Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-03-12
presence showed himself quite human
and tolerable.

never tried it again, for Lovatt chased
him across the bridge with broomstick
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 tie 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.handed 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-
SOD 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
Susquehsnna suddenly began to rise
with the rapid1ty for which 1t is famous,
and the lreshet of that year surpassed
ally similar performance on the part Of
the river for something like half
century.
The nascent village on the right hand
bank was partly under water, and the
current still continued to rise. During
tina first day the bri lge 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 furnished town, if
they could have been stopped and gath
cred together. On the second morning
the bridge, which hal creaked and
moaned through the night like some
antediluvian monster in pain, looked
so unsteady on its foundations that few
person., ventureu to cross. During
every ireshet for the last fye years the
united village had expected the bridge
to 90; but this time its doom appeared
sealed.
Only Loyatt remained us stubborn 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 bellIgerent
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 a 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
Loyatt alone.
The next morning dawned as 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 bridge-ndeed, 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 III
the bedroom before leaving the house.
As she neared the bridge, she was over.
taken by the parson, a kindly though
rather imperious man, who liked the
spinster and frequently INDUCED In
wordy combats with Lovatt which both
secretly enjoyed.
Il 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 " Miss Tyson
nodded afraid to trust her volce.-
"Well, then, we'll go together; may be
the pair of us may be able to persuade
him to act like a sane man.
Miss TYon's answer was inaudlole'
and the tvs walked quickly on to the
toll house. Loyatt was not there, so
they mounted the steps on the lower
side, to the walk constructed for foot
PASSENGERS, They could see Loyatt