The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-08-15

ss,e worst IS over anyhow. Even IL the
water rises two feet more l can still
find a way TO keep out OF 1t till morn
ing perhaps"
here.n said one of the men hesitatingly.
sect in and well get through all right.
mo" was the. quick response. 'Gp
ahead. If you ean come for Inc. all
right. If not"
He paused. Something in Mans.
ewes awoke q tnmult in his breast. A
strange light shone in them and as
Joel leaned down from the window
toward her, I'm answer to a slight m0ve-
ment of her hand, she whispered:
s'Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry I've made
you so much trouble this winter. |
didn't mean it. Will you forgive e?"
The only reply Joel gave was a warm
pressure 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 a confession from Nan what
could he not endured 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
q rush about the house.
Studying the situation for awhile
Joel made up his mind that the 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 a great sea. Ii this were
true the outlook was not at all en-
couraging.
He peered anxiously out over the
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 he must
quietly await his. fate.
But it was not very heroic to be
drowned like q rat. He must do m
thing to save himself.
AT length a star glimmered in the
distance. Hope sprang up again.
Some one was kinder to him than he
deserved.
How slowly the light came. 1t was
o hard battle with wind and torrent.
Suddenly the awful rush came again.
Had the gorge below given wayp Then
heaven save him!
He felt the shock. The building
trembled. Something had struck it
heavily, and it was being carried down
into the raging flood.
1t was time for him to act. To re-
main where he was would be death.
He flung up the window and looked
out. One thing he had learned we'll in
years gone by-to swim. 1t seemed
almost madness to think of trusting
himself to such a current, but there was
nothing else to be done.
The light was nearing him mora
swiftly now, although it was apparent
ly a long way off yet. He bravely
leaped into the surging water and
struck out for the shore.
Something below the surface of the
waves caught him and dragged him
swiftly down the stream. He struggled
with all his might to get away but in
vain. One of his legs was held as in q
vice. His head whirled.
Then q flash of light fell upon him.
In another moment a strong hand
grasped his arm. The rays of the
lantern lighted up the face of his
rescuer.
1t was Nan!
Joel awoke the next morning with a
delicious sense OF peace.
There was no pain anywhere. A
woman's hand was on his forehead. He
was in a woman's room. He lay with
his eyes closed and tried to put things
together. Then he looked up into the
face of Nan.
Don't speak, Nan! Let me lie still.
Ii this is a dream L don't want it to
endln
but it isn't. It's real and 1 thank
God it isl" said Nan. re%verently.
Joel reached up and drew Nan down
toward him and their lips met.
80 do l." was all he said.-E. L.
Vincent IN N. Y. Weekly.