Wichita eagle., 1889-08-29
ge qaithita Badly gayle Ehursay aOriug august e.

ing out. Here and there great seams ap-
reared. and warnssg roar sounded through
the valley.
Some of the older boys who had explored
tie stream higher up, very sageiy predicted
that there would be trouble before night;
but this brought TO Joefs mind little fear.
He thought the stream might rise, and carry
away the ice, bat that would be all. He
knew nothing about the fearful gorges that
sometimes damned the river, and flooded the
entire country for miles around.
At noon thereport came that gorge was
forming a short distance above the school
house. There never before had been such a
pile Of ice crowded into that part OF the
river. and water was beginning to flow over
the valley. Il heavy rain set in, falling for
hours in torrents. Still Joel bad no idea
what danger was impending This was his
first experience with the river, and when
some of bis pupils begged to go home. he
thought it best for them to wait until thu
storm was les 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
fer 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.
JoeIs heart reproved him for not letting
the children go sooner when he opened the
door and heard the sullen roar which came
from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
Yonder came man on horseback, riding
rapidly.
What was the matter!
The rush of waters srnote 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 and shut
the door. He could not let them 60 now. 1t
was too late.
A few minutes more and wild current OF
water swept around the building, cutting off
ell 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
a 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 tn, rollick-
ing girl. She was here, there, everywhere,
cheering the younger ones in most mother
ly way.
How this crisis had transformed herl Joel
noticed more than ever now what a 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 a 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 i1nperiled house. Joe
could no longer open the door without letting
in little ocean. Tiny rivulets We're spread
children into the boat was through an open
window.
Not more than half the number We're able
to get into the boat The rest must wait.
Hadn't you better get in now, Mr.. Pro-
fessorE' 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 60
Zeb,n was Joel's firm response as he gave the
-, f,-Dp tha
A half hour of suspense passed. Then the
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 toe
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
/ can still find way to keep out of it til
morning perhaps"
"'Taint just the thing to leave you here,
said one Of the men, hesitatingly. "Get ii
and well get through all right 1 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 a tumult in his breast. A strange
light shone in them, and as Joel leaned down
from the window toward her, in answer to 6
slight movement of her hand, she whispered
'Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made yor
so much trouble this winter. l didn't NEAR
it. VIII you forgive meF'
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 a very happy young man
in spite of his desperate position. After such
n confession from Nan, what could he not Ell
I durel Floods conld not sweep away the JOY
which thrilled him.
But an hour sped by and still Joel was
/ alone. The water kept rising steadily TIL il
drove him to the top OF the desks. He noticed
that the tide was coming up much faster thar
! at any time before. There was no longer
/ such n rush about tho house.
Studying the situation for a while, Joe
made I'D his mind that gorge must have
formed somewhere below him, and the wa
ter. no longer able 70 run out, was BACKING
up. leaving him in the midst of great sea-
/ If this were true the outlook was not at al
encouraging.
He peered anxiously out over the water:
/ 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 Il
place until he was now on the highest posi-
/ bic point. Now be must quietly await HI.
fate.
But it was rot very heroic TO be drowned
/ like rat. He must do something 10 save
/ himself.
At length a star glimmered in the dis
tance. Hope spraug up again. Some one
/ was kinder 10 him than be deserved