San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-30


entire country for miles around.
At noon the report came that a gorge was
forming short distance above the school
house. There never before had been such q
pile of ice crowded into that part of the
river, and water was beginning to flow over
the valley. A heavy rain set in falin" -"
hours in torrents. Still Joel had
what danger was impending. tn!
first experience with the river, anu wien
some of his pupils begged to go home, he
Thought H. best for them to wait until the
storm was less terrible or their parents came
for them. This latter thing happened sooner
than he had thought likely, and some OF the
sturdy yeomen came for their little ones
quite while before the usual time for their
dismissal, and gravely advised Joel to close
for the day. as they feared trouble from the
gorge up the river.
At length, the young man, impressed more
by the anxious faces Of the children than by
any thought of real danger, told them to go,
and quietly proceeded to help them get start
ed for home.
Night was dropping down over the valley.
The storm king was abroad in all his fury.
The night gave promise of being terrible
one.
the children go sooner when he opened the
door and heard the sullen roar which came
from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
Yonder came a man on horseback, riding
rapidly.
What was the matteri
The rush of waters smote his ear. The
truth flashed over him.
The ice gorge had given way.
The young mans face grew pale as he drew
the children back into the house aud shut
the door, He could not let them go now. 1t
was too late.
A few minutes more and wild current of
water swept around the building, cutting off
all hope of escape ON foot. 1t was now plain
that they were hemmed in.
The horseman waved his hand toward
them, and then wheeled away to seek 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 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 rollick-
ing girl She was here, there, everywhere,
cheering the younger ones in a most mother,
ly way.
How this crisis had transformed herl Joel
noticed more than ever now what strong
face she had. He had always thought her
pretty; now a look had come upon her fea-
lures which indicated the spirit which makes
women heroic. She had become calm self
possessed woman.
While Joel was thinking of this, through
the dusk came a boat manned by two far
mers. 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 a little ocean. Tiny rivulets were spread
ing 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 wait.
Hadn't you better get in now, Mr.. Pro
fessori" asked one of the men when the boat
was ready to push of for the bank.
"Not as long as there is any one else to go,
Zeb," was Joel's firm response as he gave the
boat a steady shove away from the house.
A half hour of suspense passed. Then the
dim outline Of the boat appeared through the
gloom again.
"Ths 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, any
how Even if the water rises two feet more,
l can still find way to keep out of it till
morning perhaps"
'''Tain't just the thing to leave you here"
said one of the men, hesitatingly. "Get in
and we'll get through all right, guess"
NO" was the quick response. ''Go ahead.
If you can come for me, all right. If mott
He paused Something in Mans eyes
awoke a tumult in his breast. A strange
light shOne in them md as Joel leaned down
from the window toward her, III answer to a
slight movement of her hand, she whispered:
Mr.. Sherwood I'm sorry I've made you
50 much trouble this winter. | didn't mean
it. Will GU forgive meT
The only reply Joel gave was warm pres
sure 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
a confession from Nan, what could he not en-
dure? 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 no longer
such rush about the house
Studying the situation for a while, Joel
made up his mind that gorge must have
formed somewhere below him, and the wa
ter, no longer able to run out, was backing