Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-04-26

sunset sky, and all the fields were
striped with glistening ribbons of wa
ter, between the ridges where the
sugar cane was sprouting. She raised
her ashen face to the sky and made a
passionate gesture, but no sound came
from her quiyering lips.
When John came, splashing through
the water. she was still standing there,
straining her eyes to watch for him
through the twilight.
Where is Daisy2" she asked, see
ing him wading in water almost to his
knees.
81 took her, with Blossom and the
calf, to the Indian mound he an
swered, climbing the steps YEARLY.
That's what kept me so long. Idon't
think the poor things will drown there.
I turned the mules loose to shift for
themselves; it's the best 1 could do"
''Oh, john" she cried, struggling
with her tears, 81 forgot some of the
chickens, and, look, there's Beauty's
brood floating over there"
Eyes, my DEAR" he answered, gently,
''and we must hurry to getthe rest out
of the henhouse, or we Shall lose all.
Bring the lantern and Wen save what
we can. Perhaps 1 did wrong not to
warn you of the danger, but L didn't
like to have you worried"
He waded out into the yard again
and again for the poultry and for sacks
of grain, which they together carried
up into the attic, and it was late before
the work was done. She was indie
scribably weary, but, in spite of her
aching feet, her young spirits had re-
bounded from the depths of anxiety
and self-reproach, and she said: 81
think it will be sort of fun to play we
are the Noah family for few days.
Wen read and write some of the in
Vulnerable letters we owe, and, but
how will poor old Aunt Candace get
over in the morning?''
''She won't be here. The-hands have
already abandoned the quarters, and
are making their way along the levee
to Plaquemines."
She was silent moment, picturing
the old woman toiling along the levee
in the darkness, then she said, bravely:
Anyhow, this isn't half as bad as I
imagined a crevasse. 1 thought the
water would come roaring over the
levee like Niagara and sweep us all
away with one mighty rush. They do,
sometimes, don't they?"
He answered, drowsily, that this
| break was miles away, and that the
water had backed up into the swamps
so that it was pouring over the back
levees into the fields.
After a long pause, she said: "Per-
haps it is good thing we are both or
! phans, John. There is no one to
worry;" but he was asleep, and heard
neither her nor the ripple and swish
of the rising water stirred by the night
wind.
She was young and brave, and
laughed at her attempts to fish out of
the windows for dinner, and at her
many other makeshifts, but it was
something more than youth and gey-
ETY. that helped her to cheer and COM
fort her husband in his wearis ONE
toll of rowing from tree to tree, gath
ering moss for the starving animals
on the mound, or tearing boards and
bricks from the fast-sinking cabins,
with which to build new floors in the
| house, for the water was rising day by
day, and everything, everywhere, was
blue with mold and heavy with damp
ness. Alligators sprawled on the gal
1eries, and snakes. wriggling down
| through the cracks between the
boards, disappeared under her feet.
while spiders, lizards and every insect
and reptile, driven indoors by the
flood, took refuge in her bureaus.
arm oirs, and in every imaginable nook
and Granny. She told John that it was
a useful experience, and that they
would make their fortunes by writing
it up some time, and that she was SO
accustomed to the gurgling of the
water and the quivering reflections on
the wall that they might become neces'
sary to her happiness, but her face
had grown very wan, and there were
dark circles around her blue eyes
which told of her suffering.
One stormy evening John came in
exhausted, and, throwing himself
down, said, with almost sob: cts
no use; we can't hold out any longer!
And to think a little help would have
saved us!"
She tried to say that she still be
lieved some one would come to Their
rescue, but as she spoke she could heal
the rising wind beating loose shut
ter; she felt the house tremble in the
| blast, and her words sounded hollow
and perfunctory even to herself. Il
was no use. She knew, as we'll as he
that the end had come, but she drew
his head onto her breast, and, gently
stroking his forehead and cheek
waited in silence.
Suddenly he sprang up with a cry
, threw off her encircling arms ant
dashed open the door. Ashy white, she
chung to him, fearing she dared not sa1
what.
, He leaned out into the night, shout
ing: ''Here! here!" and Lois heard
: out in the darkness: "John Humist on
are you aIive?" Then there was
trampling of feet on the long silen
gallery, and before she could realiz
: the happy truth friendly hands wer
clasping theirs and kind voices wer
l telling how people had been searching
for them and had almost given up, blu
that the relief boat Phoenix was nea
, by, anchoring for the night, and som,
l one had, most Unexpectedly, discov