Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-03-15
What the Flood
Carried
By WILLIAM FALL.

JOnn BaScOmDe STOOD upon the DanK
of the whirling river, looking on the
wreck Of his home. His wife, Mary,
stood at his side, but even in this
extremity of affection her hand did
/, 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 clerk in st. Louis, and Mary
was a school teacher. 1t was boy
and girl Irritation, followed by boy
| and girl marriage; then, spurred by
necessity and aided by the inheritance
of a few hundred dollars, John had
| purchased 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 it 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
| child it 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
I the house and the land" John said to
her. 81 want to be free, as you do.
| I'll send you"
81 don't want your money, John"
she flashed out at him. "There isn't
| anything of yours want-now. There
was only one thing-loye-and 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, week before, the river
began to rise.
| Then the worst happened; the river
burst it's banks, and, when the crest
of the flood had passed, the little set
Element was as matchboxes. Not a
house was left standing.
They stood side by side upon lit
tie knoll and looked at the dull vel.
low ponds that covered their land.
| Mary was to leave on the following
morning. They were sheltered in the
railroad depot nearby which accomo-
| dated the homeless sufferers and
stood Just beyond the highest reach
| of the flood. On the next morning
I 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 Nhe heart to awaken Mary.
Half an hour later he was back,
his face af1ame. She looked at him
in amazement = He might have been
! another man-no, the old one, her
boyish sweetheart who had 80 long
been only a memory to her.
'Maryl' he called. "Comel No,
put on your cloak and bring your grip.
will carry It for you. Come-rll
show you'll"
She accompanied him outside the
squalid building to where the reced-
ing floods had left swampy stretch
their house and growing crops, and
! now
She started In amaZement. A new
house stood almost upon the spot OF
the old one Mary turned to John.
Its magic, John. What does II
mean?" she asked.
John pointed to the receding river
"It is the rivers gift to u.s." he an
swered.
Torn from it's foundations, hundreds
of miles away, In heaven only knew
hot 7fry 70 III
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 1t was furnished, neatly
cheaply, but tastefully.
II wonder if the upper floor is fur
nished. Mary" John suggested.
did you hear anything?" she
asked
John had heard nothing except the
sullen tapping of the waves upon the
river banks.
"What is 1t, 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 8
bundle
'Look, John 20 she whispered.
An infant of six months was lying
in her arms.
"What do you think, joint" sai6
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 hel
waist and he drew her toward him.
"Mary, DEAR" he whispered, 81 have
often thought that if we had child
like this-it would have drawn us to
gether We would not have driftet
apart as we have DONE"
) $50 have l." she answered passion
: ately. 81 felt that you resented 1t
: John, my-my childlessness, and So
+, and So"
"You hadn't grown tired of me?"
, mo. John, indeed no, If / hat
thought you wanted me to stay"
But did and do want you" ht
answered triumphantly. "Only, Mar!