The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-23

| self, and Janet could not help owning that
there was something very winning also
| in Phirs good spirits, though she was re
| PEELED by some of the sentiments he ut
| tered.
"He must have a hard, selfish streak IN
| him." she thought, for she was still young
enough to judge people by their words
But presently the bright weather began
| to break up, and on the day set for an
| excursion to the neighboring lighthouse
| the sky looked so threatening that Mr..
Dale would not allow Janet to go with the
| party.
"Those long wisps of cloud mean wind"
he said.
Janet felt inclined to pout as the gay
party headed by Phil set forth on their
quest of pleasure.
Darker and darker grew the sky, and
toward afternoon it began to rain in gusts,
and the wind piped shrilly. Some anxiety
was felt on behalf of the absent ones,
and Janet joined a group of watchers on
the dining room gallery. Presently the
lugger appeared. her sail sometimes al
most fiat upon the water, as fierce gust
made her careen; but at last she battled
her way to the wharf.
what. are you among the watchers?"
said Phil to Janet.
I'VE feared you might have come to
harm, she replied.
You feared for me?" he questioned.
eagerly and wistfully.
You, who believe in the duty of being
selfish, can hardly imagine, 1 suppose,
that one may feel interested in the safety
of a fellow-being," she retorted. turning
away from him and leaving him rebuffed
and baffled.
All the next day the rain fell in torrents
and the wind ragged. Janet slept little
when night came, for the dark was full of
very strange noises
Toward daylight she arose and went to
the window. AS far as the eye could see
the island was covered with water. 1t
had risen level with the gallery floor, and
was gurgling and gulping under the house
Still the wind howled, and the rain del
uged the earth. A terrified flock of COWS
stampeded through the water on their
way to the high ground of the ridge. Pres
emily rocking chair came bobbing along
on the flood; then wheelbarrow; then a
chicken coop; then a barrel. Janet looked
across the road toward one of the cot
tages, and saw the water flowing in at
the front door, under the bed. and out at
the back door. She gave a little shiver
as she turned away, and went to knock
at her fathers door
Get up, papa" she cried Everything
is under water"
Mr.. Dale, after splashing forth on a
hasty investigation, found that most Of
the cottagers had already adjourned to
the ball room"-that being considered
the safest place. Phil was going around
in skiff to carry them hither; trying to
revive their dropping spirits with the the
ory that the whole thing was great lark.
This will be something to talk about
next winter" he said. as he helped Janet
into the skih. If ever you get short of
subjects for conversation you can FALL
back on your perilous adventures"
'Yes-if we live to tell the tale" re-
marked Janet.
Tn q tha hall room, fbav found a 1isD1 al
enough crowd. One stout German lady
shook her head automatically, and ejacu-
lated at intervals: I'VE will never see our
happy homes again" The children were
fretful. and their terrified mothers seemed
to have lost the art of soothing them.
Phil made a heroic effort to cheer them
up-played with the children. joked with
the old folks, and induced some of he
younger ones to gather around the piano
and sing; but after all it was fictitious
gayety that he stimulated. and it soon
fiickered down again. There was some
thing too alarming to be ignored in the
fury of the elements-the rising water, the
never-ceasing wind and rain. Janet no
ticed with some surprise that M. Van
Dyne was gloomy and even snappsh. He
answered shortly when spoken TO, and ne
seemed more concerned about his own
comfort than anything else. He secured
one of the few arm chairs and, enSconcing
himself In II, relapsed into sullen silence.
And still, as dark grew on, the storm in
creased, with flashing rain and screeching
wind, and, above all other sounds, the
great hoarse roar of the breakers. Phil
and some of the other men made what
provision they could for the comfort of
the women and children: but Mr.. Van
Dyne made no move TO give up his easy
chair. Presently there were people asleep
on the tables and benches-some even
huddled upon the floor.
1T looks now like a tramps' lodging
house." remarked Phil to Janet.
She turned and looked at him I'VE are
in great danger. are We not?" she asked.
Il heard Captain Sanders say we may ex-
pect the worst if the wind veers.'
well, it hasn't veered yet" he an
swered
But 1t may"
Yes It may. l will tell you the truth,
because you have courage to hear it. We
are in great peril. and heaven KNOWS how
IL will end"
There was silence between them for a
moment, and then he took her cold hand
in his.
Janet" he said. Il must tell you-even
here and now-how much love you; even
if you cannot love me. it eases my heart
to tell YOU"
But l do, Phil" she answered. looking
up with her frank blue eyes THE truth
is, was afraid to let myself love you until
learned, through TINS storm, now KIM
and good and unselfsh you really are.
You used to say such hard things. bat
now 1 see you are one of those who prac.
tice but do not preach"
And so they sat- side by side, hand in
hand, happy in spite of their peril-happy
as romantic youth can be, even in the
thought of dying together.
But no such poetic climax was possible.
The storm subsidized gradually; the waters
began to recede, and as the two watched
with tired eyes the coming of dawn they