The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-13

 OF A FLOOD

sired except children, Margaret attei waiting years for the advent Of little one fell Into one of those perversions of The maternal Instinct. the lavishlng oi her affection on dumb brute.
 She adopted a puppy which she nam sd Spot ltgrew up Co he an ugly little beast. and John hated lt Margaret gave it a4rlb Co sleep Ia, the choicest food. bath daily. and when John Wai not present even brushed its teeth.
 What do sou want Co make a child Of a dog forg" John would ask snap pIshly.
 q love spotty dearly" Margaret would reply.
 One morning John overheard his wife talking to thc dog: "Spotty. dear ] want you Co go and bring me baby Youu Ind lt somewhere the wood. perhaps. It win bc in a silk handker chief. tied ot thc corners. There VIII bc bit Of paper pinned to the handker' chief. giving the h8by's name and tell Ing why its mother left it in the wood. poor woman,
 That's a likely thing to happen" muttcrcd John.
 'Tnkc Che handkerchief in your teeth" Mar-urct went on, where the four corners are tied together and bring Che child Co me"
 John went Co Memphis to a founding asylum and applied for a baby Co ndopt. There was none Co be had whose percentage satisfied him, for he was somewhat particular In that re- spcct. SO he went back Co Margaret disappointed and empty handed, and Margaret went on making e child Of Spotty.
 Soon after this John was reading fir the local newspaper a telegraphic dis patch stating that the river was rising rapidly above and fears were enter talncl that the levcc at several weak points would not stand the pressure. Ills house stood on ground above the highest flood mark. SO he dld not fear for his and Margarct's safety. but ho dreaded Che flood for his nelghbors sake and the destruction Of hls own and thclr property
 "Iobu." >aII his wife "laSt night | draam,j .hat Spotty had gone away and come back with a baby tied up ip sIlk handkerchief"
 John gruucd
 "Spotty. Spotty, Come. get your break kfast. she called
 Spot didn't respond. and Margaret went out Into Che yard Co look for him. She called. but without reply. She hurtcd among the rosehushes and un- dcr the magnolia trees, ln the barn. tho woolhousc. everywhere, but there was np Spot. Then she set an the negroes hunting. but when the sun went down that night there was no sign of the clIld.d0g
 The Hood proved the highest ever known. The levee burst above the l Oldershaws', and the country was cov- cred with water Margaret wrung her hands and gave up Spot for drowned and pleaded with John to take a boat and 80 ln search of hls body. John re fused until hc saw that hls refusal was downright cruelty. Then he got out the oars. unclaimed thc boat and after taking his wife iu with him pulled away Into thc wood behind the house.
 John Oldcrshaw felt iikc fool. but he ls not Che first husband who has acted stupIlly nll wisely at the same tiuc In r'.a..us I.s wife
 They uUrr uHf hy everything that rou'l foaJ animate and manimate. Fuutur. dwellings. sections ot fenc- re mlus were doatus about iu pro sr. .rn. X vUc Kitten on board new. .l ro thru uUaUusIy. X lamb on the roof uf au outhouse blcated Half .gc..od people who had escaped in boats at midnight were pulling for dry aud John Ohcrshaw saw the wreck licgt h.m and remembered that be v.- looking for @ drowned dog
 "S.r Che u,tic ark" Margaret ex. ia.urA
 Whoever has not seen one Of those old cradles. now obsolctc-as all cradles are. for the matter of that-made of wood. one end covered with the same material. cannot understand the excla- nation What Margaret saw was one of these cradles, and. what was more wonderful Co relate. she heard a bark, and dogs nose protruded above the guuwalc Of the cradle-boat about where the sllts for handles were.
 "Irs Spotty" cried Margaret in ecstasy.
 "So lt is," snid John.
 "Why doesn't hc put his paws on the side and show hlmselfy" said Marga. ret
 "He's afraid of upsettlng hls boat" sald John.
 John pulled for the cradle and was soon alongside Of it Margaret seized the tiny craft. and there. lying on soft bedding. was an Infant When it saw Margaret looking down at lt. the chlld's face broke Into smile. Its eyes laughed. and its little arms and legs ylbratcd like shuttles.
 Spotty sat and barked and when all fear of oyerturnlng the cradle was at ln end jumped Into the boat kissed Margaret and ln an respects equaled the lnccssant motion Of the baby.
 So few people win believe this story ar.a Q .--.-...H-- H..s. aN. hnnuF Fn Nmfuh