Little Falls transcript., 1885-01-23

stead of gayly dressed guests, mourn
ers all in black and q coffin before the
altar, and gave a scream and waken-
ed. Bells were ringing, but not we'd
ding bells-the bells that tolled il
there were any need Of the men of the
place--if fire broke out, or robbers
were heard of, or there were any riot
ing in the town. What could il
mean?
Jean listened. A strange sobbing,
surging sound fell upon her ears.
Lights cleaned in all the houses of the
town. The truth flashed upon her.
Years before, her old grandmother had
told her how the old sea wall had been
washed away, and tide had risen and
swept in upon them on that wild coast
of Lincolnshire, carrying with it, as it
went out, kline and flocks and little
dwellings,, and even land itself; and
how there was mourning throughout
the land for those that it had done tc
death-men and women and children,
young and old-so that many house
hold long remembered it with woe.
This had happened again. The sea
wall was down, the floods, were sweep.
ing in. The bells were ringing as they
had rung before in the ears of those
who lay in their grayes--ringing to
tell the same tale to those who were
then unborn.
The house in which she dwelt was
old, and near the sea: far from all hu-
man aid too; and its occupants very
two very old people and two girls.
The only one who could have aided
them was far away. But for this Jean
could have thanked Heaven, for he
was safe, and the waters were rising
even now above the windows of the
lower rooms. She could see the star
light reflected in it in CLEANS and
sparkles, and she knew that the old
people must be drowned in their beds
il she did not waken them. She ent
down into the room where they slept,
and cried out, as she shook them,
The tide has risen again! The tide
has risen again Hear the bells -
Then she led them, trembling and
weeping in their helpless old-age, to
the roof, and found Hulda already
crouched there. She was crying also,
and she turned to Jean and clutched
her arm.
"Will the water rise so far?' she
asked. "Will | be drowned? who
was to be married Tomorrow? Oh, it
can't be, Jean!'
''Others will 60 with you, if You
are,' said Jean. There are four of
u.s.
But no other besides would have
r.
row. said Hulda, and bemoaned her
self. The old people shook and
prayed, and cried softly.
Jean, calm and silent, kept watch.
The lights floating about told that
boats were out. Help might come
even yet, but the water was creeping
up. 1t filled the house. It Tapped the
very caves. Still it rose, higher and
higher and higher. Those upon the
roof climbed to the very apex of its
slope, and chung there, but the water
reached their feet, and Hulda was quite
mad with terror, when u light glim-
mered close before them, and q voice
cried:
"Good folks, there's room for some
he,e. How many of you are thereo'
"Four,' said Jean.
We've room for three,' said the
voice us it Welton's folk?''
"Yes,' said Jean.
Then a stout fellow strobe over the
roof and carried away the old woman,
and then the old man. aud came back.
"We'll return for the other as soon
as we can,' said he; keep up cour.
age;" and seized Jeans arm. SIN
with you, he cried, There's little
time to spare
And Hulda gave q scream, .anC
cried, "Don't leave me! don't leave
mer'
Then Jean, in whose heart jealousy
had lighted the fires of hell bat an
hour OF so before, felt that the angels
had quenched it with the waters Of
love- She wrenched her strong, white
arm from the grasp Of the man who
held it.
"Leave me, and take her," she said,
"I'm not afraid. I'm able to bear
more And she is to be Ned Welton's
wife tomorrow. Save her for his
sake"
She commanded; she did not i'm
plore, or seem to speak from duty
The man who listened hardly though
of her sacrifice. He obeyed. Hulda
was in the boat.
keep courage until we come back,
he shouted, and rowed away.
Jean chung to the chimney side, ano
kept her feet firm on the roof; but they
were ankle deep now.
The water was rising still. She knew
that there was little hope, but she was
very happy.
go, dear old feliow-dcar, dear Ned,'
she said aloud, for there were noue
to hear her, "there'll be no blight, for
you know you'll have your love safe
and sound tomorrow. What's plain
Jean to any one Who'll miss her
but u poor old woman who'll follow
her soon? But she, Hulda, is half
your life, Ned. Oh, God be
thanked that can give myself fol
Hulda, for your sake
And in the starlight her face shown
calm and sweet and happy, with more
then martyrs happiness, as the water
arose toward it.
And at last her feet lost their hold,
and her strength was gone. She was
lifted and whirled away; the long
brown hair, unloosened, 0swept far
behind her; the marble face cleaned
through rings Of water that the star.
light made a halo of. A voice sobbine
through it, said: Med ! Ned darling
Ned, goodbye ~ and there was
nothing to DO seen but the flood still
rising, and the sky spread out
above it.
On the morrow Jean Abbot's body
was found lying close to the old