The Red Cloud chief., 1884-06-13
MOONLIGHT AND FLOODS.

The flood We're out at Wendelthorpe.
Boats were moving h;ther and thithcr
IN the lower-lyIng streets, and out in
the open country field after field was
Changed to a lake. From amid the
waters rose a solitary farmhouse,
black against a darkening SKY. The
surging TOW hcaved and tossed and
struck heavily upon it; mere was no
langu dly spreading eXpanse. but the
hurry OF the swollen river rushing i'm
patiently forward and rising in its i'm
patience higher and even higher. At
an upper window six persons We're
gathered. watching he motions of a
light that came and went slowly. and
4 seemed to Toe 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
daughter lover. The light was mani
testify approaching, the dark shape of
a boat became distinct. they heard the
dip and splash of the oars: at last the
. boat paused in the lee o. the house. and
their rescue vas secure Ii could be
: seen now, in the light of the lantern.
that there We're several persons in the
boat, n that one of them was a wOm-
an.
A voice called upward to those with
4 N: How many are you?"
And a voice called downward in re-
ply: ''>ix."
To that answer followed 4 moment of
silence.
Then. anna The sound of the water.
came up the words: I'VE have only
Room for four"
shall YOU be able to come back for
the others9" asked the farmer.
Again followed a pause. brief. but
sufficient to f~oreshadow the coming
negative.
No. hardly, it was getting too dark
and too dangerous.
Within We're quick 9uestionings and
-denialS, a half-heard debate. caught
and lost again between the ominouS
5eating of the rising floods. BY day
break the housetop would scarcely lie
left above water, Ven if the walls
sho!d be strong enough to hold out SO
long.
Jack and L will STAY" said the
farmer al last.
If Jack STAYS. so will T. answered
the clear Voice of his daughter.
Then a man rose in the boat and
said; There is no woman who would
saw tina. for me, and SO let me stav."
The others in the boat looked At him
a he stood leaning one hand against |
the wall. He was a stranger who had
reached Wendelthorpe only that after
noon. and had volunteered his services
at the Starting of the boat.
The woman sitting in the stern moved
q LEILA MI all al ,.:1l .,,- .oo.-r !
and all ewes turned back TO her. Her |
they knew. She was the new mistress
of the village school, a grave young
woman. and reported eccentric.
There WAS no remonstrance from the
coat. only a SLOW, Eliminating surprise:
from above. indeed. came protests, but
fain; and qickly overruled.
A window was opened in a lower
story; the two entered upon a 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 en- arkation of the six, heard their
shouts of thanks and of farewell, then
the dip OF the oars. and felt at their
hearts a sudden blank. They stood
side by side. watching the wavering
progress of the departure and the
wayering rejection of the shaken light.
At last. when the coat 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 As they turned this way they heard
the flap OF the water, like a step on the
A,
Have you any hope of their coming
back in time?' a-ked the woman.
Her companion answered: NO"
and she saw through the darkness that
shook his head. !
'.Nor have l." said she.
They stood aimlessly looking into the
darkening room. They had no
occupation but to await the com NO up I
OF the wafer. and they were strangers
who had never so much as beheld each
others face by full daylight. The wind I
ami the water went sweeping by outside, l
and IN the house were gho>tly sounds of S
doors and windows stealthiiy tried and
shaken. I
Had We not better go up to the At }
tie while We CAM asked the man, BY I
and by. ,