Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-09-04


self, as she went cantering away over
the green grass. Occasionally they
would catch glimpse of the turbulent
waters of the Juniata, as that river, now
swollen and nearly bank full, made o
bend towards the road they were travel.
ing upon. Onward she urged her horse
as she drank in the glories of the beau.
tiful morning.
They had proceeded thus for con-
siderable distance when they suddenly
came to an abrupt declivity, at the foot
OF which ran small creek, which was
! spanned by an old wooden bridge.
Ordinarily this creek was shallow, and
little more than brook, but the recent
heaVy rains had swollen it till it had
become a roaring torrent, the turbulent
waters OF which fretted against the old
wooden bridge, causing it to tremble
and shudder convulsivelv.
Edna gazed few moments in silence,
then giving her horse his head she pro-
ceeded down the hill on whose crest
they had halted.
Do you think it safe to try to cross
the bridge, Aunt Edna?" called Roland
as he followed.
1T doesn't look safel" said Edna,
yet no doubt people cross it every day
we will venture"
As she spoke she bestowed sharp
glance upon the wooden abutments OF
the bridge and noticed that tall tree
on the nearest bank had been partially
uprooted by the rushing waters, and
had bowed itself half across the stream.
Its trunk resting against the railing OF
the lower side of the bridge.
I'm afraid that the weight of that |
heavy tree is too much for the weakened
timbers of the old bridge" said the
young girl; yet" she continued, gaz.
ing down at the ground, "by the tracks
on the bank here l infer someone has
crossed this morning Wait till L am
across, Roland, and then followp
With this she urged her horse sharply,
and the animal, frightened yet obedient,
struck forward with bound. There
was sound of ringing hoofs on the al
ready trembling timbers; then
came terrific crash,
sullen roar, splash, and the
entire bridge, crumbling into a shape
less mass of ruin, whirled away upon
the waters
The tree leaning across the bridge
bent lower as the support gave way
beneath it, and the next instant Edna
Ielti branches brushing against her
ACE and shoulders. With the instinct
If drowning person she reached out
md caught hold of the nearest branches
md chung to them, while her horse was
oorne from under her by the rushing
waters. In moment more she had j
wung herselfinto secure perch, where j
he sat pale and trembling, scarcely
of her safety. The inclined [
runk of the tree lowered slowly.
On the bank Roland danced about I
nth terror. The horse was already 1
'attling with the current, in an endeavor
0 gain the bank, the broken timbers of
he bridge whirling and dasliing against
i'm at every step /
"Ohl Ednap cried Roland, what
hall l do? What can l do You'll
rown You'll drownl" And wringing \
is hands he ran frantically back and
nth along the bank.
Although the danger was imminent,
lie young girl tried to look it squarely
! the face. She reasoned that it would
g useless to send Roland for help, as s.
10 nearest house was mile or more
stant. 1t was a matter of but D
few minutes at most when q
lie roots of the tree would
We way and she would be at the mercy
the whirling flood. The tree was
eadily sinking beneath her weight, U
I'd the constant swapping of the small NJ
ots which still adhered to the bank
owed that they would soon give way. Ie
here was no chance that she could y
ach the shore unaided She believed
at she could not live long in those
Id and fierce waters. Her thoughts :
raed to her home, her dear brother "a
d his family. ~
Your horse is landed" cried Roland -.
this moment; "he isn't hurt except a "
v scratches. But OH Edna, the tree
giving way and you will be drownedP
Edna opened her lips to make reply
the terror-stricken boys utterance,
t she did not speak. Her despairing
es had caught sight of horse flying
wn the steep hill towards her. being :,
yed forward at his utmost speed as oil
'ugh life depended on his exertion by
Dung man who waved his hand as he res
)uted:
Hold fast there" The next mo-
mt ne leaped from his foaming steed
the tree breaks loose, cling to it. ma
try to keep on the upper sidel' sg'
Itinued the young man. Have nc da'
rsl I'll be there in few minutesl'
ilancing hastily at the foot of the my
king tree, the young man saw thss son
a moment was to be lost. In fya
lutes more the tree, with its pre- Is I
is burden, would be afoatl Quickly OF
ming some dozen yards up the and
sam, to the amazement of Roland he
led forth from its concealment among nap
bushes light birch canoe, which
showed off into the water, and, leap
in, the next moment he was gliding In
lily down the rushing current. a
Keep up couragel' again shouted An 1
young man, as he piled his oar, pro L
ing the boat forward like an arrow. Bef
dina had only time TO note the 7,