West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-05-15


every moment
Elcisc stood paralyzcd with fear. She
was powerless to cry out, to move her
self she could only stand and listen TO
that awful, all-pervading roar
She did not think What IL might mean.
She had heard vague rumors OF fears for
the great dam above, but had not heeded.
In moment il was all over, the sound
had come upon her in all its awfalness.
she fell back, uverpowercd with terror,
aud became unconscious.
a violent blow ON her head reused
her TO herself. She found herself float.
ing on the strong current, borno along
at sickcning speed, upheld by the
strength and fury of the roaring waters
Near her She saw the great elm tree
that had stood before her house ever
since she was child. 1t must have been
u branch of that which struck her and
brought her back 10 life.
With great, dark eyes dilatod with
horror, and face white and yhastly rs
the faces of the dead, the girl flew along.
She had caught hold of the branches of
the great tree, and was clinging with
grasp like death itself, Life was sweet
too sweet To lose. In her first mo.
ment uf consciousness she had thought OF
Richard Holmes, Where could he be I
Drowned7 q, God forbid-not drowned
the thought was dreadful to her. In
flash she was revealed To her self. She
loved him--lovcd him with her whole
heart-had loved him oil the time with.
out knowing il. What had he come To
tho door for that night--it seemed ages
ago to her now--to bring message of
warningf Her fathcr-was no safel
o, Heavcnl that appalling darkness
that dreadful roar of rushing waters
She raised her voice and called.
"Richardw II was lost IN the roar of
the flood. She tried again, summunina
nil her strength, and sending her clear
voice out over the waters; Richard
Richardi"
She thought she heard human voice,
faint and far away--oould il be hisl He
was near her when the flood struck the
housei nc might be somewhere near her
now.
She raised her voice again and called
his name with a desperation born of fear
and love. A dark object was floating
near her, tossing MP and down on the
resistless current, She could see that It
was man clinging to mass of boards.
The face was turned from her, but the
head was familiar. She called again,
and tho man turned and looked mt her.
''ls it you, Eloise?" he screamed; and
then she barely heard hin-"yuu.
Eloisei Thank Godl"
She breathed sigh Of relief. She
felt safe now--safe, even on tho bosom
of this rushing ocean OF fierce waters and
crashing debris--if he were near.
She saw that he was trying TO ret 10
her, but could not; that he dared not
loose his hold of the boards and trust
himself one instant in that mighty cur.
rent. She could sec his face, white and
agOnized, turned 10 hcr-always turned
to her. Something had struck him, and
cut cash in his head, and tho blood
was trickling down his pallid check; she
could see it from where she clunQ in the
branches of the elm tree.
She did not know that one beautiful.
white arm was bare, bleeding from
cruel blow she had received-she did
not realize the pain in her head where
the tree had struck her-such things
were triviaA now. Life was the only
thing to be thought of--lifc aud death
ii death should come.
n house came recling down and struck
the mass Of boards TO which Richard
clung. The shock loOscncd his hold aud
tossed him FAR ont in the water. The
horrible under sucked him i'm aud
he sank from sight. The next moment
his white face showed above the water.
such horror and despair Eloise had never
sccn as she saw there. One last appeal
ing look at her, one cry from his white
lips, AMI he was gone again. Eloise
prayed prayed as she had never dreamed
OF praying before; crying aloud for heIp
and pity in this time Of need.
Richard came to the surface apain--
near her this time. Could she reach
himg Only little nearer-hc was half
unconscious and could not help himself.
She leaned far ont over the dark torrent
holding TO the tree firmly with one arm
and touched him with her hand-cdsiqht
him by his collar aud held his head above
the water as they were borne along. She
called 20 him wildly. He heard and un-
derstood made one great effort 20 seize
the branches Of the tree, and at last with
an almost superhuman strength. drew
himself up into the sheltering arms Of the
old clm.
There he clung with what frail strength
was left him; but he was too weak for
words. II was no time for speech. The
scene was more terrible than any Of the
imagiuings Of Dante. Great masses Of
timbers, that ten minutes before had been
houses and homes, came rushing by with
shrcking women clinQing % them. aud
little children borne along upon them.
strong men were tossing like egQ-shells
on The waters and horses and cattle were
plungiug madly for life among the ruins
of great barns that came. Crushing bv.
Now and then some wild shrek or un.
earthly moan would mean the death-crv
Of 70 human being going down 70 eternal
sleep under Che roaring waters.
A great mass Of timbers came tearing
along down the highway Of death; with
one blow 1t sent tho clm-trce spinning far
a1cad 0n the waters. Eloise aud Rich.
ari were hurled into the air and felt 10.
gcihcr, clingiug 70 whatever they could
iind-a door a fence anything to keep
alloat. At last they climbed TO the ridge
UJlo Of house and clftney fboro Al ,,t,,tt