Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-31


uered could hear the booming OF
inc sea against the dixie, but could not
seei elsewhere had always found.
even ON the darkest nights, n certain
ghmmcr of light but there the dark.
ness was like that OF closed room.
and the rain did not seem rain, but like
the downrour Of cataract; the ground
was covered everywhere with water.
which, rs the island lies twenty odd
feet below the ordinary level Of tho
sea- could not run oil. was so bowl.
dercd that turned to 60 back Co the
mousse when friendly hand was laid
upon my arm, and n gentle voice said;
Come, let me show you tho way"
recognizing tho voice I said, In
nmazcmcnt surely you arc not no
ing out In this tcmpcst?"
"oh' yes; always help when there
is danger to tho dixie"
We reached the dixie safely. but
soaked, at least was, for not being
nmphi bious the water had tho better
of me.
The scene at tho dixie was, ~ the
term is permissible, sublimely hldcous.
The sea was piled up almost to the ton,
and every wave washed over The
roar was deafcning. Such masses OF
water came over that the mon werc
constantly knocked down. but my little
friend seemed rs bv miracle to escape.
She was hut n slip OF girl, not oy,-
seventeen, but she took her place in
the line Of men like n true heroine.
What astonishcj me most, however.
vas the angular change m her appear.
nncc; there was n row of lantcrns, so
saw her clearly Al the dinner she
had been cNqu'oitcly and most daintily
dressed, and ns she sat at the piano
caught glimpse Of n fairy.litc foot
clad in sill, slipper made from tho
same material as her gown. At tho
dixie She had ON a pair Of rough fisher.
man boots which came above her
knees into these were polScd pair Of
boys trousers aud the astonishing COS
tune was finished by u long, yellow
oilcont and mans hat tied to her head
with n handkerchief Yet she could
not help LOCKING pretty told her
afterwards that she had reminded me
Of Rosalnd
As ] could be of no possible helm,
after an hour went back to the house,
The distance was only about n quarter
OF mile, but how ! over reached TINT
house has ever sincS bscn muttcr Of
wonder To me. Three tunes | slippcd
IN the soft spongy null; my hat blow
of and never was found; / was SO wet
that although II was summer time
felt bitterly cold; ! missed my way and
got Into plowcd lcll, but reached
the house at last, aud cup OF hot TIA
brought at one, by an ohliginy house.
maid chccrcd me immensely; but then
came serious question. had taken
only little handbag with me; what
should wear? Hut the maid solved
that question She took TO my room
pair of trousers slippers, and
most comfortable dressing gown,
saying that she would come
when had changed my things und got
my wet clothes and dry them for me
within tea minutes ! was by n com.
Portable fro that had Teen built In the
dinins-roon, with u Jug 81 hot water
and dccantcr Of brandy ut my side,
and the maid disappeared with my wet
garments.
That girl was Il genius.
In about two hours she brought my
things back. not only were thoy dry
and clean, but had been ironcd TO that
they looked better than they had
In the morning. Tho shoes, dry rs II
bone, had been neatly blaclscncd, and
with n clean shirt from my bag
looked mysclf once more The tenn.
pest went On with undated fury, the
wind howlcd md rhricl,cd like an
angry demon, and the downpuur Of
rain still continued and could not
help thinking with The most sincere pity
of the gallant men AMI that fair young
girl who were guarding their dixie.
What use their being theirs was, or
what they could have done, heaven
and the llollnndcr alone know can
understand protecting dixie from the
outside with mats, but what can be
done from the inside. They certainly
were not theirs Tor pleasure. Doubtless
the shrcwd l!ollandcr knows trick or
two about his diGcs that stranger
woul never guess. Not only his fields,
but his very Life depends upon IT,
After time the wind wcnt down,
the rain csnscd, the slSy frightened and |
the watchers returned with tho infor. |
nation that the wind was still blow
Ing had changed it, direction aud tho |
dixie WAS safe
On account Of their kindly courtesy,
! shall always have u tender spot in |
my heart for th' butch, but should po. |
litcly request tn bc excused from being |
out again IL another llollandish tenn
pest ! am not sufficiently amphibious
L. j. blddlr, IN st Louis Republic |
Lightning Could Not Catch Him.