Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-05

around to the front of the church and
cal upon them to save me. A chill had
! laid its icy hands upon my limbs. and
they were growing stiff and useless.
AS l stood there straining my eyes
, over the swelling surface of the flood,
the thought came to me that it would be
no sacrilege to remove the window if |
could, ana thus make my way into the
| church In an instant had laid hold
! OF an iron brace, which ran from the
roof to the leader, and wrested it free
With this rude instrument l quickly
! loosened the fastening of the lower half of
| the window, and, tying my line securely
10 IL, began to lower it gently to the
ground. Being mostly of glass and
metal it sank readily. The way was
now clear for me to enter the church
when, as turned to cast one last search
ing look over the surface of the food.
the upturncd face of human being
floating in the water caught nv eve
! saw that it was floating toward me.
Nearer, and nearer it came, the rays of
the moon resting full upon it.
Its woman" l whispered, and the
next instant suppressed cry of agony
escaped my lips. 1t was my Marie, my
beautiful Marie. my dead bride!
My first impulse was to stoop down,
something restrained me, something held
me back with a grip of iron. l could
not, | dared not lay my hand upon her.
l could only stretch out my arms as her
body drifted in through the window, and
cry out:
$50, go to thy fitting resting place, oh
beautiful counterpart of Holy Mary
Thank God that l should have been
chosen to make the way clear for thee,
fair image! Go, spotless clay, to thy
last resting place !"
As Mare's body disappeared within
the church the confused sound of voices
fell upon my ear, but it seemed to me
that they had come too late My giant
strength was gone at last; reeIed, fell
back upon the roof, struggled to my feet
once more. and then pitched headlong
into the flood
CHAPTER Nv.
when aWoke the sun was streaming
brightly into the room. The place was
strange to me. People were coming and
going, and there was Il strong Odor of
reStOrativeS in the air l could feel that
my lips had been scorched by strong or
hot liquid. For some time my brain was
not able to put my thoughts in their
natural order. All was confusion and
shadow in my mind, but gradually l
came fully to myself, and then realized
that l had been rescued upon falling
from the roof of the church, and that
the flood had subsidized, for could see
the effects of the water in the room
where was lying
Suddenly l became aware that an old
man with long white hair was seated by
my bedside. 1t was Father Roubieu.
The relief party had been in time to save
him, too. AS our eyes met | was startled
by the terribly dull vacant stare which
he fixed upon me.
"Well, my son." he blurted out, |
"they're all gone. all gone! We're the !
only ones left shall give my land to
those who saved their children, for |
have none to provide for now, and as for
me. l shall soon follow them, Till then, !
any corner will do for me to sit and wait |
in. Why should l bother myself about |
clearing away the ruin? Let them have |
the land. The only living things that
haze come back to the farmhouse are |
the ducks and the geese. Everything |
else is gone, Gaspard, my boy, every
thing, everything!"
l made an effort to speak few words |
of comfort, but they died away in my |
throat, and only groan came forth.
NAY, nay, my son." said Father Rou- !,
bieu, almost angrily, "don't put your |
words to such i'll use; don't tell me that |
heaven is mercful. I'll not listen to
such words Where are my beautiful
children and grandchildren, and great
and my fair fields ripe
with the harvest, and my grapes purple |
on the vines. and my cattle sleek and fat |
in their stalls? Where is all this joy of
my old age? No, no, don't tell me that
heaven is merciful!"
This picture of despair was awful to
l shuddered when felt
that this hardness of heart would only
serve to give keener edge to Father ROu-
bieu's suffering. Oh, if he could only
weep, if he could only pray, if he only
had an angel to lead him out of darkness
into light, as my beloved Marie had done
Tor me.
A little food and drink brought back
ny strength again, and when the doctor
made his rounds l begged that might
% permitted to walk forth. wished to