Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-08

''pvasR we'll have supper ~
- 80 81, she said. your
<.-sGzs-,ssss1kc.a, father probly
4 b won't be back till
Sx.t sSZy late"
Fred and Polly
drew up their chairs, and Grandmother
Melton brought steaming bowl of
mush from the stove and dished it into
two smaller bowls.
"Im hungry as BEAR" observed
Fred, between mouthfuls. II think
It's a shame we have to go so far to
school. There isn't single boy Or
girl in Springville that has to go half
50 far as we do"
II don't see why father doesn't move
down there" complained Polly, pour
ing more Of the rich yellow milk over
her mush; "he could get to his work
Just as we'll, and 1t would be ever so
much pleasanter than this lonesome
place."
"You must remember that your
father isn't a rich man." answered
Grandmother Melton, gently. "He
owns this cottage, and If he moved he
would have to rent another home, and
perhaps he couldn't sell this one"
The Meltons had only been in their
new home since the summer before.
Both Fred and Polly had enjoyed it
very much indeed during the pleasant
warm weather Of August and Septem-
Der. Then the wide, swift Mississippi
had cleaned through the willows and
there had been unlimited boating and
swimming and fishing. But with the
coming Of winter the roads choked
full of snow and ice, and the winds
swept up the river sharp and cold, and
1t was dreary, lonesome walk of four
miles to school at Springville. AS the
winter progressed they had complained
more and more, and now for a week,
owing to the spring freshets, Polly had
been unable to go at AN, and Fred was
compelled to make long detour over
the bluffs to avoid the lagoons in the
river bottoms.
They'll all get ahead Of me-" Polly
had sobbed; "and can't pass my ex-
aminations."
That morning Father Melton had
gone up the river to help watch the
levees. Reports had been coming from
st. Paul, st. Louis, Cairo and other
points farther up the great river that
the water was rising rapidly. The
levees must be watched night and day
to prevent breaks. On leaying his
home that morning Mr.. Melton had
told Fred that he would be back be-
fore dark. and that there was no dan
ger to fear from the water. All his
neighbors had told him that his cot
tage was high enough to be safe, even
In the greatest floods.
Its after 8 o'clock now" said Polly,
as she arose from the table; Il wonder
where father IT,"
I'D go out and watch for him If it
wasn't raining SO hard" said Fred,
and then he looked around toward the
doorway. anxiously.
he caught his breath suddenly. Then
re half rose from the table and pointed
at the floor Grandmother Melton
dropped her fork noisily on her plate
and her eyes followed the direction in
alcated by Fred's finger. Polly sat still
and gazed at the other two, wonder
ing what 1t all meant.
There on the floor, crawling from
the crack under the door. was a dark
wrlggling object. At first Fred had
taken 1t to be one Of the swamp rattlers
SO common to the Mississippi bottoms,
and his first impulse was to spring for
his fathers rifle which stood in the
corner.
Its the flood" said Grandmother
Melton when she could get her breath.
By this time the black ribbon Of
water was spreading, slipping into the
cracks and creeping out over the floor
toward the table. Polly broke into
cry OF terror. Even Grandmother Mel
Ton seemed uncertain what to do.
Fred suddenly reused himself. He
remembered that he was the man of the
mouse, and that he must watch over
and protect it in his fathers absence.
30 ne sprung from his seat and threw
open the door, not without throb of
lear. 1t was dark outside, and the rain
came down in torrents. Curling up
over the step they could see the muddy
water, and they could hear the sound
OF 1t slapping against the house. 1t
stretched away into the darkness in all
directions as far as Fred could see. He
knew that 1t already must be foot or
more high around the house.
The levee's broken" said Polly, in
scared awed voice. do you think
we'll be washed away"
At that moment something bumped
against the side of the house with so
much force that the dishes ratified.
FRED ran to the side window, peered
out' and found that a big log had
washed down against the building.
Grandmother Melton, who was usual
~ cool and brave under the most try
ing circumstances, was wringing her
hands in terror.
Run upstairs" shouted Fred, "and
- = 4 - rksSA3 IN