Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-03-12
NO. II
lures ordinarily revealed had Increased

-
ten-fold.
Good morning." sa!,l' Lovatt, with
a nod which included the two, and,
before either could speak, he added -
'Pm glad somebody had The courage to
come and look at the Wonderful s,ght
we'll see in one while. + don t believe
there'sa neighbothood in the State that
holds so many towards s this.'
"Keeping away from here is no proof
of cowardlce, Lovatt," said the pastor,
sternIy. 1--WE came solely to insist on
your coming with us. The bridge is
sure to got is tottering now on its
foundations.
Little Miss Tyson felt that the
speech was wrongly put-nothing could
be done with Lovatt in this way his
answer and the added surliness of his
eyes showed that she WAS right.
The bridge won't co. he said.
Folks (the pause in the monosyllable
made it plain that he meant soois) have
said it would, pretty nearly every
January and June for the last fifteen
years : and very likely they II keep on
saying it for the next fifteen. Let
folks once get notion in their heads,
and you couldn't beat it out with u
peStle and mortar.
Look look ~ she moaned. They
turned and glanced across the roadway
and the opposite side *alk-through the
openings, they could see UP the stream.
A great pile of timber was rushing
down; the foremost log struck the
middle buttress with the force of bat
terirg ram, and the whole structure
heaved and shook omlnous|y.
The parson started toward the dollhouse
calling to the other two to follow. Miss
Tyson caught Lovatts arm, with plead
ing exclamatons. Again there was Il
terrible blow-another and another.
A mass of logs Was driven away from
the rest and fairly leaped across the
river toward the end foundations.
Miss Tyson and Lovati were flung
heavily to the ground, deaftned by a
roar like that of row of falling houses
and blinded by a cloud of dust. When
they could struggle to their feet, the
bridge was swinging like hammock IN
a high wind the beating of the logs
still continued, the creaking, and the
roar. The dollhouse had fallen, the
buttrss had given way the end Of the
bridge Was whirling round. Again the
pair were flung on the floor, and for
solae seconds neither tried to rise.
Gradually the dust lightened and the
roaring ceased. The bridge swayed up
and down, to and fro, but with an even
motion. Thu ough the cracks in the
in the floor beneath, the water
was pouring in. The bridge had parted
flom its foundations, turned like q
mighty ship. and was drifting down the
current.
"Oh !" was the only sound that broke
from Miss Tyson, as she steadled her,
self against the railing.
Nov, don't cry 7! snapped Lovatt,
whose face was white, but not from
fear he was choked with rage aud
grief. Don't cry-that won't mend
matters.
"a don't mean to cry" replied Miss
Tyson, quietly. She turned her head
away-her lips moved in rapid prayer.
She Was interrupted by piteous new
ing at her feet stood Witch, who had
escaped by some means. Later, the
spinster learned that the cat was seen
to reach the bridge few minutes be.
fore the final crash. "Oh, poor Kitty!
poor Kitty" SAID the the tender hearted
woman, lifting Witch in her arms and
holding her fast.
"Well. we're all together, anyhow"
she heard Lovatt say, and through the
harshness of his voice caught sudden
tremor of compunction aud remorse.
Il am glad we are Miss Tyson an.
swered, softly, "All together
The eyes of the man and woman mel;
Lovatt suddenly averted his face, NUT
terlng:
"Its my fault, but I'll never have
believed the bridge would 60
At this Instant the parsons voice
sounded close at hand. He had not
succeeded in escaping; he had been
thrown down and tossed ABOUT, endur-
ing very natural fright; but he was a
Man of courage and will, and, aftsr the
bridge had begun to sail along steadily
enough go that walking became possible
he struggled up, rubbed his bruised
shins, brushed his clerical snt with his
pocket handkerchief, and moved back