The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-07-06
What the Flood
Carried.
By WILLIAM FALL.

ioAi nv
not seek his, and there was no sign
that their common disaster had united
them.
Things had not gone well with them
during the three years that had
elapsed since their marriage. He had
been a clerk In st. Louis, and Mary
was a school teacher. 1t was q boy
and girl filtration, followed by a boy
and girl marriage; then, spurred by
necerSity aud aided by the inheritance
Of q few hundred dollars, John had
purchased a few acres In the fiat low
lands Of the western part of the state.
There they had struggled almost from
the beginning.
Gradually, under the influence Of the
hard and remitting toll. they had
drifted apart. If Mary had had a
child II might have brought them to-
gether. But because this was not des-
tined to be they had grown to be al
most strangers.
When they ceased to hope for a
child II seemed as though they must
drift apart for ever. In fact they had
spoken Of a separation, at first tenta-
lively, then hopefully, then eagerly, as
something to be anticipated.
you can have everything except
the house and the land" John said to
her, Il want to be free, as you do.
I'll send you"
81 don't want your money, john"
she flashed out Mt him. There isn't
anything of yours I want-now. There
was only n thing-love-and 1 don't
want that any more
They were to have separated that
very day, John remaining there, Mary
returning to st. Louis, to take up her
work In the public schools again.
And then, a week before, the river
began to rise.
Then the worst happened; the river
burst its banks, and, when the crest
Of the food had passed, the little set
Element was as matchboxes. Not a
house was left standing.
They stood side by side upon a lit
low ponds that covered their land.
Mary was to leave on the following
morning. They we're sheltered in the
railroad depot nearby which accomo
dated the homeless sufferers and
stood just beyond the highest reach
John set off at dawn. He could not
resist the temptation to look once
again at the ruin Of his home; but
he had not the heart to awaken Mary.
Half an hour later he was back,
his face aflame. She looked at him
in amazement. He might have been
another man-no, the old one, her
boyish sweetheart who had so long
been only a memory to her.
MARY" he called. Come! No.
put On your cloak and bring your grip.
! will carry 1t for you. Come-Tll
show you"
She accompanied him outside the
squalid building to where the reced-
ing floods lad left a swampy stretch
Of earth. Here their farm had been.
their house and growing crops, and
now
She started in Amusement. A new
house stood almost upon the spot Of
the old one Mary turned to John.
TITS magic, John. What does II
mean?" she asked.
John pointed to the receding river.
at is the rivers gift to u.s." he an
swered.
Torn from its foundations, hundreds
Of miles away, in heaven only knew
what county or state, even, II had
been deposited there by the flood. They
crept up toward it, wading like
children through the swampy places.
And. looking In. Mary gasped with
wonder. For II was furnished, neatly,
cheaply, but tastefully.
81 wonder II the upper floor is fur
nished. Mary" John suggested.
did you hear anythingT she
asked.
John had heard nothing except the
sullen tapping Of the wave upon the
river banks.
"What is Il, Mary?" he asked stupid
ly.
Suddenly she dashed wildly up the
steps of the stranded house, and al
most Immediately afterward she re-
appeared. In her arms she carried a
bundle.
Look, John !" she whispered.
An infant Of six months was lying
IN her arms.
"what do you think, joint" said
Mary. with a little laugh. HE hasn't
even finished his bottle-although the
milk is souring. You didn't hear
him. she added. 'but I did"
She stood there so proud, so happy
in this vicarious motherhood that
Johns arm stole timidly around her
waist and he drew her toward him.
"Mary, DEAR" he whispered, 81 have
often thought that IL we had a child
like this-it would have drawn us to-
gether. We would not have drifted
apart as we have DONE"
s have l." she answered passion
ately. ." felt that you resented II,
John, my-my childlessness, and So
and So"
"You hadn't grown tired Of mer'
"No, John. indeed no, II I had
thought You wanted me to stay"
But l did and do want you" he
answered triumphantly. "Only. Mary