The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-12-27

against the side vail and then back.
He kept himself afloat while he tried to
get his bearings. He then struck out
and he reached the top one, for the wa
ter was now within one foot of the
second floor. He was obliged to sit
down for a moment In order to regain
his breath. The cries of the children
and the sobs of the women mingled.
while outside the sounds were like the
|demonlacal cries Of triumphant Hends
aud the wailing of lost souls. All real
lied now tnat the end was near. Moth
could stand the fearful wind and wa
ters Jim worked Ike q hero. tore OF
the doors and lashed one after another
to. Saem. Mollie. with many others,
sdnk down in mute despair. The white
faced nun worked. too. at binding fast
to doors and blinds the terrified people.
At last she took the child In her arms.
Her eyes wore determined expression,
and her mouth was set firm. Il prom
ised her mother to defend her with my
life. and | must keep my promise"
The wind was now blowing at least
120 miles an hour. Now another ter
| rifle blast, the house shuddered, creak-
ed. rose from its foundation like a gl-
gantic bird. Thump. thump. against
the great chimney In the center. then
the timbers yielded. and Jim Martins
house rushed away bearing with 1t Its
human freight. Jim found himself
struggling In the water. "Mollie. Mol
lie." he called, but no reply reached his
beyond the reach Of human voice.
He threw out his hand and caught at
the flying debris and succeeded In lay
| ing hold Of a small log.
Bruised and cut almost beyond recog-
milton, with the wind beating the rain
against him until he was almost fro
zen. he struggled for his life. He was
rushed on like fast flying train. block
after block.
Just as he felt he must soon land or
drop Into the water something struck
the end of his log and hurled It from
bis grasp. With the Instinct of a drown.
ing man, he caught at the object. II
proved to be the roof Of q small build.
ing, and clinging to 1t was q woman
holding q child. The black veil was
gone. the small arms bare. and only the
white band over the forehead left to
tell Jim that 1t was the little nun
whose life he had once saved.
With her fast failing strength she
lifted up the little girl to him. He
stretched his hand toward her. but she
| waved him back. As he caught the
child In his arms the nun saw 1t was
safe. q smile broke over her face, hel
fingers slipped from the roof. and she
was swept away on the rushing tide.
The next day, when the searching
parties found the body Of a nun, they
wondered why her face. even In death
wore SO sweet q smile. But how could
they know she had kept her promise
and defended the child with her life?
Jim was IN unusually strong. muscu
lar man. Alone he might have saved
himself. even after the hours of des
Iperate struggle. but with the child hs
had very little chance.
Now. as the wind ragged and howled
he thought he heard, borne on 1t:
breath. Drop the baby" He was 81
terrified by the unholy thought that ht
pressed 1t closer to his side. "No! No
She defended 1t with her life; will d.
no less than a womanP'
And SO 1t happened. when the bod!
of man. holding close In his arms th'
form Of dead child. was piled on thu
dray with scores Of others. then car
ried to the wharf. placed on the barg'
and taken out to the channel, there Il
rest until the sea gives up its dead
that bystander remarked. mo doub
but that big fellow lost his life trying
to save the baby."-Bohemian.