The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-12

was pm: an o7d-tasn1oned dinner was to
follow; by 3o'clock the last good-by would
be said. and the newly married couple
would journey East.
: The guests began to come at eleven.
!By noon the house was comfortably filled
with people, all more or less acquainted.
The majority were intimate friends.
Tne wealner. Ius,eau y, uumPouins rn>
company's spirits, seemed rather to en-
liven them. One and all expressed sur
prise when 2 o'clock came. lime had
never sped so swiftly. The thing seemed
incredible. Some averred they were only
there an hour-and here it was past two.
Among the guests was young gentle
man, the privileged young man OF the oc-
casion. who persisted in predict
!2S numperless troubles for the
guests in returning home. Es-
pecially were those who resided
in the country near at hand doomed to
encounter oceans of mud. For the people
living in the valleys he pictured lovers
floating on RATS aud wading across fields
in their desire to escape the downward
sweep of the waters the South Fork Dam
was to let loose upon them. AS for him.
self, when Mrs. Bro1dhurst asked him
the nature of his res sources, his ready and
laughing reply was:
Il am good swimmer"
There we're some there who, listening
to the merry jests of the young man, cast
sober looks out on the streets, and one
lady, who excused herself for expressing
rear py saying sne was sorry sne was
nervous" wished Mr.. Monroe wouldn't
Jest about flood.
Whereupon her host endesvored to
quiet her apprehensions by saying:
"The same thing has been said hum
dred. times. I do not know anything
about it, but if there were really danger
of the South Fork dam I think the men
would know it,"
.But is it true that somebody came to
town to warn you an?"
Il do not know. I know the same thing
has been said repe dly-that is, there
were reports of the dam breaking, but We
have never been disturbed SO far. ALLOW
me to help you to-" ,
An urgent messenger summoned MIS-.
Broadhurst to another part of the room.
In the drawing-room quartette were
singing sweet old Scotch and English
ballads. The intimate friends of the
bride were gathered in one room few
minutes.
As many gentlemen friends of the
groom were appropriating the various
articles model married man could have
no possible use for.
1t was at this juncture that Enoch
Broadhurst found opportunity to whis-
per to his wife, DO you know that
Tom Peters is dying-I got word at,
noon" ,
Mrs. Broadhust looked up in alarm.
Dying! Tom Peters dying!"
$50 am told. Apoplexy, or some
thing like that. I did not want to disturb,
you"
"Dying-and I counted on him doing SO
much for Rose"
well, we'll" Enoch Broadhurst said;
1T can't be helped now. We will do the
best we can for her, mother"
Numbers of the guests who had con-
siderable distance to 60 were seeking their
wraps. They had given the bride and
groom the last we'll wishing shake of the
hand, when q shrill scream uttered by one
of the guests thrilled all present.
1t was q womans voice that gave the
warning cry. -,
While all the guests were occupied with
each other, this woman happened to
glance through window in the back OF
the house. She held one hand aloft,
pointing to the window, as she screamed,
then calling to her husband, who was at
the other side of the room, shouted:
MY God, John, it is Judgment Day..
Even while her cry rang in the ears OF
the guests an awful sound, the like OF
which had never smote human ears, struck
terror to every heart there.
The awe-inspiring sound filled the
heavens. Men, women, and children,
looking in the direction from whence the
sound came, felt the earth reeling and
rocking beneath their feet. Husbands
and wives, parents and children, brothers
and sisters, hearing that awful sound,
clung to each other instinctively, Shrek
ing and sobbing.
10 many there, to thousands all
around them, it was indeed the last day
of earth for them.
Before those who looked the second
time there rose wall of waters seem.
ingly mountain high. The fountains of
the earth were launched forth; the in
most depths of earth we're unloosed, up
heayed; they were gathered In one vast
wave which was rushing upon them.
There was shock as of worlds coming
together, crash and sullen roar, the
swapping of timbers, cracking of great
trees, and grinding of stone, and above
all the roar and lashing of food of
waters.
As the wall of waters rushed with in
conceivable swiftness upon the wedding
party, the bride stood in the doorway
looking toward the room in which her
husband was engaged with his intimate
friends.
Suddenly her husband darted out into
the passage way. His startled gaze fell
Oh his wife in the door. He ran toward
her; his hand was on her arm when the
wall of waters smote the house. :,
The air was full Of shrieks as the occu-
pants were swept away on the crest of the
mighty food and disappeared from view
as thistle down is borne away in gale.
CHAPTER ~.
THE ASSASSIN.
It was after o'clock, Alexander Rut-
ledge remembered, when q loud rap on
bis door summoned him from his cosy
chair that day. :
He had dismissed Giles Brockle from
his mind. His surprise was very great
when he found him at the door. He
stood before him, barring his entrance,
until Giles said:
Il have thought the matter over, i
want to talk to you quietly now"
Then the lawyer unsuspectingly led the
way to the back room-his private room