The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-10-17

Dan Graham was the most unhapp!
young man in Hamilton county. If the
bald fact had been announced In as
many words, nobody would have ques-
toned the absolute correctness of the
statement.
Dolly Worth had taken particular
pains IL manifest her Indifference con
corning bans actions. his sayings. his
likes or dislikcs-his future. Nothing
that affected Dan Graham could in the
slightest manner concern Dolly Worth.
And everybody thought that they
We're engaged!
Finally. when speculation seemed to
be exhausted, somebody conceived the
idea that the reason why these two
had parted was not so much of a mys-
terry after all.
Inside of week everybody knew
that Dolly had discarded her lover be-
cause he was Il stay at home" When
the Fairview guards marched away to
fight in Cuba, among all the enthusiast
tic beauties who waved their hundker
chiefs after the swiftly receding train
none WAS more prominent than Dolly
Worth
Although nobody could summon suf-
ficient courage to inform Dan Ora
ham that people referred to him as
"stay at home" he knew the truth as
well as if it had been cried from every
hOusetop. For a time his mother
feared that he was in danger of i'm
t1,,H In .tiYn
impressions which. If permitted to be
come permanent. would mar his life
But some underlying force, some in
bred strength. asserted itself speedily.
Dams demeanor was again the agree
able front presented to all the world
and a very winning demeanor it was.
The air palpitated with wars alarms.
People talked of nothing but the war
until one day garrulous old man
contrived between his daily dozes to
inform Dan that he at least did not
find any fault with him for not going
to the war. That was six OF eight
months after Dolly Worth had coolly
parted from him on the most public
thoroughfare in Fairview.
LIE HtAl udJ oNCI toOh
Fairview. The valley sank in waters
gathered in a great storm. Its fields
were swept; fresh Cleaned harvests
were lost: the fences for miles crum-
bled into the rising waters like the
fringe Of dolls dress In IL blaze. leav-
ing the valley desolate. The muddy
waters pressed through creviceS and
flliru COLLAR In Fair
view: then they rose to the first and
second floors. A general hegira was
inevitable. Furniture was pulled and
hauled and lifted by main strength
from floor to floor. Only such articles
were left floating as might serve for
precarious footing for the drowning
rats.
Everybody was wet, dirty, soggy and
cold. Night was coming on rapidly
when Il motley crowd gathered around
the immense fire the boys had kindled
on the lot in front of the postotfice
where the farmers hitched their horses
when the flood was not.
Suddenly somebody mentioned old
Gahe SomerS.
Old Gabe was the oldest inhabitant
of Fairview. One of Gabe's uncles
was captured by the Indians and tor
tured to death OH the island opposite
the town. Gable lived alone in cabin
isolated from his fellows. n rickety at
fair at best. so old that nobody was
able to recall when it was erected.
HAS anybody seen old Gabe"
The query was repeated. As men
looked at each other there in the fast
falling night silence fell upon the
crowd The silence was ominous.
Gabe's poor cabin would never survive
the flood. Perhaps while they stood
there it was crumbling down into the
hungry water. Then the spirit which
prompts all mankind to extend Il help
ing hand found voice. There were
shouts, suggestions. conflicting advice.
Suddenly one man ran toward GaDe'S
cabin. Those nearest him eXclaimed:
others inquired who 1t was. Soon the
crowd knew Dan Graham was fore
most in mad race to the rivers edge.
Dan was the swiftest skater, swim
mer and runner I'm Fairview and the
best dancer Now he diStanced all 9th
ers so far that before they could ap-
proach him he had leaped into skiff.
pushed 1t out and was settling the oars
into the rowlocks when the others
came up to the rivers edge.
Just little beyond Dan they saw
Gabe Somers' cabin. If ever Gabe's
cabin entered the strong current The
men looking on tossed their hands IN
the air desrairingly.
Hell drown. Nothing could save
him now"
Yes, and Dan Graham'n drown
too"
"If one of them floating trees hits
the skiff''-
"Or a log hits It a biF'-
"Or some sunken sawyer hobs IN