Arizona republican., 1892-03-04


 rich, an I'll take yer to Saint Looey with me.
 But Abs eloquence failed to convince the girl. The sun sank slowly behind Bald Knob, and the evening shadows began to gather. A black and heavy cloud began to rise in the south, and muttering thunder reached the ears of ing, and the lovers kissed each other good night and separated
 Melissa walked slowly down the mountain side to her home on the banks of tho rushing brook Alb lived farther up the valley, and as he trudged home ward visions of the fame and fortune that awaited him in the great outside world fitted before him. Unconsciously the tall, ungainly boy straightened his stooping shoulders and brushed back the struggling hair that fell over his brow.
 "Ill do it" said Alb aloud; "I'll do it, an when get forum I'll cum back an marry Melissa an take her'n mann with me-"
 The 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 yeY' she asked as her son entered.
 "Yes, an I'm goin ter start next Mon- day, man."
 "Wan, of yer sot on goin l reckon yerll go" 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 retire it 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 a binding flash 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 the Rankin cabin. Years before the run had overflowed it's banks during heavy storm and had carried death and destruction before it.
 "l hope it won't storm this way fer long," murmured Alb, as he began to slowly disrobe. As he threw his patched jacket on the floor 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 to 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, on he fled, and love and fear lent speed to his feet. Down the mountain side he 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 flood was close be- hind him. Half staggering, half run ming, he fell against the cabin door and it yielded. Melissa and her mother were huddled near the fireplace seemingly paralyzed with terror
 "Run fer yer life!' shrieked Ab as he grasped Melissa in his strong arms and rushed out of the door.
 Too late; the foaming flood seized him and forced him from his feet, but he never loosened his hold upon the 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 the valley the two were carried by the aw- full flood. On and on they were carried out into the lowlands. A friendly eddy carried them to one side, and Alb seized an overhanging limb and dragged him self and the fainting girl to safety.
 Then Alb lapsed into insensibility. When morning dawned anxious search CTS found Melissa striving to revive her lover. The cruel flood had dealt hard with the boy. One arm lay limp and helpless at his side One leg had been crushed between two logs, and another had cut cruel gash in his head
 Rough but kindly hands made the suf- ferer more comfortable, and in a brief time he opened his eyes. As Abs face fell upon the face of the girl he had saved, a smile lit mp his blood stained face and his uninjured hand crept slow ly into hers,
 "l aint a-goin ter Saint Looey, Meliss," he whispered, Don't cry that air way; 1 ain't hurt much. lsavei yer, didn't I, Meliss? Yer'd n died eff it hadn't been fer me"
 The effort was too much and he fell back speeches., Restoratives were again administered, and at last the boy revived sufficiently to say:
 "l-l--cant never be hero like Mir G-GoSs told erbout l-l--can't go ter Saint Looey now, an l can't never be a hero like that feller ez f":il onter them Ostrian spears. it want nateral ss l should be hero. Kiss me. Meliss, I'm goin. Kiss me. NJ
 Abithar's head dropped and his eyes closed. He never spoke agaln.
 Poor boy. His name will not go down in history like that of Arnold Wrinkle