Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-12-18

hiShty cap, 50 Wneu you see lue Hdl
agin jes tell her I'm sorry l tore her
dress; | didn't go for to do it nohow.
You'll tell her"
Farnham said that he would. River
Dan was garrulous, and did most of the
talking, and the little book keeper felt
that under his rough manners the giant
riverman had good heart after all.
"Iou see, I'd been takin too many
drinks, was what allied me, cap.
wouldn't insult no respectable girl for
nuthin' in the world"
The explanation and apology were
ample, and all this had come about with.
out bad blood, a row and bloody faces
On the whole, Farnham, felt that he had
pursued the wisest course, after all.
The little book keeper left River Dan
at the dam and finished his journey to
Oxbow alone.
Mr.. Lyon made no mention of the
trouble at the dance to his book-k keeper.
His daughter gave no account of her
escorts cowardice, bat the lumberman
failed to take that interest his daughter
desired.
Matters went on after the old fashion.
Mark Farnham had been a frequent Wis
itor at the Lyon house, but since the
dance at Maple Top he had held himself
aloof. The little book-keeper had been
hurt in tender spot, and he could not
forget how Janet looked when she ut
tered the word coward.
The foreman came often to Oxbow,
and Janet and the handsome Apollo
were much together. The loggers
coupled the names of the two, and iutl-
mated that Dick would feather his nest
before long. The little book keeper
heard, but remained silent He could
not discuss a subject that was of
most painful nature to MIN. He be-
lieved that Janet cared something for
him, until that affair at the Maple Top
dance. From that time she had cut him
effectively. He had pride, as we'll as
the belle of the Muskegon, and from
that fatal night they met as strangers.
The pallor of the little book.keeper's
face seemed to deepen His eyes were
hollow, and his cheeks sunken. He at
tended business devotedly, and no one
noticed any change in little Mark
| Farnham.
The winter passed. Late in March
the ice in the river began to move. Soon
a tremendous roaring filled the ears of
the citizens of Oxbow. People gathered
on the bank to see the ice go out. 1t
was grand sight, as the huge cakes,
nearly a foot in thickness, went crashing
down over the dam with a mighty
seething, grinding roar.
On with irresistible fury swept the
mighty mass, hurled with tremendous
fury by the rapidly rising waters which
the warm spring rains had augmented to
a mighty flood Close behind the ice
came mighty jam of pine logs. The
river was fast clogging, and a huge
jam was formed against the dam which
had lately been built across the river.
"a jam must not be permitted to
form there" cried John Lyon, as he saw
the rolling and tumbling mass of logs
hating, choking the river on the brink
of the dam.
Among those gathered on the bank
was River Dan from the Dam.
"Get yer pick, levers, boys!" he cried
in lond voice.
The logs had already formed a jam,
and men in red shirts, with picks and
peevies, were flocking to the dangerous
jam, working with might and main to
keep the mighty mass of pine NOV
ing.
The female portion of Oxbow was out
watching the movements of the red
shirts. Right in the center of the river,
not far from where the water boiled and
secthed over the dam, was Dick cling
ton, giving orders in a stentorian voice.
1t was dangerous place, and Janet
Lyons cheek blanched as she saw him.
The logs on the further shore were
kept moving, and the current of the
river swept that way with the fury of an
avalanche. The red-shirts had been
working an hour with desperate energy,
and many of them were exhausted.
$50 ashore, boys, and get luach
the greatest danger is past; Wellington
and will hold the fort until you re-
turn"
1t was Mr.. Lyon who spoke. He had
gone to the center of the river with the
GOODNESS of an old log. driver. The men
obeyed. The greater part of the logs
had passed, the principal danger being
over Half the river was yet blocked
with logs piled to great height, form
ing jam that looked impregnable.
Scarcely had the last man reached the
shore, when a wild cry rose above the
roar of the foaming water:
"My God Tie whole jam is going =
Then with loud cracking, terrific
roar and the logs went with mighty rusl
over the dam on the Oxbow shore.
"Good heaven! They are lostl"
This cry went up, as all eyes wert
turned upon Mr.. Lyon and his foreman
now the only occupants of the JAM |
did seem as though they were doomed
but they were saved for the time as by
miracle. In the center of the dam few
} logs held firm, and soon all had swep
through but this bit of jam in the mid
die OF the stream. An expanse of foam
ing water boiled past on either side, anC
the narrow jam swayed and trembled a.
1t hung suspended over the dam. Be
low, ten feet, was sea of foam, wher
}. the water, in pouring over the dam, wa
lashed to wild fury on rocks and stones
Both men felt the awful danger. al
most certain death, that stared them il
: the face
} "There's no chance for them fellers
they're good as gone, that's sartin, ut
tered River Dan.
Swaying and groaning, the floatin
island seemed every moment ready to o
over into the boiling waters below.
dumb horror rested over the crowd O
| startled loggers on shore.
A pallid checked girl, with streaming
hair, reached the waters edge and stoo
with outstretched hands appealing t.
strong men for help. No one moved
care you all cowards9" she cried
FACING the multitude Rrawnv mo