New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-03-25

and looked up at the sky. It was
calm and full of stars. Its peaceful
ness had an instant influence on her.
Repentent tears began to flow. She
prayed as simple children pray;
''Please make me goodr' And all the
hate for Hulda left her breast, and
her love for Ned-her yearning, ach-
ing love for him-softened into a
sort of tender memory. She was still
sad. A painful humility crushed her
heart d longing for love oppressed
her but When she had prayed for
herself, when she had striven with
herself, the evil spirit had departed.
Soon, with her white, well-developed
milk-maid's arms under her head, she
slept upon the messy roof, under the
canopy of the stars.
At last she began to dream. They
were going to church-Hulda and Ned
and she heard the wedding bells;
but going in at the door she saw, in
stead of gayly dressed guests, mourn
ers all in black and coffin before the
altar, and gave a scream and waken-
ed. Bells were ringing, but not we'd
ding bells-the bells that tolled if
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 it
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 a 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 to
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 graves ringing to
tell the same tale to those who were
Ii.
The house in which she dwelt was
old. and near the sea- far from all hui
man aid too; and it's 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
if she did not waken them. She went
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. s'Will be drowned? I who
was to be married tomorrow? Oh, it
can't be, Jeanr'
"Others will go with you, if you
are" said Jean. ''Thero are four of
u.s."
''But no other besides I would have
been so happy and so proud to-mor-
row." said Hulda, and bemoaned her
self. The old people shook and
prayed, and cried softly.
Jean, CAIN 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. 1t Tapped the
very caves. Still it rose, higher and
higher and higher. Those upon the
roof climbed to the very apex of it's
slope, and chung there, but the water
reached their feet, and Hulda was quite
mad with terror, when light glim-
mered close before them, and voice
cried:
''Good folks, there's room for some
hele. How many Of you are THEREOF
''Four,'' said Jean.
':We've room for three" said the
voice. SIS it Welton's folk?''
eyes," said Jean.
Then stout fellow strobe over the
roof and carried away the old woman,
and then the old man, and came back.
"We'll return for the other as soon
as we can,' said he; s.keep up cour-
age:'' and seized jeans arm. ssIn
with you, he cried, ''There's little
time to spare"
And Hulda gave a scream, and
cried, s'Don't leave me! don't leave
mel"
/ Then Jean, in whose heart jealousy
had lighted the fires of hell but an
hour or 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,
s'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 thought
! of her sacrifice. He Obeyed. Hulda