The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-09-12


ger, told them to go, and quietly pre-
ceeded to help them get started fc
home.
Night was dropping down over tn
valley. The storm king was abroad i
all his fury. The night gave promis
of being n terrible one.
Joels heart reproved him for not LET
ting the children go sooner when h
opened the door and heard the sullel
roar which came from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
Yonder came man on horseback
riding rapidly.
What was the matter.
The rush of waters smote his ear. TIL,
truth flashed over him.
The ice gorge had given way!
The young mans face grew pale as h,
drew the children back into the hous,
and shut the door. He could not lei
them 60 now. 1t was too late.
A few minutes more and wide cur.
rent of water swept around the build.
ing, 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 re-
quired 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
in place of the rollicking girl. She was
here there, everywhere, cheering the
younger ones in a most motherly way.
How this crisis had transformed her |!
Joel noticed more than ever now what a
strong face she had. He had always
thought her pretty; now look had come
upon her features 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 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 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.
Professor?" asked one of the men when
the boat was ready to push off 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 steady shove away from
the house.
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 too heavy and trouble might come of
t if | should get in. hope the worst
S over anyhow. Even if the water rises
,wo feet more, can still find way to
Keep out of it until morning, perhaps"
'Tain't just the thing to leave you
lere, said one of the men, hesitatingly.
Get in, and we'll get through all right,
guess"
"No," was the quick response. $50
lhead. If you can come for me, all
light. If not"
He paused. Something in Mans eyes
woke q tumult in his breast A strange
light shone iii them, aud as Joel leaned
Town from the window toward her, in
answer to slight movement of her hand,
he whispered:
'Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made
rou so much trouble this winter.
iidn't mean it. Will you forgive me2"
The only reply Joel gave was warm
pressure of her hand. That was enough.
She understood it. Then the boat
pushed out into the twilight.
But it left behind very happy young
nan, in spite of his desperate position.
After such confession from Nan, what
could he nor venture2 Floods could not
sweep the JOY which thrilled him.
But an hour sped by and still Joel
was alone. The water kept rising steadi-
y 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 while,
Joel made up his mind that 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 great sea. If this were true the out
look was not at all encouraging.
He peered anxiously out over tine
waters 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 ne 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
lance. Hope sprang up again. Some
one was kinder to him than he deserved.
How slowly the light came. 1t was
hard battle with wind and torrent.
Suddenly the awful rush came again.
Had the gorge below given way? Then
heaven save himl
He felt shock. The building trem-
Dled. Something had struck it heavily
md it was being carried down into the
aging food.
1t was time for him to act. To re-
main where he was would be death.
He flung up the window and looked
tut. One thing he had learned well in
Tears gone by-to swim. 1t seemed al
most madness to think of trusting himself