Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-09
FAUST'INE.

 was the only girl, but her father said not one of the boys could beat her in outdoor work--which was true.
 The bright days passed away, and the wind began to blow SO furiously that Faustine's father and two elder brothers who were out on the mountain chopping wood could with difficulty get home As night came on tho storm deepened tho thunder rolled the lightning flashed, and the mad waters leaped down the noun tain side in torrent, sometimes catching great trees and tossing them in pool of white foam for moment and then dash ing them down hundreds of feet in the ohasm below.
 Toward evening the storm abated, and Faustine's father and older brothers went out feeling their way in tho darkness to the low shed where the mules were kept.
 Faustine crept 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 tierod at the fearful scene. 1t was grow ing lighter every moment, and Faustine saw just across the stream the wreck of a cabin. She shiyered with fright. Whose cabin WAS it2 What had become of the people who owned itf She asked herself these questions, but there came no answer save the swish of the foaming waters. A great tree that tho storm had uprooted lay directly across the stream, and pillows of white foam were whirling in and out of the branches.
 uboh hot xVoo moro than sob; it must be a groan of anguish. Whose voice was its From whence did it come? With ono hand pressed on her wildly beating heart Faust inc listened.
 Ah, there it sounded again-that groan Some one must be i'll mortal distress. Faustines 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, fatherlp
 But no answor came, the wind carrying her voice in another direction.
 Father Oh, fatherl'
 Again her voice rang out, but her fa- ther, shut up in tho shed with his boys, feeding and otherwise caring for tho 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 little feet were planted firmly on the great tree and her hands were elinging to the branches. To her dismay the wind arose, and it took all her strength to keep her hold as she pursued her dangerous way. The waters 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! Faustine My child where are your"
 She answered, but he did not hear her, and she hurried on as fast as possible. She had reached the wreck at last The little SoOlh 1ieio oNi hSh Ol1O pGSb JuSU UGlOf6 tu6 latter fell. Most of it was crushed, and the remainder of it was resting on it's side, tossing to and fro on the edge of the stream, held only by somo old blanks. It would soon be loosened and would dash down the rocks.
 Is there any ono insidep'' called Faust inc, for she saw no door anywhere, no windows, either.
 A woman's head appeared through small opening A pale, frightened face looked out.
 'Oh, is there no one but you-a ohild?" she asked in great distress
 II can help you, answered the brave child II am looking for the door, !"
 That's tho trouble; the door in on the ground, underneath my feet. So are the windows. i
 A ohild's cry was heard distinctly.
 Some one is with you--a baby2" ques- tioned Faustine eagerly
 Yes, my baby-my only child"
 Lift her up through the hole, then. will take her to a safe place. And the little one was soon in Faustine's arms, who bore her gently away.
 II will send father and the boys for you, she said to the mother. Don't be afraid
 With the child olinging closely to her neck, she made tho perilous journey back over the fallen tree. She was greeted with shouts of joy, and her brothers joined hands, thus making a 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 noise 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 a picture entitled "The Sisters which called forth