Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-01
PRISTINE.

ine,s home-father, mother and grant, nothcr. besides six children. Faustine was the only girl, but her father saia no' one If the svs eeald beat her in outdoor work-Nhieh was true.
 The bright days passed away' ana ehe wind began to blow so furiously tha9 Faustine father and two elder brothers who were out on the mountain chopplng wood could with difficulty get home AS night camo on the storm deepened, the thunder rolled the lightning flashed ana the mad waters leaped down the noun tain side in a torrent, sometimes catching great trees and tossing them in pool oI white foam for a moment and then dash ing them down hundreds of feet ID the ohasm below.
 Toward evening the storm abated, ana Faustine's father and older brothers went out. feeling their way in the darkness to the low shed where the mules were kept.
 Faastine erept out of doors too. It was so dark that she could scarcely distinguish anything She had intended going to the shed to see if Bose, her own mule, was safe. But she found herself in the road way near the mountain stream. She shud- dered at the fearful scene. It was grow l ing lighter every moment, and Faustlne saw just across the stream the wreck ot cabin. She shivered with fright. Whose cabin was it? What had become of the neople who owned itf She asked herself these questions, but there came no answer save the swish of the foaming waters. A great tree that the storm had uprooted lay directly across the stream, and pillows of white foam were whirling in and out of the branches.
 Hark What was that sound? It was more than sob; it must be a groan of anguish. Whose voice was its From i whence did it come? With one hand pressed on her wildly beating heart Faust inc listened.
 An, there it sounded again-that groan 1 Some one must be in mortal distress. Faustine's heart almost stood still at the dreadful thought that some being was crushed in that wrecked cabin across the mountain torrent.
 She tried to call her father, but she could not command her voice. She tried again and succeeded.
 "Father Oh, fatherl''
 But no answer came, the wind carrying her voice in another direction. Father Oh, father!
 Again her voice rang out, but her fa- ther, shut up in the shed with his boys, feeding and otherwise caring for the frightened mules, did not hear her
 What was to be done must be done with out delay. The child realized that. She was shivering with cold and fearful appre- hension, but her resolve was taken at once.
 There's only one way. I must cross the stream on the fallen tree," she said, and in another moment her littlefeet were planted firmly on the great tree and her l hands were clinging to the branches. To her dismay the wind arose, and 1t took all her strength to keep her hold as she l pursued her dangerous way. The waters i leaped over her feet far above her knees. A great, ugly branch tore her hands and face, and drops of blood mingled with the angry waters. Once she lost her foothold and came near being carried away with the stream, but with great struggle she regained it..
 "Faustinei Faustine!'
 It was her father calling in distress. He did not see her swaying form battling with the branches of the fallen tree.
 "Faustine! Faustinel My child, where are yeu?'
 | and she hurried on as fast as possible. She had reached the wreck at last The little cabin had struck the tree just before the latter fell. Most of 1t was crushed, and the remainder of it was resting on its side, l tossing to and fro on the edge of the stream, held only by some old blanks. It i would soon be loosened and would dash down the rocks.
 'fI Is there any ono inside?" called Faust inc, for she saw no door anywhere, no windows, either.
 l woman's head appeared through a small opening. A pale, frightened face l looked out.
 "Oh, is there no one but you-a child2" she asked in great distress.
 II can help you,' answered the brave i child. "I am looking for the door, That's the trouble; the door in on the ground, underneath my feet. So are the windows"
 A ohild's cry was heard distinctly.
 Some one is with you-a baby?" ques. tioned Faustine eagerly. l Yes luy baby-my only child"
 Lift her up through the hole, then. 1 will take her to q safe place. And tho ] little one was soon in Faustine's arms who bore her gently away.
 'I will send father and the boys for i you, 7" she said to the mother. Don't be afraid !"
 l With the child elinging closely to her neck, she made the perilous journey back over the fallen tree. She was greeted with shouts of joy, and her brothers joined hands, thus making seat for her. on which she and the rescued baby rode to the cabin.
 The father and the boys, with the ax. hurried to the wreck, and soon the weary and bruised mother was resting in safety by the chimney corner none too soon. either for, with noiso like thunder the wreck tore down the stream and was dashed over the rocks.
 A week later the mother died and was buried on the mountain side. Two years have passed since then. An artist, sketch ing in the Pyrenees, exhibited picture entitled The Sisters which called forth great admiration. Two children stood side by side-one d laughing little child of 1, with winsome, bright face, the other n anl