The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-19
NUMBER 35.

other means of reaching the school house
1t was trying place for the young
teacher, and some courage was required
to look calmly into the faces of the awe
stricken children and try to quiet them.
But in this he had a helper in Nan.
The girls face showed nothing of the
terror Joel expected to see in her. The
woman seemed to have suddenly come
instead OF the rollicking girl. She was
here, there, everywhere cheering the
younger ones in a most motherly way.
How this crisis had transformed her
Joe noticed more than ever now what
a strong face she had. He had always
thought her pretty; now a look had
come upon her features which indicated
the spirit which makes women heroic.
She had become a calm, self possessed
woman.
While Joel was thinking of this,
through the dusk came a boat manned
by two farmers, 1t slowly pushed its
way through the current, fighting hard
against wind, ice and drifting wood, but
it was not long before the rescuers
reached the imperiled house. Joel could
no longer open the door without letting
in little ocean. Tiny rlvulets were
spreading over the floor. The only way
to get the children into the boat was
through an open window.
Not more than half the number were
able to get into the boat. The rest must
want.
Hadn't you better get in now, Mr..
Professor ?" asked one of the men when
the boat was ready to push off for the
bank.
"Not as long as there is anyone else to
go, Zeb, was Joeps firm response as he
gave the boat steady shove away from
the house.
A half hour of suspense passed. Then
dim outline of the boat appeared through
the gloom again.
THE boat is full enough" said Joel,
as he tucked the last one of the children
securely into the boat. "The load would
be too heavy and trouble might come of
it if / should get in. hope the worst is
over, anyhow, Even if the water rises
two feet more, can still find way to
keep out it till morning perhaps"
Tain't just the thing to leave you
here" said one of the men, he3itatingly.
"Get in and we'll get through all right,I
guess"
NO." was the quick response. Go
ahead. If you can come for me, all
right. If not
He paused, Something in Mans eyes
awoke tumult in his breast. A strange
light shone in them, and as Joel leaned
down from the window toward her, in
answer TO slight movement of her
hand, she whispered
'Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made
you so much trouble this winter. / did
not mean it. Will you forgive me 2"
The only reply Joel gave was warm
pressure OF the hand. That was enough.
She understood it. Then the boat
pushed out into the twilight.
But it left behind very happy young
man, in spite of his desperate position.
After such confession from Nan, what
could he not endure =? Floods could not
sweep away the joy which thrilled him.
But an hour sped by and still Joel was
alone. The water kept rising steadily
till it drove him to the top of the desks.
He noticed that the tide was coming up
much faster than at any time before,
There was 40 longer such rush about
the house.
Studying the situation for while, Joel
made up his mind that a gorge must
have formed somewhere below him, and
the water, no longer able to run out, was
backing up, leaving him in the midst of
a great sea. II this were true the out
look was not at all encouraging.
He peered anxiously out over the wa
ters for some sign of the returning boat.
Nothing but intense darkness met his
gaze.
Another hour passed. Inch by inch
the river crept up, driving him from
place to place until he was now on the
highest possible point. Now he must
quietly await his fate.
But it was not very heroic to be
drowned like rat. He must do some
thing to save himself.
AT length star glimmered in the dis
tance. Hope sprang up again. Some
one was kinder to him than he desired
How slowly the light came. 1t was a
hard battle with wind and torrent.
Suddenly the awful rush came again.
Had the gorge below given way? Then
heaven save him.
He felt shock. The building tremb-
led. Something had struck it heavily
and it was being carried down into the
raging flood.
1t was time for him to act. To remain
where he was would be death.
He flung up the window and looked
out, One thing he had learned well in
years gone by-to swim. 1t seemed al.
most madness to think of trusting him
self to such current, but there was
nothing else to be done.
| The light was nearing him more
swiftly now, although it was apparently
a long way off yet. He brayely leaped
into the suring water and struck out for
the shore.
Something below the surface of the
waves caught him and dragged him
swiftly down the stream. He struggled
with all his might to get away, but in
vain. One of his legs was held as if in
wise. His head whlrled.
Then flash of light fell upon him. In
another moment strong hand grasped
his arm. The rays of lantern lighted
up the face of his rescuer.
1t was Nan
Joel awoke the next morning with a
delicious sense of peace.
There was no pain anywhere. A wo-
mans hand was on his forehead. He
was in woman's room. He lay with
his eyes closed and tried to put things
together. Then he looked up into the
face of Nan.
"Don't speak, Nan Let me be still.
If this is dream l don't want it to-
end y
"But it isn't. It's real, and l thank
God it is ~ said Nan, reverently.
Joel reached up and drew Nan down
toward him, and their lips met.
$50 do l." was all he said."-E. L.
Vincent in NelC York Weekly.