Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-06

N~i A.f O~o"NtiA = WV SUH. Nht"H
had made the day seem 50 dark.
The children shivered in unison
with the change and quickened
their pace.
At 8 o'clock that afternoon the
two little girls stood appalled, at
the Blue creek crossing. Tue brook
had swollen more aud was nov 4
raging torrent. The place spanned
10y the bridge was the narrowest,
and the narrow pIanks, with the
trail side ralings held to each
bank slf by a thread.
See, Nj ,bel, We must harry said
Ruth, or our bridge viii be- gone.
take my hand, anI we'n ran
across Quick.'
T'm awful 'fraid,' said the child
with Qaiyerlng lips.
We'll. I'll 80 drst,' said her
sister encoursgiuglN 'and you'll
see how easy it'll be. Now, then,
one-tvo-threep ami claspiug
hands the two little girls started
10 ruu across the reeling bridge.
Pelhaps it was their weight, per.
haps 1t Was at that very moment
the fasteuings were ready to gIve
way, bat certain i, was that when
they reached The middle of the
Diidge lt snapped it's connections
at each side, and with lightning
velocity shot d0Gn the stream, the
little ones cliuging to each othsI
aud The hand Iall.
The iriRhtfui speed at which
ihey were going, together with the
awful roar OF the wafer and the
sud cuu,ss with which the Whole
tAmg came bout, gave the chill
dfeu no Chance ID feel the extreme
terror that their haz irdous POSITION
would naturally have inspired.
they had only one thought, only
ere instructive feeling, and that
was to cling HI,h a death grip to
Tie bridge ana each other. 1t was
reserved Tor "a spectator to the
scene, who arrived OH little knoll
that commanded a view Of The
whole transaction jlst as it oc
CURED, to experience the fun
agony OF their l,ulble situation
This Was their father, Ambrose
chester,
Like one gone mad, he rin deS-
peralo'y along the bank after tle
suaIbtil, his eJes fixed OF the
t@o htIe swa}ing figures, dark
brown aud Gaxeu cuii5 mingliug
as they were tossel hy the wind,
until q small patch Of WOODLAND
cut Oh his view. Sill be ran,
muteuus cries, prayers, Until
his breath gave ont and his gasp
ing throat coallon'y give vent to
something ike sobs.
When me passed the little patch
Of woodland, he saw the bridge
had stopped, caught hy the branch
es ct a tieefallen across ;he s'rean
Bat the bridge Itself WAS ready 70
fall 20 pieces NOW. Tie rail to
which The children hung vas
sWayug and bendingand threaten
ing every moment 10 part company
VITA ihe rest OF tie structure. 1t
that mOment a figure plang q
boldly into ;he torrent with lonS
board Ia hIs arms, and bttors the
reeiiug. orealhiess father could
gain the spot ad taken both ohh-
dren on to The boald aud w8s
struggling toward the shore: Mr.
Winchester was jlat in time 70
catch his dripping children as tAe}
came @ land, aud AS his eyes tell
ou their Geliyeier he saw it vas
Hutton.
Here, pac the children into my
buggy and wrap them in tie robe,'
he gasped. Taen, following them,
he drove # at bIeaEneck speed
without q back ward glance.
Mrs. Winchester came to the
door eith an inqoiring look.
Wheu Sir. Hutton lifted IN his
.arms the half iAlaninate forms OF
her children and banded them to
her, one by one, she grew ashy
pale.
oh wbat-what,' she cried
Sharply, 'ahat has happenedF
Mr.. Hutton explained briefly as
be followed her leal, clrrying tn
oldest child while she coui eyed
the other.
And you --yoa are wet! sbe e1-
claimed, stealing glance from
Der darings to notice his condi-
tion.
Never mind me- He tucned
to 90.
'Ob. dou'c go YETI said Mrs.
Winchester apposlingly. My
husband will be home soon, and