats were moving hither and thither
in the iower-ly ing streets. and out in
the open country field after field was
changed 70 a lake. From amid the
waters rose a solitary farmhouse.
black against a darkening sky The
surging How hcavcd and tossed and
struck heavily upon IL; here was no
languidly spreading expanse. but the
hurry 81 the swollen river rushing inn
patiently forward and rising in is inn
patience higher and even higher. At
an upper window six persons were
gathered. watching The motions Of q
light that came and went slowly. and
seemed 10 be drawing nearer BY de-
grees. The group was made up Of the
farmer. his wife. their three children.
and a young man who was the eldest
daughters lover. The light was mani
fcstly approaching. the dark shape Of
n boat became distinct. they heard the
dip and splash Of the oars: At last the
boat paused in the lee OF the house. and
their rescue was secure II could be
seen now. ia the light Of the lantern.
that there were several persons in the
boat. and that one Of them was wom-
an
A voice called upward 10 those with
In: .'llow many are you?"
And voice called downward in re-
DIV: six"
10 that answer followed moment q
silence
Then. amid the sound ~ the water.
cainc up the words: I'VE have only
room for four. !"
''Shail you be able 10 come back for
the oihersg asked the farmer.
Again followed pause. brief. but
sufficient 10 forcshadow the coming
negative
No. hardly. II was getting too dark
and too dangerous
Within were quick qucstionings and
<ienials. q half-heard debate. caught
and lost again between the ominous
beating of the rising floods. BY day
break the houSetop would scarcely he
left above water. even If the walls
shold be strong enough 70 hold out 50
long
Jack and will stay said the
farmer 1T last.
III Jack STAYS. 50 viii III answered
the clear voice Of his daughter.
Then 4 man rose in the boat and
said; There II no woman who would
say that for me. and 20 let me stay"
The Others in tile boat looked ut him
- he stood leaning one hand against
The wall lie was stranger who had
reached Wendelthorpc only that after
noon. and had volunteered his services
81 the starting OF the boat.
The woman sitting in the stern moved
. little and said. ~ will stay, too
and AL eyes turned back 70 her. Her
they knew. She was the new mistress
Of the village school. grave young
woman. and reported eccentric.
There was no rcmonstrance from the
boat. only slow, Illuminating surprise:
from above. indeed. came protests. but
faint and qickly ovcrrulcd.
A window was opened in lower
Stbry; the two entered upon landing
that was already flooded and went
quickly upward. Warm. broken thanks
met them and eager promises Of return
in the first hour Of dawn. Then from
The upper window. the two watched
the emit arkation Of the six, heard their
shouts of thanks and Of farewell. then
the dip of the oars. and felt at their
hearts sudden blank. They stood
side BY side, Watching the wavering
progress 81 the departure and the
wavcring reflection Of the shaken light.
AZ last. when the boat was far away
and no dim echo reached them Of its
sounds. they turned toward each other
and toward the inner room. The room
had IN the interval. grown nearly dark,
and a. they turned this way they heard
The ilap 81 the water, like 4 step on tho
staircase.
lave You Any hope Of their coming
back Ia timer asked che woman.