Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-29

caused her many more sieepless night
than the prospect Of an overflow.
The present occasion was the first OF
which she and Denton had been alone
together for some time past, owing Il
the exacting demands on the engineers
And she found herself growing nervous
under the necessity Of trying to fore
stall an event that she was not ready
to meet. The young man. however, hat
prearranged the walk for the purpose
Of declaring his love, and was not t.
be put off, his nature being more Il
overcome than submit Possessing the
rare faculty Of mingling gentleness ant
persuasion with an infiexible determi.
nation, he usually carried his point.
He was very much In earnest now
and Margaret soon found the force Of
his personality dominating her against
her will. Denton saw 1t, too, and
though irritated at her indecision
made up his mind to master the stu
alton.
"Give me little while before I an.
swer you," she urged, there has beer
SO much excitement, / have not hao
time to think"
sisted, "let me think for you. When 9
man loves q woman he don't want tC
Po6SCooAoA
Of her hands and was holding them
hostage in his own, while he bent eag-
erly forward. II must leave you soon,
he said gently, don't make me miser.
able, Margaret-say I may come back
to you and be happy"
The girl stood irresolute. She was
making desperate effort to analyze
her own uncertain, throbbing heart
when they were startled by the report
Of a gun, followed in quick succession
by a volley. Margaret raised her eyes
in alarmed inquiry to Denton's face.
There Is trouble somewhere" ne
said in answer to her look, while he
drew her protectingly nearer-"yei
time enough, darling, for you to say
you love me-"
But the girl was dumb, and a mo.
ment later the guns were followed by
the prolonged whistle Of the fog horn
the alarm reinforced and strengthened
by every bell, whistle and fire alarm
far and near. Denton knew them to be
the signals agreed on in case OF sud
den danger. The levee must have giver
way at some critical point, and there
would be imminent danger even te
life, as the water was banked agains,
these earthern breastworks to a height
Of ten and fifteen feet above the sur.
rounding country. His first thought
was for the girl at his side, and he has.
tily cast about for some available
means of securing her safety.
Come" he said, daring no longer
''the worst danger was threatened from
above-we can make the town before
the water reaches us.
Margaret instantly complied, but
they had proceeded but short dis.
tance when a loud "Hello!" penetrated
the confusion of sounds. Denton an
swered the call, and guided by his
voice, they saw Pemberton running
toward them.
"Turn and go north-the levee has
broken below town." he shouted tc
them. THE water will back up here
in ten minutes. We must get Margaret
to the old mill. 1t Is our one chance
The waters between here and any
other place of safety. Hurry! There's
no time to lose"
He had now reached them, and the
two men took the frightened girl be-
tween them, and almost carrying hel
bodily, hurried in the direction OF the
old mill.
Margaret looked back and uttered 6
cry Of horror. The water was even now
upon them. It looked like seethine
brown ocean, driving before 1t frantic
animals seeking escape. AS the watel
rushed UP, they redoubled their speed
They could feel its dampness about
their feet and ankles, as higher anc
higher 1t climbed. Wading had be.
come difficult, and the velocity OF the
current threatened at every step tt
wash their feet from under them.
Margaret was beginning to falter
but she choked back a sob and was
making a great effort to go on, wheT
she felt a strong arm lift her bodily
from the ground, while Pembertor
whispered softly in her ear: Didn't
say you would need to swimi"
Hush" she murmured, shocked a
the seeming frivolity OF his speech a.
such a time. But 1t produced the eff
feet he had intended, by breaking TIT
spell Of the spectacular by the com
mon place.
A few more steps and they had gain
ed the refuge Of the old mill and scram'
bled up the steps to the platform. Here
they stood and looked out on the flooded
country. The alarms had now almos
ceased, but the roar Of the water wa;
continuous. Seeing that Margare
shivered, Denton took off his coat ant
wrapped it about her. Twilight wa!
deepirlg into dusk when the familiar
howl Of dog rent the air. The how
was repeated, and proved to be a dis
tress signal from poor Topsy. They
could see her far out on the desolate
waste Of water, tossing about like {
chip in the angry current.
"Oh Topsy," cried her master, wht
had left her safely locked up in th'
Levee-Board Office. Who let yol
out!"
In truth Topsy had broken the win
dow and let herself out, and had i'm
mediately trailed her master, keeping
we'll out Of sight for fear Of being lock
ed up again. Pemberton called to her
and hearing his voice she gave a Sc
ries of whining yelp2 as II begging hin
to come and save her. The sight o
her helpless struggles was to much To-
him. The poor creature raised her heat
once more and gave another dismal
despairing howl.
Her master knew it was last call
and hastily threw off his coat that l
might not impede his movements.
For Gods sake, Allan, don't throw
your life away for a miserable dog!
expostulated his friend. "Therell b.
hundred such drowned In the mex
two hours. It's utter madness-she'
done for now. Think Of your mother
man."
But with the cry I'm coming, oil
grill" Pemberton had already cleare'
the platform and was fighting his wa.
toward her. At sight Of him Topsy'
failing strength revived, and she wa
just able to paddle enough to keel
from sinking.
That's what l call a fools errand,
exclaimed Denton with a frown. Il
would have been bad enough If the do
had been a valuable hunter, but 1 fai
to see the point in taking a risk lik
| this for a worthless cur"
For the first time his words CRATE
on Margaret's sensibilities. Until thi
moment she had NOT known with an
degree Of certainty which of the tw
men she might most truly love. The
| had seemed so nearly to balance tn
scales when she sought to weigh then
in the sense Of their worthiness! Blu
Pemberton's ready response to poo
| Topsy's appeal. in contra -distinctio
| to the others attitude, revealed wit
| telling effect the characters of the tw
| men. The one, stopping to conside
nothing but the fact Of a helples
creature calling on him to save it
the other setting aside the higher sen
timents of a generous nature for tn
sordid instincts Of mind that too
into account the intrinsic value of thin