Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-03-12

and tolerable.
The wag of the village once tried to
Joke Lovatt on this weakness; but he
never tried it again. for Lovatt chased
him across the bridge with a broomstck
and refused to let him pass again for a
whole fortnight. Appeals and COM
plants were useless threats of law
suit had no effect set foot on the
bridge Lovatt vowed he should not
until the two weeks were up, and Low
att kept his word. The man actually
had to cross the river in skiff when
business called him on tie other side,
and everybody, beginning with the JUS
tce of the peace and the parson, laughed
instead of listening to his angry pro-
tests for aid and support in Furnishing
Loyatt for his high.hanued proceeding
against law and right.
The friendship between the splnster;
the gate keeper, and the cat-a very
important parsonage in the trio
continued without break for several
years; it might not be correct to say
peacefully. because even with Miss Ty-
son the old bachelor would contradict
and try to argue-as he would with
Witch, for that matter.
EARLY one June, there came week of
fierce storm and, at the end of it, the
Susquehanna suddenly began to rise
with the rapd1ty for which 1t is famous,
and the freshet of that year surpassed
ally similar performance on the part of
the river for something like a half.
century.
The nascent village on the right hand
bank was partly under water, and the
current still continued to rise. During
tha first day the rilge was crowded
with spectators to watch the mighty
flood as it rushed along, bearing hay
stacks, RATS of logs. barns and houses
enough to make UP Il flir-sized town, if
they could have been stopped and gath.
cred together. On the second morning
the bridge, which haI creaked and
moaned through the night like some
antediluvian monster in pain, looked
so unsteady on its foundations that few
person, ventured to cross. During
every treshet for the last fye years the
united village had expected the bridge
to 60; but this time its doom appeared
sealed.
Only Lovatt remained us stubbrrn In
his certainty that it would weather the
tempest, as he had been on all former
occasions. He numerically abused
anybody who asserted the contrary or
pleaded with him to keep at the end Of
the bridge.
Miss Tyson herself had belllgerent
reception, but in spite Of that she Went
thrice to plead with him, and Witch
showed plainly that she was on the
spinster's side by setting up Il series Of
prolonged and awful walls. But Lovatt
would not be persuaded, and when Miss
Tyson went home on the last occasion
Witch, after trying one final frenzled
appeal, trotted off behind her, leaving
Lovatt alone.
The next morning dawned us perfect
as only June day Can be; but its
brightness only added to the awful
aspect of the river, so wide now that it
was fairly like Il lake as far as the eye
could reach. Communication ceased
between the two villages; business was
almost suspended crowds thronged
either bank, but nobody ventured on
the brdge-indeed, it would have been
necessary, on the right side, to wade In
the water to do so.
1t was still early when Miss Tyson,
after giving Witch her breakfast and
valnly trying to eat her own, again set
forth to attempt last appeal to 10y
att ; from her windows, she could see
that the bridge still held lts own. Witch
was determined to accompany her, and
Miss Tyson was forced to shut her IN
the bedroom before leaving the house.
As she neared the bridge, she was over
taken by the parson, a kindly though
rather ilnpelioas= man, who-4lketl the
spinster and frequently INDUCED In
wordv combats with Lovatt which both
secretly enjoyed.
II am going to see that obstinate fel-
low," the parson SAID "they tell me he
is still on the bridge. dare say you
were going there, too p Miss Tyson
nodded. afraid TO trust her voice.
well, then, we'll 60 together; may be
the pair of us may be able to persuade
him to act like sane man
Miss TYon's answer was in"udlole'
and the tvs walked quickly on to the