The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-03-02

When had purchased n new phono.
| graph. found that Lois message con.
| tanned but one short sentence:
I'VE are going to Leighton" she told
| me.
1t was the last day Of June when my
! train reached Leighton. Rain was fall.
! ing in perfcct torrents, and the Mis-
souri, River already looked ugly and
swollen. Housed in n comfortable
hotel. with four reproductions OF Lois
cheering talks. ! watched the rain pour
down day by. day. The weather was
at one with my mood, for try as
might, could find no new record from
the girl.
Bit by bit the river rose. Shantles
and lighthouses on the banks Of the
Missouri were caught in the mad swirl
and swept down stream. But still the
water crept higher and higher.
And then one night the railroad
bridge tremblod and finally gave way.
cutting Off all connection with the
country beyond.
The morning Of the Fourth Of July
dawned clear For the first time |
strOled about the town, at loss as to
my further actions. The pOstoffice
caught my eye, and half jokingly. |
graphic record,
Dear Frank" said Lois voice. when
I had fitted tho reco"d on the cylinder
Of my machine. II think there Is
chance 10 ovc"tGie rs. We go from
here 10 Bcrryville. Just across the river.
where Aunt Sarah says we shall stay
for several days. | mail this because
Aunt Rebecca has become suspicious
Of the phonograph. | saw her talking
with the hotel clerk and am sure she
was warning him not 10 give anything
10 YOU should you b" following us. |
somehow believe you will receive this
record. Come quickly"
within II mile or Two Of Lois nnd
for four days making no effort to reach
her. ! cursed my stupidity in not ask
ing for mail before. I sprang up.
ready to renew my search. Then |
dropped back TO my seat
Between Lois and me rolled the Mis-
a mighty food. | could never cross.
| telegraphed north. south; up the
river down the river Everywhere ii
was the same. Bridges were gone and
no boat dared venture up the river
At the moment when | was about 10
give up hope a thought, of surety
heaven born. came to my rescue.
.,! II. g,.l,A
the river. Why not hire the aeronaut
who was to make n balloon ascension
at the Fourth Of July celebratiO to
allow me to accompany him? without
question the wind would carry us safe
iy across the river.
The acronaut was stubbornly mer-
ccnary. Dollar by dollar | raised my
bid. till his great black eyes grew
narrow in greedy anticipation. At last
we agreed on price.
1t was not until we had shot up into
the air with the speed of bullet that
he explained that 1t would be imposSi-
bic to land at Berryvile; it was too
close to the river.
SO we sailed over II. do not know
whether the man was new at the buSi-
ness or whether the balloon acted
badly. but we driftCd on and on with
the wind, never once fitting earthward
till | was frantic. Just at sunset We
landed. with terrible thump. in
field something more than fifty miles
from Bcrryvillc | should be forced
To 80 back To that town to pick up the
thread Of the trail.
Cold. dirty. discouraged. I trudGcd
along by the side of my companion 10.
ward a town near mt hand. We came
10 il after Il scramble over fields and
through woods and at once made foi
The hotel. There, sitting in front of
the house deliciously lonely, was Lois
Later we bearded the lions.
Young man." said Aunt Rebecca
looking severely at me over her spec
taclcS. you are prevaricating."
Yes, indeed" chimed in Aunt Sarah
Lois has not been out of our sight
twenty minutes. You are prevariCat
ing"
Il am telling YOU the truth" de-
clnred. with my arm thrown protect
ingly about Lois.
The proof" demanded Aunt Re
bccca.
"rhe proof" echoed Aunt Sarah.
1T is here" | proclaimed dramatic.
ally.
started the wheels OF the phono.
graph and placed on the cylinder the
sixth record had given 10 Lois. From
the horn, slowly and solemnly. came
the voice Of the dear old minister who
had married us:
II pronounce you husbandand wife"
! Milwaukee Sentinel.