The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-02-06

It all. The marriage ceremony was to take
place at nine O'Clock, and the happy pair
were to 60 directly to the railway station.
"Will he be at the church" questioned
Mod Of herself, "or at the railway?n and
could not answer "What shall doin she
cried miserably; 80, my Godi What
shall do?"
He was not among the spectators whom
even the pouring rain could not keep away
from the church door, and, once satisfied
of this, Mod turned her steps toward the
station. There he was, sure enough, deep
| in conversation with q railway official.
There was o strange glitter in his eyes,
and his dark, handsome face was deadly
pale. From head to heel he was buttoned
carefully into q shining rubber coat, and
| Mod felt sure that in his bosom lay HARM
less looking little toy, as bright as jewel,
| that needed to be kept dry.
Incased also in rubber, and wearing .
heavy green veil, it was easy for the girl
to have passed him unrecognized and
| establish herself in the door of the ladies'
waiting room, towards which his back was
| turned as he leaned shoulder against the
| out her hand and laid it on his shoulder.
"Goin' awav?" asked the official, with
| that falling infection which denotes .
| question in Smoketon.
"Not exactly" replied Stephen, with q
| grim laugh, "but know q fellow that is;
pretty far, too. l came to see him or"
| "Ohv said the official. 'Well, he won't
| get pretty far to-day. Tracks flooded IN
| every direction; rivers on a regular high:
| Amt q train came in this mornin'; and
none amt comin'."
| 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 afioat so successfully
that it soon reached the bridal party.
hQ w
sultation; then the bride and groom
stepped into q carriage and returned to
| Mr. Tracy's, while the best man sprang i'm
to another in order to inquire into the
accuracy OF the tidings.
Stephen saw the carriage drive up, and,
drawing himself to his full height, plunged
| his hand into his breast. But only one
person stepped from the vehicle, and that
not the one for whom he waited. As he
looked on with fercely cleaning, be-
wildered eyes q hand was laid upon his
arm, and Mod looked up into his face;
Mod, in her draggled waterproof, with her
green veil pushed up from q face trans.
formed for the moment into beauty by the
light of the soul within.
''Stephen," she said, holding his eyes
with hers, "they will not leave to-day.
The river is rising; all South Smoketon Is
under water, and the people are drowning.
Come with me and save them. Come,
l 6beD0o0s" SQc a0ueus SOleululyy hB NC ueSi.
tated, gazing in surprise at her trans
figured countenance, "prove yourself
man ,corth loving. Let that be your re-
"Blamed il don'tp said Stephen Dare.
He walked forward step, drew his
hand from his breast, and with whirl of
his wrist sent something bright, cleaning
and sparkling into the fast approaching
water. Then, taking Mod by the elbow,
he hurried her away to her own home,
where he put her within the door, saying
briefly: "Now you're safe, Mod; stay
there" and FASTENED on.
Stephen Dare was the best oarsman In
Smoketou, but he found himself surpassed
that day, not only in skill, but in cool,
ready daring; for Champ Preston had been
the crack oar of his college and had pulled
| stroke in many . boat-race, and now, with
his brides kisses warm on his lips, he felt
strong with the strength of ten.
al didn't think he had it in him, the
blame galoot," said Stephen, with un-
willing admiration. The languid, bluc
eyes were quietly, keenly alert; the tall,
slender form proved to have muscles OF
iron under the smooth, white skin Stephen
had 80 despised. And the strongest mus
cles, the readiest courage, had their work
cut out for them that day.
Apart at times, at other times together,
the rivals toiled, bringing many boat
load of half-drowned wretches to safety
and such comfort as was obtainable, while
the rain still fell and the water rose
steadily higher. As the darkness increased
1t grew more difficult to avoid the logs,
beams and wrecks Of all descriptions which
the terrible river swept downward with
resistless force. One of these crashed at
last into Champ Preston's boat and crushed
In its side as though il had been an egg.
shell. In half moment it had filed and
sunk, and the rowers were struggling in
the black, raging current. Stephens boat
was clese at hand, and rushed at once to
the rescue One, two were picked up alive;
the third, with small, fatal bruise upon
his temple; for the fourth they searched
some moments without success.
"And married, too, this morning, poor
felloww said one of the rescuers COM
passionately.
They were pulling away from the place,
when Stephen caught glimpse of a white
face and yellow hair entangled in the
branches Of q tree that hung over the water
Should he speakf Why endanger the lives
Of all aboard by going back for, perhaps, q
dead man? Besides, had not Fate paid of
his score against his rival? Then why
interfere?
But stephen had for hours been spending
himself for others, and therefore the
struggle was short before he said quietly:
"Hold up, fellows! Yonder he u.s."
Myra and Mod in the meantime had not
been idle. There was much to be done for
those taken out of the water, and, as the
two worked together, they learned, IL not
Every room in Mr.. Tracy's house had been
thrown open TO the sufferers; mattresses,
beds, hastily -improvised couches of all de-
scriptions, covered the floors, and there did
not seem to be room for even one more,
when suddenly stephen stood before them,
l ~ L.
either of you fly of the handle. There's no
charming young widow In this party, for
he's alive and here~
Myra Preston saw the white, unconscious
face of q form which four men were bring
ing carefully in, and sprang towards 1t
with q low cry.
up" said poor Stephen, gazing wistfully
after her, as she followed those who bore
away her husband to long but sweet