The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20


her and feel the wooden structure vibrate
and culver like creature In distress. 1t
was with sigh Of relief that she touched
Mother Earth once more and fastened
up the hill to the Jellfe farm, for there
was not another person In sight, most Of
the men and boys Of the rural district
having gone to assist at the village,
where there was serious apprehension
of an overflow and much destruction of
property.
Chatty found the usually cheerful
busy farmers wife standing idly by her
kitchen window. She welcomed her
young visitor cordially saying, 'Tm so
glad to see some one, for | am all alone
in the house, and that noisy water out
there makes me as nervous as cat.
Such flood has never been known in
the fall of the year before: and Jake
Spindle, the peddler, just came down
from Mllvlle, and says they are afraid
there the dam will give way. If IL does,
there is no telling where the damage will
stop"
But this house is too high up for the
water to reach it, surely" said Chatty.
YES, thank IIcavenl And with the
men folks all away at market, tool But
the old bridge may go. 1t is a rickety
affair at the best, and the railway com
pany have been warned of it again and
again. believe men are coming to re-
pair il next week If it holds together so
long. But sit down by the fire. Chatty,
and try piece of my pumpkin pie. l
made six this morning for Thanksgiv-
ing"
The little girl gladly did so, and while
enjoying her collation. became so intc-
tnI in hal hut
she quite forgot her Grand until cheer
tul chirp. chirp fell upon her ear.
oh. there are the crickets singing.
She exclaimed. And that reminds me |
came over on purpose, Mrs. Jellifc, to
beg you To give me two or three of
them. They are said to he so lucky to
have on the hearth"
of course | villa dozen If you
like and the genial dame hustled about,
catching the merry little insects and pop
ping them into IA box, which Chatty
tucked away in her pocket Ms carefully
rs though it contained golddust,
Thank you so much Mrs. Jcllife; hut
il is getting dusk. and | must start to-
wards home. as don't care to cross the
bridge again after dark"
"Good-bye then, and hope the
crickets may bring you world of good
luck
Il wish they would bring my father
home, said Chatty; but at that instant
"A crash and louder and more deafening
roar made both start and rush to the
window in alright.
The dam must have given way" ex-
claimed Mrs. Jellife, white to the very
lips; and pcering out they beheld the
terrible force of an uncomfortable ele-
ment.
What had gone before seemed mere
child's play, for now. with the volume
of Niagara and the din of thousand
water fiends the seething torrent came
foaming, dashing. leaping downwards,
carrying all before it and sending
up dense clouds of steamy spray;
while, as they watched. they saw it
strike the bridge-saw the timbers trem-
bic and sway, and then, crushed and
swept from their moorings. go tossing
like cookie shell out of sight.
Five minutes later and should have
been on it, whispered Chatty. turning
pale at the thought.
Yes, it came in good time for you;
but am afraid for the evening express.
1t is due here at quarter of SIX and
there is no time to stop the train after it
rounds the curve when the engineer can
see what has occurred
But will no one send word to the
next stationY' asked Chatty, looking up
aghast
II cant say. tbs a lonely spot, and
few can know what has happened. while
all the men are away at market or help
ing in the village. Heaven have mercy
on the poor souls coming home to spend
their Thanksgiving"
1T is dreadful Oh, Mrs. Jellife lend
me horse, and will ride over to Grams
ton and carry the news myselfr'
You, child! Are you crazy? 1t is
just three miles, and it is on the stroke
of five now
But must try, anyway; and | be-
licve can do it. Think If you had any
friend on that train May have White.
foot?"
"Whitefoot has gone to market, and
so have Jerry and all the rest. There is
not IA horse in the stable except Wild
fire, and nobody can ride him but Dan.
The men don't dare touch him."
Il am used to horses. Give me some
sugar, and will see what | can do"
1T is no use; you could never saddle
the critter" But, nevertheless, Mrs.
Jellife brought out some Jumps of sugar
and followed the girl to the barn, where
in one of the stalls stood large, power
full black horse.
He eyed them viciously, and tried to
bite Chatty when she ventured to pat
his nose; but, instead of the little hand,
his jaws came together on Il sweet lump
she had deity slipped into his open
mouth, which so astonished him that he
submitted, in his amazement, to being
led out and having the saddle placed on
his back; but when she attempted to adj