The Louisianian., 1870-12-22

"And probably are" I said, bending
out from the window, and trying in vain
to catch breath Of cool air. A sultry
veil OF lang,lor was over everything. The
perfume Of shrub and bloom exhaled
heavily upon the damp atmosphere !;
across that dark heavens the birds flew
with hurrying, yet tired wings. Twas
tormented with desire for u profound
and vigorous breath, which this fragrant
air denied me. l wished to cle,sve the
atmosphere,forcing the sensation of wind
ACROSS my face.
'The tempest viii not be here for an
hour?" ] asked
II think not. But Ralph is so odd; he
will just as likely stay out to admire the
thunder, and forget the children"
! l did not agree with her in the last
phrase; though careless concerning him
sell, was sure he WAS careful of others
'If Major Wyndh;lm was at home,
should have him 60 after them," went OIL
the lady, tislgoting about the room That
remark gave me the opportunity for
which had been wishing.
"If you will let me have a horse l
think can get to the falls in time at
least to 500 that the children are shelter
ed"
She looked at me doubtingly, but wish
ing would go. I explained that swift
Z; l!sp would afford me pleasure, and she
satisfied her scruples with that, and few
moments alter was riding swiftly along
the wooded road in the direction they
had taken.
The very sight Of those monstrous
clouds gave me only sufficient sense OF
lear to be exciting and iaspiriting.
rode onward with wild impetus to
outrile my fate, the stain upon my life,
all the miseries that might await me. In
that furious rush ofmy horse Helt able to
def<life and death.
had lot ridden ten minutes beforeI saw
that the storm would burst over tho earth
sooner than Mrs. Wyndham or expect
ed.
That distant muttering of thunder rose
into the reverberating roar that shook the
victom world over which it rolled
| My horse sprang forward at that first
concussion; then with eirs laid backward
he rushed on to meet the big drops OF
rain that were already splashing among
the trees in advance.
At that moment the pony chase emer-
ged from the gloom of the road, and dash
i ell past me, the children, with wide, fright
ene,l eyes, scarcely recognizing me.
Ralph MoliHeux was not with them, but
no idea sugggesteditself to me as to where
he was.
I did not turn back, for at that momen
I rememberefed dismantled old build
ing not quarter of a mile further on,
the direction of the falls I would sdk
shelter there until the rain, which NV
came down in torrents, was over. Elm
rs thought this. my horse, who ws3ar
more fri ,hten mel than I, had brough9me
opposite the old building, and I rfled
him ND beneath its roof, and sat thej OH
his back through the gathering aom.
the deep flashes, and the rattle and roar
of the next half hour.
The sun went down in the stor1 ard
an inky darkness. pierced onlypy the
lr,rid lightning. encompassed nleJ But l
> WAS in one of those moods when ne fears
nothing, and the blackness and yes storm
brought me an eerie enjoyment.
In less than an hour the thuri Ter rolled
: away, and I could family djcern the
long line of dim amethyst h$t in the
west-the upheaying and Suffering OF
the clouds.
Only the trees dripped |eavily now,
5 and standing in front of tb old house,
in the CLEAN that rapidlyfvidened and
> frightened, I saw the narbw rim OF a
moon 50 young that it was llready to the
{ tops of the trees in its desd'nt-
Now, indeed, could Heathe an air
that was the moist breatf OF sweetness
and purity.
With sigh Of delight h such an at
mosphere, turned my B,rse homewud;
buf bafnra ho bod faLonk stem I fanci6d