Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-04-26

ing for hours in torrents. Still Joel
had nc idea what danger was impend-
ing. This was his first experience with
the river, and when some Of the pupils
begged to go home, he thought it best
for them to wait until the storm was
less terrible or their parents came for
them. The latter thing happened
sooner than he had thought likely, and
some of the sturdy yeomen came for
their children quite a while before the
usual time for their dismissal, and
gravely advised Joel to close for 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 chill
dren than by any thought of real dan
ger, told them to go, and quietly pro-
ceeded to get them started for home.
Night was dropping down owe the
valley. The storm king was abroad in
all his fury. The night gave promise
Of being a terrible one.
Joe's heart reproved him for not let
ting the children go oon when he
opened the door and heard the sullen
oar which came from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
Yonder came a man ON horseback,
riding rapidly.
What was the matter?
The rush of waters smote 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 go now. 1t was too late.
A few minutes more and a wild cur
rent of water swept around the build
ing, cutting off all hopes of escape on
foot. 1t was now plain that they were
hemmed in.
The horseman waved his hand to-
ward them, and then wheeled away to
seek other means of reaching the
schoolhouse. 1t was a trying place for
the young teacher, and some courage
was required to look calmly into the
faces of the W 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 come instead
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
thought her pretty now a look
had come upon her features which in
dictated the spirit which makes women
herioc. She had become a calm, self
possessed woman.
While Joel was thinking of this,
through the dusk came a boat manned
by two f,rmers. 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 imperilled house. Joel
could no longer open the door without
in a little ocean. Tiny rivulets
were spreading oven 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, Nh.
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 re-
Spouse as he gave the boat a steady
shove away from the house.
A half hour of suspense passed.
Then the dim outline Of the boat APP
peared through the gloom again.
"The boat is full enough" said Joel,
as he tucked the last of the children
securely into the boat. "Ihe load
would be too heavy and trouble might
come of it if | should get in. | hope
the worst is over, anyhow. Even if
the water rises two feet more, | can
still find a way to keep out Of it till
morning perhaps"
Giant just the thing to leave you
here" said one Of the men, hesitatingly.
"Get in and we'll get through all right,
| 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 a slight move
ment of her hand, she whispered
"Mr. Sherwood, I'm sorry | made
you so much trouble this winter. |
did't mean it. Will you forgive me ?"
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, III spite OF his desperate
position. After such a confession from
Nan, what could henot endure? 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
a rush about the house.
Studying the situation for a while
Joel made up his mind that a gorge
must have formed somewhere below
him, and the water, no longer able tc
run out, was backing up, leaving him
in the midst of a great sea. If TIN,
were true the outlook was not at al
encouraging.
He peered anxiously out over the