The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1898-12-30

There was quite largo family In Faust.
mother, besides six children. Faustine
was the only GIRL but her fathe4 said not
one Of tho boys could beet her In outdoor
work--whioh was true.
Tho bright days passed away, and the
wind began TO blow SO furiously that
Faustino's father and two elder brothers
who were out on the mountain chopping
wood could with difficulty get homo As
night came on the storm deepened. tho
thunder rolled the lightning flashed, and
the mad waters leapcd down the noun
tain side In torrent, sometimes catching
great trees and tossing them In pool Of
white foam for o 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 the darkness to
the low shed where the mules were kept.
Faustine orept out Of doors too 1t was
so dark that she could scarcely distinguish
anything. She had intended going to the
safe. But she found herself In the road
way near the mountain stream. She shud-
dered at the fearful scene. 1t was grow
ing lighter every moment, and Faustine
saw just across tho stream the wreck OF
cabin. She shiverod with fright. Whose
cabin was its What had become of the
people who owned its She asked herself
these questions, but there came no answer
save tho swish Of the foaIning 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.
Harki What was that soundP 1t was
more than sob; 1t must be groan OF
anguish. Whose voice was itf From
whence did 1t conner With ono hand
pressed on her wildly beating heart Faust
Inc listened.
All, there II sounded again--that groan
Some ono 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 tho
mountain torrent
She tried to call her father, but she
could not command her voice. She tried
again and succeeded.
Father Oh. father!"
But no answer came, the wind carrying
her voice In another direction.
Father! Oh, father"
Again her voice rang out. but her fn-
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. Tho child realized that, She
wns shiverlng with cold and fearful appre-
hensIon, but her resolve was taken at once.
"Theros only one way. must cross
the stream on the fallen tree" she said,
and In another moment her little feet were
planted firmly on the great trco and her
hands were cliDgIng to the branches. To
her dismay the wind arose, and 1t took
all her strength to keep her hold as sho
pursued her dangerous way. The waters
ieaped over her feet far above her knees.
A grent, ugly branch tore her hands and
face and drops OF blood mingled with the
angry waters Once she lost her footbold
ard camo near being carried away with
the stream, but with y great struggle she
regained it.
rFsnstiuel Faustinei"
Ii was her father calling IN distress. lie
did not sec her swaying form battling
with the branches Of the fallen tree.
"Fuustinoi Fanstinel Ny child, whore
aro you"
She answered, but he did not hear her,
and she hurried on rs fast as possible She
had reached the wreck at last. The little
cabin had struck tho tree Just before the
latter fell Most Of 1t was crushed, and
The romssnder OF 1t was resting on Its side,
tossing 10 and fro on the edge OF tho
stream. hold only by some old planks 1t
would soon DO joosened and would dash
down the rocks.
SIS there any ono insideF' called Faust
Inc, for abe saw no door anywhere, no
windows, either.