The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-02-28
SELECTED.
FOR LIFE A NO LOVE

Harriet Geldcr was the most provok-
ing, pretty aud altogether charming little
coquette that ever drove a devoted lover
distracted with her capriciOus ways.
Floran CORTLAND was handsome aud
winning enough To have enslayed some
other woman but his heart was bound
up in the brunette beauty, who daily
estroyed his peace She loved him for
all that but he tried in vain to make her
confess it
1t was in the springime of the year.
and it had rancd necessarily for Two
weeks Harriet resided with her aunt.
Miss Hannah Linwood, in Thornway.
about eight miles away from where
Florian lived. Naturally the impatient
lover loDged for fair weather, but a.
there was no immediate prospect Of II
cessation of the rain on Sunday morning
he resolved to set the weather at def
ance, and accordingly sent for his horse
and prepared for his stormy ride.
If he had been hound for any other
destination, he would have turned back
before going a mile, a. the road appeared
To grow worse every step, and his horse
podded through the mud, stumbling
| frequently in the many ruts and pitfalls.
After travelling for what seemed to him
spanued the little river, two miles from
Thornway. In the distance he could see
the gray walls of the Lnwood manson,
aud in his Impotence he was about 10
spur his horse to Il gallop, when he
noticed that the land at little distance
below the bridge WAS completely flooded,
the river overtiowirg, having submerged
| ii to IA wide extent.
A point or knoll of land close upon the
river bank formed little island in the
midst of the whrling food, aud upon
| this island stood small wooden house.
which Florian saw was occupied, for
thin wreath Of smoke assembled from the
chimney Ii there were people in the
house their position was most perilons.
as the water was rising fast and would
socn sweep away the house,
As Florian rode towards the house he
saw female form approach the window,
and Il handkerchief was waved implur-
ingly. unhcsitatingly he rode into the
water which soon grew deeper, and his
horse was obliged to swim. Florian urg
ed him forward, and drawing near the
house, the door was thrown open and he
cried out in surprise, for there stood Miss
Linwood and Harriet Gclder.
"Harriet!' cried Florian, "for heavens
sake, how came you here?'
we came to see sick woman" re-
piled Harriet, with prompt GOODNESS,
land the water rose before We
ut is rising now, and fast" he inter
ruptcd, exctedly, land there is no time
to waste My horse will carry two which
of you shall take first
The sick woman first said Harriet,
quickly.
Forian trembled as he looked at the
feeble old woman whom Miss l.inwood
was assisting from her chair to the
door, and whom he had not noticed until
Harriet called his attention to her lie
trembled with the appalling fear that
twice before the swiftly rising waters
should have torn the frail structure from
its foundations, for there was already an
inch of water upon the iloor. But he
only cast one glance at llarret's calm
face and stopped to lift the sick woman
turned his horse toward the shore, and
the good beast with its double burden,
struggled back through the flood.
They were standing knee deep in water
when he once more approached the shl-
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
"Iarriet'-- commenced Miss Lin
wood
go, Aunt Hannah y