The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-09-14

rocky hillside. The CeaSeleSs CtalnOr OF
the seethins waters as they turned
whirling into the tortuous gorge rose
steadily above the throb and thrill y.
the dance music, and aloft those relent.
less clouds sailed sternly eastward over
the sky. ri
sct:ied back and shranll about the earth,
as though dreading the encounter with
the sleeping forces Of the air. Then as
the watchful eyes Of the elders turned
once more up the mountain side there
came cry from Brooks: "By Cd,
it's coming! There isn't a second to
lose!'
Frazier following the direction Of
that pointing finger, looked upward,
saw the crestward frs and pines and
cedars bending, quivering, before blast
as yet unfelt below, saw sheets of ashen
vapor come sailing over the hilltops
and sweeping down the rocky sides, saw
the whole mountain face turn black as
in single minute, as though hiding
from the storm that came roaring down
the slope, then lighting up the next in
slant in dazzling, purplish glare as a
zigzag bolt of lightning ripped the
stormcloud in twain and in the instant,
with crash and roar as of thousand can
non rolled into one, let loose the deluge
sleeping in it's depths. AS though Mag
ara were suddenly turned upon the hill
side, a vast volume of water swept
downward, kissing, foaming, rolling
over the rocks, and the leaping spray
dashed high in air as the black wealth
of waters came surging down into the
ravine
IA cloudburst, by ali that's holy!"
screamed Brooks as he sprang down the
grassy side of the bluff. "Up with you,
up the hillside, for your livesr The
dancers faltering through the sudden
futter of the band, for the first time
looked upward and saw the peril.
Then, men and women, bandsmen and
strikers" the camp made wild rush
up the eastward hillside. Another
binding flash, another thunderOus roar
that seemed to shake and loosen the
rocks about them, and in that second
Of brilliant, dazzling glare the watch
ers could see the white wall of the
Blanca come spray tossing, seething,
whirling huge logs and trees on it's out
ermost wave, tumbling them end over
end, now deep engulfed, now high in
air, one immense, furious, moving noun
tain Of raging water, sweeping toward
them from the depths Of the chasm.
Then, rolling and frothing over its
puny banks in the valley below, a
chocolate food foam crested, spread
right and left through the deserted
camp, licking up the cook fires, sweep
ing camp chairs and tables off their legs,
bodily lifting wagons and ambulances
and sending them waltzing to the wild
music of the storm over the fats where
twinkled dainty slippered feet the mo.
ment before, then bore them away to-
} ward the inner mouth Of the gorge just
in time to mix them up with such fran
tically struggling mules as through ma
tive obstinacy had resisted the impulss
J to scamper to higher ground while ye
there was time. Worst sight of all
; right there in the midst of the logs
chairs. wagon beds, that came swirline
beneath them, was despairing WON
ans struggling form, revealed by wo
mans white dress.
"Merciful God!' shrieked Mrs
| Faulkner. cts Laura Winn. She
: went up toward the falls not ten min
, utes ago.
Vain fool! What could have been he7
object? Barclay, never dancing, hat
been looking smilingly on. Both tn
3 Frazier girls had been led, not too will
I ing, away by partners Four sets ha<
: been formed, and Mrs. Winn, pleading
fatigue, had asked to be excused, hat
sauntered past Barclays seat, and be
fore his eyes had turned up the narrow
, winding, sheltered pathway by tn
, Blanca. Had she dreamed it possible
J he would follow? Follow her be di<
, not. Was it-a far more charitable
thought-in search Of Harry she hat
gone? Somber and absentminded, b.
7 had earlier slipped away among tn
trees, avoiding even Brayton. But nov
$ Barclay was seen on the near side o
' the torrent, limping up and along tn
t steep slope, in imminent danger o
! slipping in, swinging in his hand
0 long lariat that he had drawn from tn
r nearest wagon when the wild up hill
a flight began. They remembered late
, that he was the last man cut of the hol
S low. Already Brooks, Brayton. D
g Lancy and half dozen men were hu1
d rying along the hillside to aid, bu
Q Brayton reached him first and seize
. his arm just as another cry went u
j. from the hilltop-just as from the on
k posite side of the seething torrent tn
: tall figure Of Harry VIM came bound
f ing through the stunted trees, and, hat
= less, wild eyed, he seemed searching tn
/ tossing mass Of wreckage on the bosor
e Of the waters. Another instant still
J. white hand was waved aloft in thei
a midst, then white arm encircling
IS log, a terror stricken white face, al
showed dimly one moment before agai
= borne underneath, hidden by the yello,
J. body of a whirling ambulance, and j
= that one instant, far leaping, Win
l. plunged into the torrent and struck GU
h 1avagely to reach his wife.
n Vain homeless effOrtl Eddvino :;