Passaic City record., 1891-01-01
and plunged into the water. It caught


ing the top strrck out, fighting his way
inch by inch out toward the rocks. A
heavy board charged down at him, and
he ducked just in time to save his head;
he met rattle of wreckage and was
forced to crawl over it, cutting his leg
on sharp nail. Bit by bit he worked
ahead, but all the while he was being
swept down the stream, and he knew
the current through the Needles must be
death. Nearing the lower rock he made
determined dash for it, only to be
driven off by timber and carried down.
For a moment he thought his life had
been risked in vain, when the current
slackened and he found himself floating
to the rock in an eddy. Reaching it and
crawling up he lay for moment to
gather breath and little strength be-
fore attempting the rescue of the wom-
an he came to save. Then climbing
over the top he lowered himself down.
AS he saw the brown hair quick throb
startled him, and in the whisper of ex-
citement he called. The woman raised
her head and his look met Chloe's eyes!
1t did not take Will Fosdick two sec
onds to leap down and seize the girl, to
lift her up into his arms and to carry her
up on the rock. It was as though he
had the strength of ten men! Then hold
ing her tight he kissed her passionately.
There was no more shyness, no more
hesitation; he had rescued his love from
death, and he had her safe. And Chloe
put her head down on his shoulder and
sobbed, clinging to him closely and now
and then trembling violently. Death
had been very near to her that dayl
s.How on earth did you get here, my
darling?" he asked when the girl became
little quieter.
81 don't know, Will. was standing
in front of the house when suddenly the
water swept me off my feet. 1t rolled
me over and over; it seemed to press me
to death. felt something and caught
hold of it, and then tainted. How long
it was before came to myself do not
know, but when woke up was lying
on some boards which were floating on
the water. pulled myself upon them
and waited. was sure would die, and
thought about you
ssMy own love!'
81 thought you must be dead, and
did not care much whether I was saved.
Then l cried, thinking would never see
you again.
.sThat was what heard, my darlingr'
s.Did you know it was meg'
ssNo. l was hurrying down to cross
at the Needles and l heard the cry"
.And you were going to save me, but
stopped for another girl?' said Chloe,
with something of her own tone. 'sOh,
Willr'
sWel1. dearest, l could not leave a
woman to die" began VIII.
"Well, DEAR" said the girl very softly
and earnestly, "don't you know how
proud am of you for doing it? Don't
know how you wanted to go on and look
for me? And then if you had not !
should have died. But how did you get
out here"
81 SWAN out"
"What! Across that awful placer
asked the girl with shudder, clinging
closer to him.
eyes. It wasn't SO bad. I'd swim
twenty of them to hold you in my arms,
Chloe, and know you love me. You do
love me, don't you?"
eyes," she whispered.
"You never let me know it."
sYou never asked me-" she answered
with laugh. "But, Will, how can we
get ashore? I want to know how mother
is and if she's safe"
sWe can't get ashore till the water
goes down. You could never live to
cross that current. But, Chloe, look
there That's your house there, stranded
Just this side of that point"
$50 it is, and there's mother looking
out of the window. Is it safe therer'
Perfectly; the water is going down
Is your father at homer"
''No; he went across the mountains
this morning. But what an awful thing
this ISL
And so, talking over the horror of the
flood, and at times talking about theil
love, the two staid on the rock all that
night. VIII contrived to make fire al
which they dried their clothes, and by
early morning the water had gone down
enough to let him carry her ashore
They made their way to the house
where Mrs. Davis kissed and hugged he1
daughter as one raised from the dead
Mr.. Davis came home about noon tt
find all well and safe. He and vii
Fosdick joined the men who were bring
ing those who had escaped together, and
the Davis house was made into some
thing like hospital before M -ht. He'll
came from the surrounding towns, and
gradually things began to look vel
again. 1t was nearly the end of Marcel
before Will Fosdick and Chloe Davis
were married, but as he was then the
superintendent of the Star of the West
they had good start. But neither Of
them will ever forget the flood, nor the
swim which Will took in the swirline
brown water to reach the rock where hs
could rescue the 'Nother girl" and where
he found his love and his wife.
A Pleasant Prospect.
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