Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-15
straining her eyes to watch for him

where is Daisy? she asked, see
ing him wading in water almost to his
knees.
Il 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. i don't
think the poor things will drown there.
turned the mules loose to shift for
themselves; it's the best l could do
"Oh, john" she cried, struggling
with her tears, Il forgot some of the
chickens, and, look, there's Beauty's
brood floating over there"
Yes, my DEAR" he answered, gently,
land we must hurry to get the rest out
OF the henhouse, or we shall lose all.
Bring the lantern and we'll save what
we can. Perhaps 1 did wrong not to
warn you of the danger, but didn't
like to have you worried"
de 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: Il
think it will be sort of fun to play we
are the Noah family for a few days.
Well 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 /
imagined a crevasse. | 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 long pause, she said: "Per-
haps it is a 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 wearisome
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 gall
leries, 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.
armoirs, 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 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 hear
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. 1t
was no use. She knew, as well 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 ne sprang up with cry,
threw off her encircling arms and
dashed open the door. Ashy white, she
chung to him, fearing she dared not say
what.
He leaned out into the night, shout
ing: ''Here! here!" and Lois heard,
out in the darkness: "John Humiston,
are YOU alive?" Then there was
trampling of feet on the long silent
gallery, and before she could realize
the happy truth friendly hands were
clasping theirs and kind voices were
telling how people had been searching
for them and had almost given up, but
that the relief boat Phoenix was near
by, anchoring for the night, and some
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