The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-18
FOR LIFE AND LOVE.

Harriet Gelder was the most provok
ing pretty and altogether charming little
coquette that ever drove a devoted lover
distracted with her capricious WAYS
Florian CORTLAND was handsome and
winning enough 10 have enslavcd some
other woman. but his heart was bound
up in the brunette beauty, who daily
DESTROYED bis peace She loved him foi
all toat, but lac tried H. vain 70 make her
confess it.
1t was in the springtime Of the year
and it had raincd necessarily for two
weeks. Harriet resided with her aunt
Miss Hannah Linwood, in Thomway.
about eight miles away from WHERE
Florian lived Naturally, the impatient
lover longed for fair weather, but Is
there was no immediate prospect Of o
cessation Of the rain one Sunday morning
he resolved to set the weather at def
ance, and accordingly sent for his horse
and prepared for his stormy ride.
If ne had been bound for any other
destination, he would have turned back
before going a mile, as the road appeared
to grow worse every step, and his horse
ploddcd through the mud, stumbling
frequently in the many ruts and pitfalls
After travelling for what seemed 10 him
70 be hours, he reached the bridge which
SPAWNED the little river, two miles from
Ihornway. I'm the distance he could set
the gray walls Of the Linwood mansion.
and In his impotence he was about e
spur his horse 10 gallop, when he
noticed that the land at n little distance
below the bridge was completely flooded,
the river overlooking, having submerged
it 10 q wide extent.
A point or knoll of land close upon
the rivers bank formed a little island IN
the midst of the whirling Good and upon
this island stood a small wooden house
which florian saw was occupied, for q
thin wreath of smoke assembled from the
chimney If there were people in the
house their position was most peDlous
as the water was rising fast and would
soon sweep away the house.
As Florian rode towards the house lac
saw a female form approach the win
dow, and a handkerchief was waved inn
ploringly Unhesitatingly he rode into
the water, which soon grew deeper
and his horse was obliged to swim.
Florian urged him forward, and drawing
near the house. the door was thrown
open and he cried ont in surprise, for
there stood Miss Linwood and Harriet
Gelder
Harriet" cried Florian, "for heavens
sake. how came you here"
I'VE came 10 see sick woman, re-
piled Harriet, with prompt GOODNESS.
and the water rose before We
1T is rising now, and fast" be inter
rupted, oxcitedly, land there is no time
to waste. Ny horse will carry two;
which of you shall take frst;"
The sick woman first, said Harriet,
quietly.
Florian trembled as he looked at the
feeble Old woman whom Miss Linwood
was assisting from her chair to the door,
and whom he had not noticed until
Harriet called his attention TO her. lie
trcmbled with the appalling fear that
there would not DO time to go and return
twice before the swiftly rising waters
should have torn the frail structure from
its foundations, for there was already an
inch of water upon tho floor. But be
only cast one glance at Harriets calm
face and stopped to lift the sick woman
up before him. Without 4 word he
turned his horse toward the shore, and
the good beast, with its double burden.
struggled back through the Hood
They were standing knee deep in water
when no once moro approached the al
ready shaking building. He did not
speak word. but looked silently from
Harriet TO her aunt, his white face grow
ing whittier yet as Harriet said, in steady
tones, AUNT Hannah first"
"Harriet'-- commenced Miss Lin
wood