The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-11-16

h'Shei th"h II was ever known TO be
before"
"Oh, no, we are safe here, and we
have plenty of everything. We must
stay by the place and the stock. " said
Mrs. Gait. 1.-The water has come up
fast though. We were worried about
You Aren't you coming inn"
81 don't see how | can. The water
is over the front door and not up To
the veranda roof. Are the horses tied
IN the stable? They are making n
good deal of noise "
suppose they are. Do you think
the water has reached them?'
Il will go and see, said the young
man, and he padded away.
Mrs. Gait renamed at the window.
looking with alarm at the rapidly ris-
ing water. A mau in n queer little
craft crept in over the front ward.
Sister Galtr' he called.
why, brother Meeks, is that you?"
she answered
Yes, sister. remember about the
wedding, but at that hour we were all
so busy i'll fighting the water that I
conld not come. This is the first mo-
ment that L have had. Are you all
safe?"
''Oh, yes, and very comfortable. We
could not have the wedding yet 1T
was cruel time for this calamity to
come, but | suppose we never could
find the right time for misfortune"
George came around the house ut
this moment, and was greeted by the
minister. "Ah, Mr.. Meeks. YOU are
a. "a
quite midnight, and ir we can get the
bride to appear, we shall he married
yet to-day. Can You climb "A post?"
81 am afraid not, under such disad-
vantages. But | can sit here and per
form the ceremony if you and the
young lady will come to the edge of
the roof, said the minister.
George tied his boat to the corner
column of the vernnda, and began to
climb to the roof. The girls had been
aroused by the voices, and were ready
to appear when he reached the top.
81 let the poor horses out, :" he said
to Mrs. Gait. They were mp to their
necks in water, and would have been
drowned 10y morning. They can swim
10 the mountain now The fences
make sur" of my wife before anything
else happens. Come, Mary, here is
the minister and he drew her gently
out upon the fiat roof Her mother
and sister followed, and the young
pair went to the edge where they could
see Mr. Meeks. He had been unable
to find n boat and had made the peril
trip III horse trough, where he now
sat rocking on the high waves of the
flood.
The sky was heavily overcast with
clouds; there was no light save lamp
in the window; the stanch old house
was rocking nIarmingIy, but the voice
of the clergyman was none the less i'm
preSslVe rs he pronounced the marriage
ceremony over the young couple bend
ing above him, and before the clock
within struck twelve they were man
and wife.
1t was not Il Joyous wedding nor
were there there attendant festivities.
but the young husband drew his wife
to his side with whispered sentence
that made her feel that she had n pro-
tector III this hour of disaster. The
| rain began to fall again and Mrs. Calf
insisted that Mr.. Mceks should try TO
enter and stay until daylight. Ac-
| cordlngly he padded around to the
woodshed roof aud climbed over it and
through the kitchen attic. the water
having risen within few minutes so
much that this was easily accom-
pushed. Mexico had ma de apot of hot
coffee, and had an appetizing lunch
ready for the tired and hungry advcn-
turers. She had carried up the abundant
delcacies that had been provided for
the wedding, and she served some of
these things now, saying that this was
the only wedding supper the young
folks would have. For few minutes
IN the warmth and cheer and lively
talk, the dread situation was forgotten.
but crash below, n lingering, resonant
crash, called everyone's attention.
ITS the piano, said Mrs. Gait. at
has been floating for a long time, and
now 1t has bumped the ceiling. II
crashed into the big mirror some time
ago
Then everything downstairs is
ruined, said Bette.
'Oh, yes" returned her mother.
calmly. "The only thing I asl, now
IS to have our lives spared
\ hoarse, deep whistle rent the air
very near the house, and the group
looked wonderinRly at each other.
ut is the boat going up. said
George, and she has como over here
to avoid the current. It is fenrfullv
swift in the river"
The lights Of the boat had friendly
look as they passed, and for the time
the feeling Of desolation passed. but
soon the darkness was unrelicved
again. A few minutes later 70 great
wave dashed against the house. that
swayed 1t back and forth, and sent the
cups on the impromptu table spinning
to tho floor. The little party looked
mt ono another, with white panic in
each face. Could it mean another
wave struck them and the room
tipped slightly backward. the occu-
pants catching wildly ut any
thing in reach as they slid toward the
wall The third wave came. the last
from the passing steamboat the house
wavcred. tipped forward, then careen-
ed, aud turned upon one side.
To the roof 10 the roof Quick
I before she pofe ,ut into tl,, ,,,,,...s.. 4 o.,