Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-04-06

The freShet has passed, anu thc
road is OverhOwed Betsy still
urges the nOundering horse. The
water deepens. Now it IS mp to
the steed's flanks. Now he is swim
ming. But they must be almost to
the bridge? Yes, there is the old
familiar elm. The food has not
carried that away, but it has grown
so dark that Betsy cannot see be.
yond it. The rOad.bed rises a lit
tie Just before reaching the river
bank, and now old Gray is on his
feet again. Presently the water
falls to his knees, then to his fet-
locks, and once more Betsy urged
him to a mad gallop. Now they
are at the bridge-now they are on
it. Nay the bridge has been swept
away, and old Gray is creeping ont
orer the food on the stringpiece!
1t is too late to turn back. Ev-
erything now depends on the sure
foot of the faithful old horse. All
around is inky blackness. The flood
roars, rushes, and seethes under
meath. Heaven grant that that
single string.piece may hold, and
that old Gray may bear his little
mistress safely across!
Betsy hardly dares to BREATHE
She closed her eyes, lets the bride
fall on old Gray's neck and lifts
her heart in prayer to God. Slow
ly, carefully, with head bent down,
with every muscle tense, the horse
picked his way along the narrow
beam. One false step and all would
be lost. The intelligent animal
knows the danger, feels the respon-
sibilIty as keenIy as though he
we're human. Every energy of his
being is fixed upon the task before
him. Step by step he tests the
footing and makes his way across
the black gulf. Now, thank Heav'
en- the other bank Is near. Only
few more yards of that perilous
pathway. At last, at last, they are
upon the other shore
Betsy sUoops down and imprints
kiss ON old Gray's neck. Then
she gathers up the bride and shouts
to him, "On, on Gray! We must
save Sam ~
Away flies the gray horse through
the gloom. Is it too latei 1t may
not be. The river makes a wide
detour below the bridge. Betsy
has simply to follow the string of
the bow. If Sam has kept to the
road she may overtake him before
the food does. Over another ridge,
across another arm of the valley
flies the gray horse. The roar of
the flood is still far to the right,
and sounds muflled and remote.
New it turns again, and grows
loude,. But hark ! what is that
cry of distress out of the darkness in
the direction of the ridge 7 "Help
help" 1t is Sans voice, Betsy re-
plies at the top Of her voice
"Sam where are you?"
"This way-quick"
Turning old Gray sharply to the
left, Betsy urged him across the
open fields. In few moments she
overlook her brother. lie was pant
ing heavily, and was almost ex-
hausted with his efforts to escape.
"Pm nearly done for" he gasped.
"Couldn't run another step. Where
are we, anyway "
81 know. Get on the horse y
cried Betsy. In another moment
heavily -burdened old Gray is push
ing for the ridge. His sturdy
limbs are covered with troth and
sweat, and he breaths with painful
snorts, while his sides heave be-
meath his burden.
1t is race for life. The freshet
is now on their right, pouring IN
giant billOws toward the Tldge.-
The waters have gathered new mo-
mentum and the roar ofthe flood is
terrible to hear. Betsy speaks in
low, soothing tones to the old horse
She has dropped the bride, for
there is no need now to guide OF
restrain. Sam has thrown his
arms tightly about her, to keep hcT
from falling off; and so they dash
on through the gloom and the rain
The food is close upon them
but, thank Heaven 1t is baked oil
its preyl The ground begins to as
cend. The cold waters rush up the
slope, but they cannot overwhelm
Old Gray staggers few steps fur
ther, and then sinks to his knees
with a grOan, utterly exhausted
Sam jumps off, catches his sister
in his arms, and, wading through
the ICY waters, bears her to higher
ground. Then he goes back tc
their faithful deliverer and urges
and draws him to his feet and NJ
the slope.
1t was the most disastrous fresh
ct ever known IN the river valley
Scores lost their lives, and hun
dreds lost homes and property
The mills of Barrow Il Go. were
totally destroyed, and had it moi
been Sunday night when the fresh
ct came, no doubt many employees
would have perished also. Ant
always when the story of the grea
freshet is recounted, they tell how
Betsy Pennell saved her brother
Sam. and how she crossed the rive