The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-11
Etening Story
Good Fish in the Sea.
BY ROSE MEREDITH.

Mrs. Merton fixed her hard bright
eyes on Ruth's pale face. Don't pine
after Arthur Bent, Ruthie-he isn't
worth one single tear from any girl!
Il am not shedding tears, Mrs. Mer-
ton," said the girl proudly. The en-
gagement is broken-and he has gone
back east
II heard there was another girl out
there
Il heard so too" retorted Ruth,
'and if you do not mind, Mrs Merton,
suppose we talk about something
else"
clad enough, my dear. for he was
as mean as all get-out to steal your
heart away and then go off-but re-
member, there's as good fish in the
sea as ever were caught"
Il suppose So" said Ruth listlessly,
as she picked up her knitting; Il am
afraid I am not much OF a fisher
woman
Ruth's mother came back to the
room and glanced at the well-mean-
ing neighbor. She suspected that the
trend of conversation had been to-
ward the light-hearted Arthur Bent
She sat down and briskly threaded
needle. Rivers rising, they say" she
began.
creek was way over the banks. but l
didn't know it had broken loose-it
the river keeps on rising and the dam
breaks-then goodby to Blue River
and all our homes!"
The women looked out at the swift
ly running Blue riveR and talked
about how the small Streams were
full to overflowing and that the spring
freshets were due.
"I've always been afraid of Blue
river, even if I've lived on it's banks
for twenty years. remarked Mrs
Merton as she went
"I am more worried about those
poor folks in the Little Village region
along Little river" declared Mrs. Hoi-
ton. She stood awhile in the doorway
enjoying the fragrance of apple bios
SONS and the fresh, earthly small from
the newly plowed fields. Then her
gaze turned to her pretty daughter
and the anxiety in her eyes deepened
as she noted the swiftly flying fingers.
What are you knitting. Ruth p she
asked at last.
The girl smiled. Don't laugh at
me, mother dear, but 1 am knitting a
scarf-it started out to be muffler
for Arthur-and since he has gone
away, I have kept right on knitting
away, using up all the stray bits OF
yarn in the house-see the crazy-quilt
the last bit of wool, it will be COM
pleted and all my trouble will be knit
ted into it-see, it is six yards long
now!''
my dear! Don't you think you
have done enough? ?"
'Yes-I begin to feel that I am
nearing the end-I am caring less
every day,"
What a blessed scarf that will be,
1t is a good plan to knit our troubles
into useful things like that. Ruthie. I
do believe the river is rising-see, 1
can catch the CLINT of it between those
trees. 1 never saw il before. I am
glad we are on high ground here
your pa says he believes in building his
houses on hill"
Ruth got up and went to the back
door. They watched the brimminS
river in its rushing movement toward
II am afraid OF the flood, mother ,
said the girl softly "and yet some
how, I am waiting for it. i have a
feeling that things will be different
after that"
pear child. hope they will be
happier for all of us, but remember
the flood means death and destruc-
ton to many poor people up the river"
IT know am not wishing for that
Il am praying that the bridge will
hold and that the dam will not break,
but I am excited" and she went back
to her knitting.
The next morning the river was still
rising and all the men folks departed
hastily for Little River to see what
aid they could render to the menaced
homes along its banks.
Ruth and her mother wandered un-
easily around, watching the brown
water ana marking KS rise Suuuehiy
debris began to appear in the water;
then a chicken coop. then young trees,
and all the movable articles about
farmyard. A boy rushed in to shout
that the dam had burst and that the
whole village of Little River was float
ing down stream. Below the Holton
farm men were gathering to save any
threatend lives, to stop any floaing
buildings.
Now the river was alive VITA
strange craft of every description.
Chicken coops, one with a defiant
rooster growing Justify from its peak,
wooden tubs. woodsheds, small build
ings, pobbed past on the tide; then
house floated down, the inmates
looking out of the second story win