Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-25

"Ill do II. said Alb aloud; "l'll do IL,
an when get FORUM III cum back an
marry Melissa an tako her'n nam with
me-"
Tho raindrops began pattering on the
fallen leaves as Alb entered his mothers
cabin. The expression on the boys face
was not strange to his mother. She had
often noticed it since Goss had left the
clearing.
"Still thinkin o goin ter Saint Looey.
air ye?" she asked as her son entered.
"Yes, an I'm goin ter start next Mon
day, man."
"Wall. eff yer sot Oh goin l reckon
yer'll CO." was the mothers philosophic
remark, and the Higgins family sat
down to the frugal supper of corn pone
and bacon.
The storm increased in fury. and when
the Higgins family was ready to retro
1t was raging with unparalleled fury
The wind howled with demoniacal glee
and the rain fell in sheets. Alb opened
the door to look out, but binding fash
of lightning frightened him and the
driving rain forced him back.
Dead run'll be river fore mornin, :"
muttered Alb, as he fastened the door.
Dead run was the stream that flowed
past tho Rankin cabin. Years before
the run had overfowed its banks during
a heavy storm and had carried death
and destruction before it.
81 hope it won't storm this way fer
long" murmurod Alb, as he began to
slowly disrobe. AS he threw his patched
jacket on the floor II sullen roar greeted
his ear. The boys face turned pale, for
he knew only too well what that roar
meant Could he get to Melissa's home
before the raging waters struck it?
There was no time 10 don the tattered
jacket Calling to his mother, the boy
disappeared in the darkness. Down the
path toward Melissa's cabin he rushed at
full speed. The overhanging branches
swept and scratched his face. The
loose stones cut his bare feet, and the
cruel roots grasped and hindered him in
his flight On, Oh he fed, and love and
fear lent speed to his feet. Down the
mountain side no stumbled and rolled.
No fear of personal safety entered his
mind His only thought was for the
safety of the girl he loved.
Would he reach her in time? On he
ran. Another minute would find him
at the cabin, but the food was close be-
hind him. Half staggering, half run
ming, Inc fell against the cabin door and
1t yielded Melissa and her mother were
huddled near tho fireplace, seemingly
paralvZed with terror.
"Run fer yer life" shrieked Alb, as he
grasped Melissa in his strong arms and
rushed out Of the door.
Too late; the foaming food seized him
and forced him from his feet, but he
never loosened his hold upon tho girl
The muddy water flung him against
trees and rocks as it hurled him down.
ward The sharp rocks cut his hands
and face cruelty. the trees borne along
by the flood beat and bruised his body
and sought to tear Melissa from his
grasp, but in vain.
The boy clung to his precious burden
with the strength Of despair. Down tho
valley the two were carried by the aw-
full flood On and on they were carried
out into tho lowlands. A friendly eddy
carried them TO ono side, and Alb seized
an overhanging limb and dragged him
self and tho fainting girl to safety.
Then Alb lapsed into insensibility.
When morning dawned anxious search
ers found Melissa striving to revive her
lover The cruel flood had dealt hard
with the boy. One arm lay limp rad
helpless at his side. One leg had been
crushed between two logs, and another
had cut q cruel cash in his head.
Rough but kindly hands made the suf-
ferer moro comfortable, and in q brief
time he opened his eyes. AS Abs face
fell upon the face Of the girl he had
saved, smile lit mp his blood stained
face and his uninjured hand crept slow
ly into hers.
81 amt a-goin ter Saint Loocy, Meliss,"
he whispered. Don't cry that air way;
amt hurt much. lsaved yer, didn't /,
Meliss? Yer'd died ef it hadn't been
fer me-"
Tho effort was too much and he fell
back speechless. Rsstoratives were
again administered, and at last tho boy
revived sufficiently to say:
I-l-can't never be hero like Mr..
G--Goss told erbout. I-I-can't go ter
Saint Looey now, an | can't never be a
hero like that feller ez fell onter them
Ostrian spears. 1t want material as
should be q hero. Kiss mo. Meliss, I'm
goin. Kiss me, M
Abithar's head dropped and his eyes
closed. He never spoke again.
Poor boy. His name will not go down
in history like that Of Arnold Winkle-
reid. But in his humble way no was as
true hero as tho Swiss who opened the
Austrian ranks at tho forfeit Of his life
and saved his country.-Will NJ. Maupin
in Omaha World Herald.