Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-10
all been In kingdom come if II hadn't
been for you"

all been In kingdom come if II hadn't
been for you"
"Oh. not as bad as that. guessr'
answered the man and. turning to the
horse who had caused all the trouble.
"You would have come to your senses
In time. wouldn't you. old boy?" The
horse answered by rubbing his head
against the mans shoulder.
The giant walked back and climbed
into the coach as though nothing I'M
usual had occurred. but the driver as
he mounted to his seat and gathered
up the reins muttered: THAT dod-
gasted horse never Civ In like that to
anybody in his life before. That fcl-
ler's a reg'lar charmer. like the one In
the show at Frisco"
And as the stage ratified on he would
say every few minutes. "a reg'lar
charmer, that's wot he Is"
They made fairly good time thereaft-
er and just at dawn pulled up before
the door of small hotel in Lewiston.
AS the girl. very pale. stepped to the
ground she held out her hand to the
silver haired giant, saying:
81 want to thank you. saw what
you did, and 1t was that which fright
ened me most. You saved our lives.
| shall never forget 1t. Goodby." and
she disappeared into the hotel.
He saw her several times after that
ut the Peterson ranch just below his
mine. He learned that she was the
new governess for the Peterson chill
dren. but was always busy when he
called at their ranch. And how often
1t seemed necessary to see Peterson
lately, even though he never had more
than moments talk with her.
One day a terrible storm came up.
and 1t rained increasingly. which Kept
the giant busy strengthening the reser-
voirs. The next morning he was awak-
ened by the roar Of rushing water.
Dressing hurriedly and putting on his
high rubber boots, he was soon down
at the point of the bill where he could
see that Peterson's ranch was entire
ly submerged. the house seeming to
stand in the center Of lake. with
the water gradually rising past the
window sills. He hurried down the
hill and waded through the three feet
Of water to the house. He climbed
through window. and there on the
stairs sat the girl.
Throw something warm over your
head and shoulders and come down." "
he called.
The girl unhesitatingly complied. lie
opened the door with great difficulty:
then mounting the stairs halfway he
gathered her In his arms and without
"by your leave" strobe out of the
door through the water to the hills.
"The storm is abating. and the wa
ter will soon recede, but you could not
remain there My foreman's wife VIII!
make you comfortable
How small and light she was! He
could carry her so forever. And how
disgustingly narrow the flooded valley
seemed. Reluctantly he placed her on
the rising ground.
"Where were the Petersons" he
asked.
"They went to visit relatives Oh the
X-Dar ranch. Oh, they left the hired
man with me! He had just gone. as
you came, to see what he could get in
the way Of Il boat or Il balloon"
Then still In laughing tone. though
her eyes filed. she said. "lt seems to
be your business to come to my res
cue"
Wont you give me the job for
life?" he asked eagerly. ~ believe !
could prevent disaster touching you,
even a food"
And, looking up into his strong.
powerful face, she answered. Il be-
lieve you could" as she put both hands
IN hfa