St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1898-04-09

seat. IF it was anything else but
mothers being 30 sick, wouldn't go
for kingdoml Iknow Janie's az good
and steady as any girl OF her age need
be; still she isn't but 13, and Bob's as
frisky as colt
ssPahaw, motheri" interrupted her
husband. Don't worry; nothing can
hurt the children. and I'll be back be-
fore night. The river is high though,
isn'tit? never remembers to have seen
81 so near the bridge before; 1t won't
take much more 10 bring II out into
The road. Get up, Ball"
And the spring wagon ratified briskly
along across the stout wooden structure
raised on massive stone abuiments.
Meantime, jamie, at home, was busy
with household duties. She washed the
dishes and set Bob 10 churn, while
three-year-old Dottie. as they all called
their little sister, amused herself by
pretending to keep the flies away from
the churn with q cherry bough, and
thought herself exceedingly useful.
The rain came down steadily and
heavily. keeping them all indoors, but
IL also kept away tramps. IS jamie
thought TO herself, not without satisfac-
tion, tramps being. In her opinion, the
one thing to be feared In the quiet
country neighborhood.
The house stood In fertile meadow,
about 800 yards from Middle river, as
the central and largest fork OF the
Shenandoah is called 10 that section,
and far away from range OF hills that
are almost snountains-ou outlying spurs,
In fact, Of the Blue Ridge.
Ordinarily, Middle river Is q small
and. although rapid. not a mountain
current. but. like most mountain
streams. II is subject TO sudden rises.
and on one memorable occasion, long
before the date OF my story, said occa-
alon being In the early part Of 1865, had
overfiowed its banks for 100 yards in
che direction OF the Bell cottage.
This was a double-rooned frame
structure, with kitchen and lean-to in
the rear, the main part OF the building
being story and half high-the COM
Portable dwelling of a small farmer, in
region where but little attempt at dis
play Is made, even by the wealthy. and
where, on many farms, the barns are
larger than the dwelling-houses.
Besides the orchard trees near the
cottage were several hickory and sugar
naples, and one great elm very
giant among trees-grew close to the
house, almost touching the sloping roof
with its branches
AS evening came on the storm In.
creased rather than lessened. jamie and
Bob, going out to feed the cattle, found
the paths running like small rivulets
while the river, rs Bob pointed out
eagerly, had passed the high-WateT
mark Of '85.
II don't believe father will be home
tonight, Janie,"n said he. lie cant
cross the creek by grandpa's, and
don't believe he can get to the bridge
beyond here, either; but never you
mind-l'll take care Of you"
jamie feared as much herself; never.
theless. she kept supper waiting long
after Dottie had gone to sleep, and Bob
nodded In his chair, stoutly refusing te
20 10 bed until she did so.
At last, reluctantly admitting that he
was probably right, she made fast
the doors and windows and lay down
without undressing.
How the wind blew, and how the rair
poured! The river. too, roared as she
had never before heard 1t. It was faI
beyond high-water mark now. and
looked like lake, II, In the darkness
she had been able to see 1t.
Al length. however. she fell asleep
and slept soundIy until something, she
never knew what. walked her. Surely
the low trundlebed on which she las
was rocking. What could be the mat
teri
She sprang out of bed, and. to hel
horror, found herself half way up te
her knees In the water.
Wading to the chimney piece, sh'
managed to light the lamp. Yes, the
floor was covered with water, on which
the chairs and stools were floating
about the room. Taking up her itt.t
sister she climbed on their mother
bed and hastily dressed her, although
her fingers were trembling with frighi
and excitement, and not few OF thu
buttons and buttonholes went astray
Meanwhile. the water kept rising
steadily higher and higher. The stairi
leading to the upper rooms came doWl