The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-20

70 cross the dry arroyo in front 1T was
running from bank to bank and brim-
ming over with sudden flood of red,
muddy water.
And even above tho noise of tho flood
before them they heard sound like the
angry shouting of furious multtudes.
Looking backward and up tho creek
whence the sounds came they saw
great, tunbling, shudtering wall
pushing before it and bearing upon its
crest all imaginable sorts of debris--ad-
vancing down tho dry creek bed with
such thunderous onslaught that the
little mound on which they stood shook
and seemed fairly to lower under their
feet. They looked about them. The
arroyo ran into the creek below. Above,
both it and tho creek had flooded out
until they joined. Their little mound
was an island, momentarily growing
smaller, surrounded on every sido by
raging torrents, i'll which wero driven
and whirled whole trees, full grown
cattle, with sometimes % fence post
whose trailing wires had caught in
their barbs all manner of CHASTITY wreck
age.
UP came the water about them;
down fell tho big hail.
Its a cloudburst above, darling"
said Bob. 1T won't last long-the
water won't cover this rise"
I'm not afraid, Bob," said May,
with very white lips. "I'm glad L
came anyhow. If we've got to die,
We'll die together, and tho way I've felt
for the last three weeks I'm suro that's
a heap better than living apart.
Bob jumped off his pony and lifted
May from hers. Tho hail was coming
bigger and beat cruelty upon them.
He wrapped his slicker about her, push
ed the ponies close together and shell
tered her with them and his own body
as best he could.
We won't die, " he said, "but, poor
little girl, what an awful storm I've
dragged you out into!"
Just then, from tho farther bank of
the creek, above tho awful bowling of
the storm, came this Intelligent COM
mand in old man Loves ear splitting
tones:
MAY Love! You como here to me
this minute!' And May laughed hys-
terically.
We'll, he can't get at lis anyway
but the hail can. Oh, look at your
poor hands! Oh, Bob, l can't bear it
put the slicker back on!''
why, honey" said Bob as the tears
camc in earnest now, I'D get pounded
just the same anyhow, and you must
let me have the ccN1tort of keeping some
of it off you-it anti patchin on the
way your pm would do mo if he could
get me right now
While the storm ragged and the water
rose nearly to their feet, Hank Pea1sall
had the almost exclusive benefit of old
man Loves remarks, since only his
widest shrieks reached the young cou-
pie, who were too much absorbed in each
other to heed either him or the storm
very much.
These remarks disagreed with MI
Pearsall, who was VIGOROUSLY man
Of judgment and observation.
WHATS the matter with that young
feller?" he qucried angrily Watch
him a-standin to the north ard NV his
gal, a-keeping the hail often her! He
Amt no chump! If he keeps that lick
up right through, he'll make a better
About this time, the hail ceasing, tho
expectant justice came down to the far
Their bank of the arroyo. The water
was going down visibly, but it's roar
was still considerable.
"Ho, Bob!' yelled the justice, above
its sound, "got your licensct''
Bob took it out and waved it above
his head
Old man Love could not from where
he stood hear word, but he surmised
what had been said, and the sight of
tho document was livid red rag to the
bull.
dare ye to marry 'em, ," he scream
ed. Il dare we TO do it," And in an
his pony down into the foaming creek
among the whirling drift, whero he
was promptly pitched off by the terrified
creature, which instantly returned.
Pearsall, at the risk Of his own life, had
to fish him out, receiving plenty of
abuse for his pains and returning it
with bitter irony.
In two minutes time the shallower
arroyo was fordable, though the creek,
down which big drift continued to
come, was not. Bob set May on her
pony, mounted his own and prepared
to ride out. The sight of the justice--a
plains Cupid, with boots, slicker and
cowboy hat-preparing to take charge
OF the pair was too much for old man
Love, and dismounted as he was he
plunged, in delirum of rage, into the
creek, spluttering and yelling:
Stop! Hold on! You just dare!'
May hesitated, frightened, but old
Hank Pearsall yanked her father out