The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-06

AS the bell gave the signal to depart, the
fve rushed upon the steamer. They were
| soon seated comfortably. going down the
willamette and into the mighty Columbia;
| mightier than ever now the sudden warm
| weather had brought great melted ava
| lanches of snow down from the mountains
| above swelling the river far beyond its
| banks, and causing the greatest flood ever
| Known. The sky was without a cloud-up
| IN the distance upon one side lowered Mt.
| Hood, cool, calm, and majestic; on the
other, Mt. st. Helens, a perfect snowcap-
! ped cone. Often house would come float
| ing swiftly down the river, reminding them
Of the sadness, desolation and ruin the
/ flood was causing
Toward evening they landed, in good
| spirits a little above D; only to be met
] by the news that the track at this point
| was also under water, and they could not
meet train by wagon until next day.
! tumph! Belle you always get into
scrdpes. Oh. for home and peace" grunted
! Miss Secombe
We'll, Miss Secombe, it wasn't my fault
You needn't blame me for what can't be
helped
| "Humphr'
"Horrd old thing" exclaimed Helen,
she is always finding fault with you
after all your kindness to her"
Stop quarrelng, girls. l am tired of
! standing. Do you intend to stay here on
this wharf all nsht?' grumbled Nan.
oh, what shall do?" sobbed Flossy.
|
"Humph! Nothing very pleasant
guess
"Do?" exclaimed Belle, "why, don't you
see there is only one thing to do? We must
! go to that little house there and see if
| they will keep us tonight"
Inc little party followed Bellies energetic
leading, and vigorous knock was answer
| ca by sweet middle aged lady, who cor
DAILY babe them welcome, hustled around
| gave them delicious lunch, during which
/ ify
ions asked concerning the unusually high
water Are you not fearful for your safe
~ here?' asked Helen. NO" reblied the
hostess, twice during the spring freshets
the water has been up to our porch No
pody here is afraid of the flood"
When the repast over and all were
seated for the evening in the little sitting
room, there came anothr knock at the
ooor bringing message from sick neigh
Dor who had grown worse and wanted to
see good Mrs. Milton.
Sorry to leave you ALL" she said brisk
~ but right at the head of the stairs are
your rooms. Be sure to make yourselves at
nome. An, it's pouring down rain. What!
the water is again up to my porch, but l
think it will not rise any more. l will be
back in an hour two if nothing happens
Good by an With these hurried words
she FASTENED out into the darkness and
rain.
"Humph! 1 go to bed. Too much water
over head and under foot for me-" and
Miss Secombe arose and started I'D the
stairs.
Good night Miss Secombe," said a gen.
tie voice.
What?
Good night" repeated Flossy
"Humph! You're a bother, child. Good
! night"
We'll, before 1 would say good night to
that old cross patch" said Helen.
"Horrd old thing!''
AS cross two StickSr'
But girls, l believe she has a better
heart than she wants people to think. 1
saw her give a little lame boy 10 cents"
demonstrated Flossy.
I'm glad to think So 1 can't find any,
thing like a heart. But isn't the rain lone
some? Listen to the river rushing by! 1t
makes me cold all over" shivered Belle
Me, too! Let's go to bed, girls
With Helens remark the four girls went
silently up stairs and very quietly to bed
in the two little rooms adjoining each other
Trey had slept many hours, but it hardly
seemed as though they had closed their
eyes when they were awakened by a great
lurch and then a swiftly moving sensation
with cries of terror the girls rushed into
each others arms.
ooh, what is it? What's the matter?'
were the whispered words of the frightened
and trembling girls.
Belle Holton, were floating down the
Columbia. I knew we'd all be killed he
fore we got back home,'' screamed shriIl
voice as Miss Secombe entered the room
Down the Columbia! They then were
floating as they had seen many houses
go that day. There was one wild cry as
they realized the awful fact
"Oh, what shall we do?" cried Belle
Get dressed" tersely commanded Miss
secombe, land then will all go to the
window and cry for help"
The girls quickly and tremblinglv obeved
her. each one forgetting her faults and
tactly admitting her as commander-in-
chief
1t did not take them long to dress, and
then how they called for help; called with
the vehemence of despair; called until so
exhausted they could call no more. Helen
was the first to give up
Oh" she cried. the rain and the river
make so much noise! 1t is dark
I'VE will drown. We will DROWN, moan
ed Nan. "Oh, feel the house shake. It
will go overv'
Eyes, we are going over. Feel that,
girls? Have we gomez" screamed Belle
"Humph! 1 told you SOL" muttered Miss
Secombe.
Girls, let's pray softly said Flossy.
They all became very quiet, and grew
calmer and calmer, Flossy offered I'D a
solemn, earnest petition for help and life
The effect even softened Miss Secombe,
and she said in a gentler tone:
Each girl take a window, there watch
and signal for help
They were very still and silent now as
each took her post but none will ever
forget the earnest thoughts of better
life, if permitted to live; the repentance
for thoughtless deeds in the past: or the
loving, longing messages sent home! How
they prayed to live!
1t only hour before dawn an
| peared, but to them it seemed as though
they had passed a life time in this awful
| silence; total darkness all around; the rain
| beating in torrents over head; and floating
on, on, on, with the swift current of the
river now and then striking something
that would make the little house totter
and sway, and cause the girls, with a
| shudder, to rush into each others arms to
| die together. But again it would become
| upright, and each would resume her silent
| watch.
At last a faint ray of daylight came
| Hope began to rise. Lighter and lighter it
grew, yet no help seemed to be in sight
| 1--WE will DROWN moaned Man, throwing
| herself upon the bed the house ran into
| some floating debris and tottered
| "A boat! Girls girls, boatv' called
| Flossy from her window. "Oh come and
! call; all of you! Will they never, never
hear u.s."
With one accord five pairs of lungs sent
up shout after shout
Ave aver at last the answer came
THANK God. help is coming!' exclaimed
| Helen, sinking upon chair; then rushing
| to the window again, where now five pairs
of anxious eyes were strained to watch the
! little boat come near and nearer At last
| it beside them. strong rope was
thrown in through the window, which Miss
i ha