Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-01-04

I'D oiS StOTiu coming from ABOVE.
But before they could descend the
slope to cross the dry arroyo in front it
was running from bank to bank and
trimming over with sudden flood of
red, muddy water.
And even above the noise OF the food
before them they heard sound like
the angry shouting of furious multi
tudes Looking backward and up the
creek whence the sounds came they
saw great, tumbling, shuddering
wall-pushing before it and bearing
upon its crest all Imaginable sorts of
debris advancing down the 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 the creek had
flooded out until they joined Their
little mound was an island, momen-
tarily growing smaller surrounded on
every side by raging torrents, in which
were driven and whirled whole trees,
full grown cattle, with sometimes n
fence post whose trailing wires had
caught in their barbs all manner Of
CHASTITY wreckagc.
Up came the water about them; down
fell the big hail.
Its a cloud-burst above, darling"
said Bob. ut won't last long-the wa
ter won't cover this rise"
'I'm not afraid, Bob" said May, with
very white lips; I'm glad came, any
how. If we've got to die we'll die to-
gether; and the way I've felt for the
last three weeks Pm sure that's heap
better than living apart"
Bob jumped off his pony and lifted
May from hers. The hail was coming
bigger and beat cruelty upon them. lie
wrapped his slicker about her, pushed
the ponies close together and sheltered
her with them and his own body as
best he could.
1--WE won't die" he said; but, poor
little girl, what an awful storm I've
dragged you out into!"
just then, from the farther bank of
the creek, above the awful bowling of
the storm came this intelligent com
mand in Old Man Loves car-splitting
tones:
MAY Love! You come here to me
this minutel" And May laughed hys-
terically.
well, he can't get at us, anyway
but the hail can o, look at your poor
handsl o. Bob, can't bear it-put the
sliclIer back on!"
| "Why, honey" said Bob, as the tears
came in earnest now, I'D get pounded
just the same anyhow; and you must
let me have the comfort of keeping
some of it off you-it amt patchin'
on the way your pa would do me if he
could get me right now"
While the storm ragged and the water
rose nearly to their feet Hank Pearsall
had the almost exclusive benefit of Old
Man Loves remarks, since only his
widest shrieks reached the young
couple, who were too much absorbed in
each other to heed either him or the
storm very much.
These remarks disagreed with Mr.
Pearsall, who was VIGOROUSLY man of
judgment and observation.
whats the matter with that young
feller?" he queried, angrily; watch
him standin' to the north'ard Nv his
gal, a-kcepin' the hail often herl lie
amt no chump If he keeps that lick
up right through he'll make better
husband n what you ever did"
About this time, the hail ceasing, the
expectant justice came down to the
further bank of the arroyo. The water
was going down visibly, but it's roar
was still considerable
'Ho, Bob!" yelled the justice above
it's sound, got your license?"
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
the document was like red rag to the
bull.
81 dare ye to marry EN-" he
screamed. 81 dare We to do It'll" And
in an ecstasy of rage and anxiety he
forced his pony down into the foaming
creek among the whirling drift, where
he was promptly pitched off By the
terrified creature, which instantly re-
turned. Pearsall, at the risk of his own
life, had to fish him out, receiving plen-
ty 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
q plains cupid, with boots, slicl1er and
cowboy Incorporating to take charge
of the pair was too much for Old Man
Love, and, dismounted as he was, he
plunged, in delrium of rage, into the
creek, spluttering and yelling:
"Stopl Hold onl You just darel"
May hesitated, frightened; but ole
Hank Pearsall yanked her father out
again and set him on dry land, snort
ing.
"Doggone ye! pulled y'out onct
beforel What fur CANT ye stay outl
Huh?
"When yc try buckin' agin boy like
that, backed by Texas norther, you're
agoin' to git left don't ye know it,
That kids got double cinch on Prov
erduncel But we had this hyer storm
sta6ed out!
"Go it feller Go IL gall I'm with We
every timc-Pm fer vel Yer the right
sortl | wouldn't bender We fer all the
burned old snake-bit fools in Texasl
I'll jist gether up the scraps O this
ole eejit, an tote 'em back to the
ranch"
And as May and Bob rode of, tat
tered, beaten, draggled, but obviously
blissful and jaunty, faint hail fol.
lowed them.
"Good-by kids-wish yer joyl Come
on, ole calamityr-Alice MacGowan, in
Chicago Herald