The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-02-24

GOOD FKOM AIN ILL WIND
BIZ }. n. NIChOLJON.


lights they had left, but those below
were becoming brighter; then day
light came to cheer them, and how
thankful they We're for it.
They could now see that they were
moving rapidly, but they knew the
chance of help was not so good here
as 1t would have been in the city.
When they did see any one they would
call for help, but rescue was impossi-
BILE in that swift current. Once, TO.
ward midday, the house caught OH
something. and held for some time.
They began TO hope 1t would not re-
sumo its wild journey again; but to.
ward night, as the water continued to
rise, it fioated down stream again.
The cold, the hunger, the fatigue, and
above all, the nervous strain was
fast telling on their strength. 1t was
growing darker; Monday night was
closing down on them, and no hope
of help, when they came around n bend
and saw before them a scene which
seemed to promise them either life or
certain destruction at once. The river
was running through what seemed to
be great city. Wreck and destruc-
ton was on every hand; bridges torn
out, houses crushed, cars and buildings
burning, and farther out they could see
the twinkling lights of great city
But help was more impossible here
than it had been before. for the current
was so swift, the way blocked with so
much wreckage that no boat could
reach them, although the watchers on
the bank could see them plainly.
Surely it was Gods hand had held
them back. during the day. until that
mighty torrent had swept away the
many distractions through which they
could not have passed earlier in the
day.
They passed II all safely and in
few minutes they swept out on a much
larger stream. where there was more
room, and consequently less danger.
But it was dark now and the rain
still falling. and they could see nothing
save an occasional light in some win
dow. The house sailed along smoothly
now, the water being deeper and the
channel wider. and so their nervous
tension was somewhat relieved; but
how slow dragged the night! How
they longed for the light os day! When
at last the night was over daylight
found them exhausted, scarcely able
to stand, hope all gone, longing for
death, as relief from that awful
strain '-... '''- ....,. O..
About 10 o'clock they were near the
left side of the current, and as they
swung around n bend toward the
north, they were drawn still farther
from the channel. A little farther
down strong current set off toward
the left onto the bottom, and 1t took
them along with 1t. AS they left the
main stream, the house caught on some
obstruction, but did not stop long. 1t
floated out of the channel and toward
the north, caught again, and as it came
loose it revolved in the opposite direc-
tion, and as the window came toward
the north they saw a house close by,
and above water.
Their craft continued TO revolve and
move with the stream little longer,
then it grounded in shallower water,
and not over quarter of mile from
the house, where they could now see
man and woman watching them
The man called TO them, then ran
toward the water near the house, and
soon they saw him coming to them in
boat.
oil vi No
farms on the Missouri River bottom.
The house was on high ground, above
any high water, though still quite close
to the river, Along the south side of
the farm was small creek, coming
down from The northwest.
Ned's sister, Emma, was his house
keeper, and like Ned had made her
part of the domain to blossom as the
rose; but now the river was higher
than it had been for years. All Ned's
crops We're ruined, and though the
house was still above water. and the
stock still safe, the loss would be great.
Ned was troubled more about his sis
ters health than about his crops. She
had only recently recovered from q
| seNSIt lcNtI, anu HOW Sut SeeLucu ike
ly to have a relapse, and it was nearly
impossible to get doctor as the bot
toms, for miles around, were under
water.
Emma was lying on lounge, placed
in such a position she could see the
river through the open door. She had
a glass in her hands, through which
she watched the wreckage coming
around the bend.
"Ned, there comes a house down the
river. Where could it have come
from?"
1T might have come from k
This food might easily have washed
away small house. Let me see."
He took the glass and looked.
ut is very close TO this side; II may
be drawn into the creek; there is q
strong current running back west
now."