The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-08-07

their marriage and during that year
she learned many things about her
lover that she had not previously sus-
pected He w6S a man whose nature
had not been softened by the fierce
struggles of his early life. Instead of
broadening him adversely had made
him narrow and suspicious. and as
soon as he conceived he had the right
to dictate to her he developed into
jealous tyrant. AS postmaster he saw
all the letters she wrote and received
and practically eStabli :hed Il censor
ship over her mail. His was love
that demanded sacrifices rather than
made them. and Olive was beginning
to realize her mistake when Harry
Lawson. an old playmate who had
gone to Chicago some years ago, re-
turned for a holiday. He was so de-
lighted to find his little tomboy friend
developed into Il demure but lively
beauty that he promptly lost his heart
to her. and she reciprocated his affec-
ton.
A couple of days after Lawson had
returned to the city letter from him
arrived at the post office addressed to
Olive Mcdonald recognized the hand
writing and was unusually surly as he
delivered the missive. Olive noticed
his anger and knew it's cause and re-
ceived the letter with a defiant toss Of
her head The result was bitter
quarrel and the end of their engage
ment. Next day she posted letter to
Lawson, and from that time on their
correspondence was fast and furious.
If he had dared. Mcdonald would
have destroyed the letters; but. with
all his faults. his sense of duty was
too keen to allow him to commit such
a wrong But to be obliged to take a
stead of merely handing it out at the
office was simply maddening.
AS he neared the river flats where
Olive lived the storm was rolling away
to the east, and the moon in her first
quarter was casting faint light
through the broken clouds. A short
distance from the river bank his horse
stopped suddenly and stared before
him. Mcdonald raised his head and
peered sullenly into the semidark-
ness. The little valley through which
the Spadina wound was in reality the
channel it had originally cut for itself
through the plateau which it drained.
AS Mcdonald looked at it this valley
appeared to be filed with gray fog.
While he was wondering vaguely at
the unusual occurrence he became con-
scious Of a dull continuous roar and
realized that what he saw cleaning
before him was not mist. but water.
| The little river was flooded and was
| once more filling it's ancient channel.
He then remembered that all the pre-
vious night and previous day there had
| been an unceasing series of thunder
storms sweeping across the north
where lay the sources Of the river.
Owing to the improved drainage sys-
tenn the rainfall had all poured into the
river at once, and the result was flood
as sudden and overwhelming as comes
with the breaking of mighty dam.
AS he looked at the food of water he
knew that the Lucas house on the river
flats must at least be surrounded by
water. Urging his horse to gallop, he
reached the river bank and found there
group of farmers who We're looking
out on the scene Of destruction. BY the
dim moonlight and flashes of lightning
that We're still vivid they could see al
kinds of wrcckage floating in the boil
ing torrent. The Lucas home was al
ready submerged to the second story
,,,l1 L.,
seen h,lddlcd on the roof awaiting
rescue that seemed impossible. The
few boats owned by the farmers haC
been swept away by the waves tina
had rushed down the valley. The wa
ter had risen ten feet in as many min
utcs and was still rising. When Nc
Donald realized the situation he wa
conscious of Il fierce feeling of eXulta
ton This new difficulty would onl.
serve to make his martyrdom NOR
complete. and Olive would get her gif
from his rival with greater sacritic
on his part He felt that it would be
glorious revenge.
Having been Il raftsman on the lake
In his youth. the StOrmieSt water ha
| ITO ltllbIS ltl lliill, ull't iit btStii l
cast about for some means of reachn
those who were in such deadly peri
He remembered that the farmer who's
barn stood Il few rods away had tan
wagon box that was used to carry w;
ter to the thrashing machine engine
1t was made water tight, and. as
could keep water in. it could also.
closed, keep water out. 1t would max
an excellent float for raft.
Calling on the men who We're stant
ing on the river bank to come and hel
him. he ran to the barn. telling thel
on the way what he wished to d
Willing hands carried the tank to I'll
edge Of the water. and others lifte
one Of the wide barn doors from i
hinges. This door they spiked secur
4 ~ on the top Of the tank. and with
few strokes Of an AK Mcdonald mao