The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-21

Mods premises adjoined his, and She CO..
it all. The marriage ceremony was to tale.
place at nine O'Clock, and the happy nai,.
were to go directly to the railway sfatio-
VIII he be at the church," Guestionai
Mod of herself, " or at the railwayYU and
could not answer. What shall do?p sba
cried miserably; go, my God! Wbat.
shall do?"
He was not among the spectators whom,
even the pouring rain could not keep ava,
from the church door, and, once satisfe9
of this, Mod turned her steps toward the.
station. There he was, sure enough, deem
in conversation with railway official
There was a strange glitter in his ewes
and his dark, handsome face was deadIy
pale. From head to heel he was buttonad
carefully into a shining rubber coat and
Mod felt sure that in his bosom Law a harm.
less looking little toy, as bright as a Jewel
that needed to be kept dry.
Incased also in rubber, and wearing n
heavy green veil, it was easy for the GirI
to have passed him unrecognized and
establish herself in the door of the ladiesJ
waiting room, towards which his bacl, was
turned as he leaned a shoulder against the
wall, and whence she could have reached
out her hand and laid it on his shoulder.
"GOin' awaY?" asked the official, with
that falling infection which denotes n
question in SmOketon.
mot exactly" replied Stephen, with
grim laugh, "but l know a fellow that is:
pretty far, too. l came to see him off,"
"Oh !" said the official. "Wen, he WON'T
get pretty far to-day. Tracks flooded in
every direction; rivers on a regular high.
Amt train came in this mornin'; and
none amt comm"
Distances were short in Smoketon, and
Mod was back at the church with her in
formation before the ceremony was over
and set the news afloat so successfully
that it soon reached the bridal party.
There was hasty, whispered cons'
sultation; then the bride and groom
stepped into a carriage and returned to
Mr.. Tracy's, while the best man spra1g in
to another in order to inquire iIto the
accuracy of the tidings.
Stephen saw the carriage drive Up, and,
drawing himself to his full heightplunged
his hand into his breast. But )nly one
person stepped from the vehicle, and that
not the one for whom he waitet AS he
looked on with fiercely cleaning, be-
wildered eyes a hand was lad upon his
arm and Mod looked up int his face;
Mod, in her draggled waterproof, with her
green veil pushed up from aface trans
formed for the moment into bauty by the
light of the soul within.
"Stephen," she said, holding his eyes
with hers, "they will not bave to-day.
The river is rising; all Souh Smoketon is
under water. and the peonIeare drowning.
Come with me and save chem. Come,
Stephen" she added, solemlly, as he hest
tated, gazing in surprise at her trans
figured COuntenance, "ppve Yourself q
man 1rOrtb loving. Let tint be vour re-
venge"
BLAMED if don't!" sail Stephen Dare.
He walked forward a step, drew his
hand from his breast. and with n wbir1 of
his wrist sent sometime lright cleaning,
and sparkling into the hsf ap9roaching
water. Then. taking Md NV the elbow
he hurried her away to her own home
where he mt her within tbe door saving
briefly. nNow vou,re safe. Mod staY
tbere,U and FASTENED on.
Stepben Dare was fine hest oarsman in
SrnoLeton INIT he f0und bimsaIf eI,rDoesed
that dav. not onjv in skill Init in cool
ready daring. for Ghamn Preston had been
the crack oar of his college and had pulled
stroke in many a boat-race, and now, with
his brides kisses warm on his lips, he felt
strong with the strength of ten.
81 didn't think he had if in him. the
blame gaIoot,U said Stenhen. with nm
willing admiration. The Ianouid. bIue
ewes we're quietly, keenIy alert: the tan,
slender form nrovpd 70 have nnaclas al
iron under the smooth. White skin Stenben
had so despised. And tbe strongest inns
cIae +ba raodios+ co,,roqTo bad or, Vol,
cut out for them that day.
Apart ut times. Mt other times togetber.
the rivals toiiad hringir, many a boaf,
load of half-drowned wretches to safety
the rain still fell and the water rose
steadily higher. As the darkness increased
it grew more difficult to avoid the logs,
beams and wrecks of all descriptions which
the terrible river swept downward with
fOTpA a CHI cd or