Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-12-02

six feet at a jump. Jim was hurled
against the side wall and then back
He kept himself afloat while he tried 10
get his bearings He then struck out
for the stairs. Three or four strokes.
and he reached the top one. for the WA
ter was now within one foot OF the
second floor. He was obliged 10 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 ike the
demoniacal cries of triumphant tends
and the wailing of lost souls. All real
lied now tnat the end was near. Moth
ing that man was able TO construct
could stand the fearful wind and wa
ter. Jim worked like a hero. tore of
the doors and dashed one after another
to them. Moliie. with many others.
sunk 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 l must keep my promise"
The wind was now blowing ut least
100 miles an hour Now another ter
rife blast. the house shuddeTed. creak-
ed. rose from its foundation Ike 81
gantic bird. Trump. thump. against
the great chimney in the center. then
the timbers yielded. and Jim Martins
house rushed away bearing with it its
human freight Jim found himself
struggling in the water. ..Moliie. Mol
lie.'' he called. but no reply reached his
ear. She. with many others. had gone
beyond the reach of human voice.
He threw out his hand and caught at
the flying debris and succeeded IN lay
ing hold of small log.
Bruised and cut almost beyond rccog-
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
his grasp. With the instinct of a drown
ing man. he caught at the object IL
proved to be the roof of a small build
ing, and clinging TO il was a woman
holding child. The black veil was
gone. the small arms bare. and only tile
white band over the forehead left to
tell Jim that it was the little nun
whose life be 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 it was
safe. smile broke over her face. her
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 nun, they
wondered why her face. even In death,
wore so sweet a smile. But how could
they know she had kept her promise
and defended the child with her life?
Jim was an unusually strong. muscu-
lar man. Alone he might have saved
himself. even after the hours of des-
perate struggle but with the child he
had very little chance.
Now. as the wind ragged and howIed,
he thought he heard. borne on its
breath. Drop the baby" He was SO
terrified by the unholy thought that he
pressed ii closer to his side NO. No,
She defended it with her life; will do
no less than woman"
And so it happened. when the body
of a man. holding close in his arms the
form Of dead child. was piled on the
dray with scores of others. then car
ried to the wharf. placed on the barge
and taken out to the channel. there to
rest until the sea gives up its dead
that a bysta nder remarked. No doubt
but that big fellow lost his life trying
to save the aby."-Bohemian-