Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-31
ONE TO THREE.
fCopyright, 1895. I


 pecan trees about the old Mackie house and howled down the broad chimneys gustily, setting the ash logs on the old fashioned dog irons to blazing fitfully. It rattled the barred window shutters as if inpatient human fingers were trying their bolts. And over and above all the uproar came the piteous whining of dog.
 Reuben Mackie laid down his pen to lis ten. He had just been writing up his day's diary. Not much of task ordinarily, as the routine of his life on cotton planta- tion was slow and unchanging.
 The first howl that he differentiated from the bowling of the wind had found him putting period to sentence about Miss Imogen Loftus.
 Miss Loftus lived on the next plantation to his own. Only barb wire fence sepa- rated his place from her fathers. It might have been the Sierra Madres for dividing purposes:
 Mot Miss Loftus on the road. Had Q girl friend with her in the cart. She drop ped her lap robe, and I restored it. Fool for my painsl She let me see that she thought was. Sometimes think she sees me. Then, again, she takes good care to let me feel that she only recognizes me as old Peter Mackie's grandson"
 Old Peter Mackie had been an overseer in the days when the Loftuses had slaves to be oyerseen. The fact that his grandson was . college bred man and Q good all around fellow counted with some people and did not count with others.
 The dog howled again. Reuben was in- scribing a prophecy in his diary, and he persevered until he had put himself on record: Bound to have an overflow this year. Beginning of February only, and all the upper rivers booming. I predict that the overflow will be general and very destructive"
 The dog howled again, and. further more scratched so Approximately on the door that out of regard for the paint there on Reuben opened unto him. Immediately there bounded into the middle of the room superb setter, wet, eager, agitated.
 "The deuceP said Reuben, staring stu pidly at his uninvited guest. "Miss Lof- tus' Irish Gordonr'
 The dog dropped to the floor and crawled to his feet in suppliant attitude.
 You want me to go with you?''
 The setter beat the floor with an agitat- ed tail. Reuben lighted his lantern and struggled into his macintosh. Then they went out together into the black night. The wind nearly took Reuben off his feet and quite took the breath of life from his lantern.
 He hesitated and turned his face house. ward, The dog whined in disappointment Reuben faced about again.
 "Lead on, then. I guess I won't be outdone in humanity by dog" Ho had not far to go. The public road that led to Tyrone, the Loftus' place. passed his own gate, not rod from which he came upon dark tumbled mass. He turned his lantern upon it, and then bounded forward with an excited cry. With it's four wheels in the air the old Loftus buggy was taking the pitiless beat | ing of the storm. Quite unconscious of his surroundings, the colonel lay under heath it. The high wind had wrenched @ | branch from q tree, which, striking the horse, already made nervous by the storm, had caused it to kick out of traces and | leave its master in the lurch. "Yes, and curse him, he's galloped home to scare the life out of her'' That tumbled heap of broadcloth and gray hair which he was pulling out from under the buggy with strong, gentle hands | derived all its value in Reubens s eyes from being "her' father.
 With the help of hands, hastily sum- moned from the quarters, he carried the colonel into his own house and was minis tering to his wants with intelligent zeal when Imogen herself arrived, pale, beauti- | full grateful.
 ! SIOry IfOIil Ou A1Sn SeeIiieU IO nave descended upon his lonely house. He could wish now that the storm might rage 1 uneeasingly for days. It did not. The next day was dazZlingly bright. And they took the colonel home immediately after | breakfast.
 After tho colonel's upset Reuben was encouraged to think that Imogen saw him, and not merely his grandfather's grandson, | when they chanced to meet until there came an hour when every doubt was | quenched in glorious certainty.
 That great February storm was the be. ginning of the inevitable. Men hoped against hope, fought against fate. Higher, l still higher, mercilessly, silently, the wa ters of the river crept up inexorably.
 And the treaohery of man was added tC the threats of the elements. Colonel Lof tus chafed impotently over the broken leg that made him a prisoner when he should be sentinel. The river was at its highest His leveo's weakest point was known tc his worst enemy. Lncgen caught him ray ing one evening at nightfall:
 "These Dixons arg quite capable of row ing across tho river tonight and cutting 1t With my leyee gone tho pressure Is takeI from their side. Aud here lie like logP
 She soothcd him as women only can When he fell asleep, she flung shaw about her head and sped toward the spot of danger. Beyond it was old Zack IS cab in. She would get him to watch with hei through the night
 Before she reached the cabin she heard the sound of angry voices and q struggle There was feeble moon only to light her She sped along the slender crest of tn, levee, wrapped in the white shawl she hat flung over her white cashmere dress. Tall swift silent, she bore down upon the meI struggling there in the dark.
 She saw the gleam of metal. She heard terrified exclamation, the rush of feet the quick beat of bars. She stood still affrighted, paralyzed. A lantern swung quickly in her face. A low gleeful laugl brought her back to her senses. She ant Reuben Mackie were standing alone unde the pallid moon.
 "They took you for ghost" " he wa saying "You came just in the nick 0 time. They were three to one and woul' have drowned me. The miscreants!'
 Imogen chung to him, trembling.
 And you risked your life for my ia ther's land?'
 "I risked my life for the white lady o Tyrone, :" he said, laughing exultingly Then, more seriously; If they had accom- plished what they came for, you migh have been swept into eternity tonight. M love-my love!"
 She did not rebuke him, not eve when, then and there, he clasped her il arms that were still trembling from tn unequal combat of one to three.
 MRS. J. H. WALwoRTH. ~-------