Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-22
trough his damp, brown hair.

"And the water is still rising, said
Mrs. Gordon "still rising; three in
ches more and Bayou Rouge will be
over the levee and the place will be
gone"
Mrs. Gordon set before him some
supper and a hot cup of coffee, for
which he seemed to have but little ap-
petite. AS he stirred the coffee he
said, without looking up:
"I think, wife, it would be well if
you and the girls would put on warm
clothing and have your waterproofs
ready, with any light articles you may
want to save.
"Do you think the danger is as great
as that ?" asked Mrs. Gordon, pressing
her hands to her breast and trying to
speak as if his words had brought her
no alarm.
at is better to be prepared, my
dear, said Mr. Gordon, with enforced
calmness. 81 have had RATS made to
carry off the hands if the flood comes
in, and the boat has been carried to
the door"
In times of great peril women are
more apt to be cool and uncomPlain-
ing than men. Mrs. Gordon and her
daughters realized that great peril
threatened them, but they prepared to
meet it with courage and calmness
that lifted a heavy burden from the
fathers shoulders.
After drinking his coffee, Mr.. Cor
don put on his waterproof coat and
went out again with the lamp in his
hand.
He had not been gone many seconds
when the ladies were startled by
shrill cry that was taken up by other
voices till it rose above the storm.
"The crevasse The levee is gonel' =
They caught these words, and they
heard the roar of the waters coming
nearer and nearer.
Mrs. Gorden threw open the door to
call to her husband to return, but at
that instant he burst in shouting:
Come, fe-Florence--Jennie-
to the boat j.
They ran out after him and got into
the boat. Mrs. Gordon extinguished
the only light in the house as she left,
and Mr.. Gordon's lamp had gone out.
The shouting of the black people
men, women and children-as they
made for the RATS, could be heard
above the bowling OF the WIND and the
roar of the oncoming torrent.
The darkness added to the horror
of the situation, as did the cries of the
frightened cattle
Nearer and nearer came the flood
tbev could hear it dashing against the
house and feel it splashing fiercely on
their faces.
The maddened waters reached the
boat and shook it.
Then the frail craft began to rise
with its precious freight and to tug at
the rope which held it to lve-oak
tree near the house.
Day came at length and revealed
such change as the dwellers in the
ark must have seen when they looked
out after the waters had been pouring
down for weeks and the fountains Of
the great deep were broken up.
Where fertile fields had been there
was now lake dotted with trees that
seemed yielding to the torrent. The
cattle were gone. The quarters of the
laborers and the laborers themselves
were gone. The sugar-house and the
dwelling-house were the only two
buildings left out of hundred, and
up to their sides the waves were rising,
and about them the fierce waters
roared.
1T looks as if the world were being
washed away" said Florence.
Mrs. Gordon had thoughtfully placed
a basket of provisions in the boat, 50
that there was no danger Of immediate
hunger.
"There is only one place within six
ty miles that is not under water, salu
Mr.. Gordon in reply to his wife's ques-
ton.
Where is that ?" she asked, after
pause.
Judge Riel's, he replied. THAT
plantation is six feet higher than this,
and the levees are the best in the
State"
Might it not be well, said Mrs.
Gordon, thoughtfully, "for us to try
and reach them ?"
The question seemed to startle Mr..
Gordon, for he looked at his wife for
some time without speaking. Finally
ne said