Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-11-16


mountain side to her home on the hanks
ri the rushin. brook. Alb lived farther
mp 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. Cuconsciously
the tall. unssunly boy strightened his
Stooping shoulders and brushed hack the
Struggling hair that fell over his brow.
"rll do it." said Alb aloud; I'm do it.
an when | get II FORUM I'll cum back an
marry Melissa an take her'u 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 q goin ter Saint Looey,
air ye:" she asked aS her son entered.
YES an I'm goin ter start next Mon
day, mann.
Wall, eff yer sot on goin | reckon
yerll 20" 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 i'll sheets, Ab opened
the door to look ont, but Il binding flash
of lightning frightened him and the
driving rain forced him back
Dead runll be river fore mornin."
muttered Ab, MS he fastened the door
Dead run was the stream that flowed
past the Rankin cabin. Years before
the run had overtiowed its banks during
Il heavy storm and had carried death
and destruction before it.
81 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 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 to don the tatterod
jacket. Calling to his mother. the boy
disappeared in the darkness. Down the
path toward MelisSa's cabin he rushed at
full speed. The overhanglng 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 fed, 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, hut the flood was close be
hind him. Half staggering, half run
ming, he fell against the cabin door ant
it yielded, Melissa and her mother wer,
huddled near the fireplace, seemingly
paralyzed with terror.
Run fer yer life!" shrielSed Ab. rs h,
grasped Melissa IN his strong arms anC
rushed out OF the door.
Too late; the foumng flood seized hin
and forced him from his feet, but h,
never looSened his hold non the girl
The mnddy water flung him agains
trees and rocks as it hurled him down
ward. The sharp rocks cut his hand
and face cruelty. the trees borne aloni
by the flood beat and bruised his bod,
and sought To tear Melissa from hi
grasp, but III vain.
The boy Clung to his precious burdel
with the strength Of despair. Down tn
valley the two were carried by the aw
ful flood On and on they were carrie,
out into the lowlands. a friendly edG
carried them to one side, and Alb seize,
an overhanging limb and dragged him
7, self and the fainting girl to safety.
Then Alb lapsed into insensibility
When morning dawned anxious search
, ers found Melissa striving to revive he
lover. The cruel flood had dealt har
7 with the boy. One arm lay limp an
= helpless M his side One leg had bee
crushed between two logs, and anothc
had cut cruel cash in his head
Rough hrt kindly hands made the su
{ ferer more comfortable. and in Il bri,
> fell upon the face of the girl he ha
saved. smile lit mp his blood stainc
:, face ard his uninlured hand crept SLOW
u ly into hers.
. II amt a-goin ter Saint Loocy. Meliss
y he whispered. Don't cry that air wa.
y an't hurt much. lsaved yer, didn't
'. MelSs: Yer'd "A died eff it hadn't bee
y fer me"
. The effort was too much and he fe
b. back speechless. Restoratives we
. again administered, and at last the bC
" revived sufficiently to say:
. "l-l-can't never be hero like NJ
:. G-tioss told erbout. l-l--can't go 4
y Saint Looey now, an cant never bo
- hero like that fellcr cz fell Onter the
y Ostrian spears. 1t want material as
~ shonld be II hero Kiss me. Meliss, /
goin. Kiss me. M
- " Abithar's head dropped and his ey
" closed He never spoke again.
y Poor boy. His name will not 90 dow
W in history like that of Arnold Wink
reid But in his humble way he was
d. a. true II hero as the Swiss who opened /
" Austrian ranks ut the forfeit Of his Ii
: and saved his country. NJ. MauI
w in Omaha World Herald.
80
In Only Ono Thing to DO.