Year: 1873

4 windows OF heaven seemed to havt
: closed, the slllen clouds still hung
: heavy and dark, but the rain had
, ceased for the first time in eight days,


and arrayed IN a water-proof-proEid
/ ed also with a large umbrella Mafga
/ ret Churchill took advantage Of the
lull to set forth for some necessary
domestic purchases. a1 ss
J At first she Thought that she would


not go far into Ridgeford, but would
J make her purchases at some of the
suburban, shops that lined the. way.
|. But we have most of us known the un,
satisfactory character ofisuburban
shops, and Margaret, finding exercise
I pleasant after her weeks confinement


in the house, could not make up her


mind to stop short of thr establish


ment where she usually dealt. Walk


ing on, therefore, she soon found her


self in the heart of the town, josting
among throng of people on the wet
pavements, and finally talking across
a familiar counter to familiar deal
er in teas and other groceries. The
man knew her well, and Liked her
bright lace, as every one did who came
in contact with her; so, while he took
down her orders, and tied up her
bundles, he deseanted freely and fully
on the great Ridgeford topic-the ter
rible and all-absorbing food. Despite
the papers, and despite Hugh, Mar
garet had scarcely appreciated the
awful desofation which had been
wrought until it was brought home
to her by the many minute particu-
lars-the personal hardships and loss
es-that go to make up the full sum
of such a public calamity. These
were poured upon her now in such
a stream that it was only when par
tial lull In the garruity of her inform
ant came, that she was able to take
up her bundles and prepare to leave
the shop. AS she was IN. the act of
doing SO, the proprietor stepped from
behind the counter to say, by way of
adieu:


'If you have seen nothing of the
flood, Miss Churchill, it would be
worth your while to take look at it.
You are hardly likely ever to see such
another-at least, the Lord preserve
US from its like in Ridgeford again!
If you go home by Light Street-it
won't take you very much out of your
way-you can get a tolerable view of
the stream and the houses that are un-
der water"


Margaret thanked him, and said
that she thought she aooas1d go home
by Light Street. She almost chang
ed her mind, however, when she came
out and saw how threatening the
clouds were; but, on consideration,
she found it impossible to resist the
temptation of seeing the flood, now
that it was at its height, so clutching
her umbrella firmly, she turned her
steps toward Light Street. 1t was
very much as the dealer in teas
and other groceries had told her..
From this rather elevated point, she
had a ''tolerable view" of the sub.
merged quarter, and of the angry,
turbid water which had broken its
bounds and done all the mischief But
Miss Churchill was young lady of
ambition, and, having seen thus
much, she wanted to see more. The
gloomy desolation of the sight fas-
cinated her. She was anxious, and
determined to have more than a mere
glimpse of it. 8


To obtain this was-or seemed
to her-easy enough By skirting
around the suburbs Of the town, she
could reach home as safely, if not as
speedily, as by following the direct
course. 1t must be conceded that
this was not very prudent project,
considering the gathering gloom of
the sky, the lateness of the hour
four o'clock Is late in cloudy Novem-
Der 'weather-and the fact that her
path would lie through half-built sub
urbs, inhabited almost entirely by
manufacturing operatives. But Mar
garet could be wilful sometimes, and
she was wilful just now. 'IH not
have another chance" she thought,
with a glance at the clouds which
half deferred her. Then, gathering
her waterproof closer around her, she
fitted away.


In fifteen minutes, it began to rain;
at half-past four it was pouring tor
rents; at quarter to five, a man,
walking hurriedly along with his hat
pulled over his brows, and his coat
buttoned up to his chin, in vain de
fence against the sweeping blast, came
first upon umbrella scudding aimless-
ly along before the wind, and then
upon soaked figure of woman
standing helplessly in the midst of a
rising pool of water. Night was
closing over the wild scene of storm;
the river, not far of, was pouring
over its rapids with sound like that
of many Niagaras; the scattered hous-
es of the neighborhood scarcely show.
ed q ight-for, in truth, they had all
been forsaken by their inhabitants
and the whole picture was one which
Roland Tyrrell was just thinking
could scarcely be matched for COM
plete-and it might readily prove dan