Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-06-08
Mrs. MeWilliams' Fright.


the fear of lightning is one of the most dis
tressing infirmities human being can be
afflicted with. 1t is mostly confined to
women; but now and then you will find II
in little dog, and sometimes IN man. 1t
Is particularly distressing infirmity, for
the reason that it takes the sand out OF a
person to an extent which no other fear
can. and it can't be reasoned with, and
neither can it be shamed out of a person. 4
woman who could face the very devil him.
self-or a mouse-loses her grip and goes
all TO pieces in trout of flash of lightning.
Her fright is something pitiful to see.
Well, as | was telling you, | woke up,
with that smothered and unbeatable cry of
..Mortimerl MortImerl" wailing in my
ears, and as soon as l could scrape my
faculties together reached over In the
dark, and then said:
'sEvangeline, ia that you calllngi What
is the matterl Where are your"
..Shrt M in the boot-closet. You ought
TO be ashamed to lie there and sleep 50,
and such an awful storm going on
s'Why. how can one be ashamed when
he is asleepl 1t is unreasonable; man
can't be ashamed when he is asleep, Evan
gellne."
..You never try, Mortimer-you know
very well you never try
/ caught the sound of mutfled soDs.
That sound smote dead the sharp speech
that was on my lips. and | changed it to
.Tm sorry, dear-Im truly sorry.
never meant to act so. Come back and
Mortimer"
"Heavensl what is the matter, my
ove2"
..Do you mean to say that you are i'll
that bed yet?"
s'Why, of course"
ssCome out of it instantly. | should
think YOU would take some little care of
your life, for my sake and the children's,
if you will not for your own"
But, my love"
"Dont talk to me, Mortimer. You
know there is no place so dangerous as a
bed, in such thunderstorm as thls-all
the books say that; yet, there you viii lie
and deliberately throw away your llfe-ior
goodness knows what, unles for the sake
Of arguing, and arguing, and,
'.But, contound 1t, Evangeline, I'm not
in bed now Pm"
GSentence interrupted by sudden glare
of lightning, followed by terrified little
scream from Mrs. McWilliams, and tre-
mendous blast of thunder.
s.Therel You see the resultf Oh,
Mortimer, how can you be so proiilgate as
to swear at such time as this J"
nI didn't swear. And that wasn't re-
suit of it anyhow. 1t would have come:
inst the same, if hadn't SAID word, and
YOU know, Evangeilne-at least you ought
to know-that when the atmosphere is
charged with electricity"
ssOh. yes, now argue it, and argue 1t,
and argue it. / don't see how you can act
so. when YOU know there is not Lightning
rod on the place, and your poor wife and
children are absolutely at the mercy OF
Providence. What are you doing Light
ing a match at such time as this Are
you stark mad q
..Hang it, woman, where's the harm
The place is as dark as the INSIDE OF an IN
fidel; and"
.sPut it out put ii out instantly Are
YOU determined to sacrifice US all! You
know there's nothing attracts lightning
like a light. Fzt!-crdsh!-6ooDa-
6oloona-5oom- Oh, just hear
it. Now you see Whist you've done y
s.No, don't see what I've done. A
match may attract lightning, for all know,
but il don't cause lightmng-lH go ODDS
en- that. And it didn't attract worth
cent this time; for if that shot was leveled
at my match it was blessed poor markham
ship-about an average of none out OF
possible million, | should say. Why, al
DollymouDt, such Workmanship as
that"
"For shame, Mortimer Here we are
standing in the very presence OF death, ana
vet in SO solemn moment you are capable
of using such language as that. Ii you
have no desire to-Mortimer
.'Well."
.sDld YOU say your prayers tonight
.I-I-meant 10, but / got to trying TO
cipher out now much twelve times thirteen
is, and
GFi!-6ooD,-6 -6eroODa-boom! bum
ble-umJle bang SMASH
ssOb. we are lost, beyond all help HOW
oould YOU neglect such thing at such
time as this T.
.sBut it wasn't such a time as THIS
There wasn't a cloud In the sky. how
could l know there was going to be ali
this rumpus and powwow about little
slip like that And | don't think IT'S just
fair for you TO make so much out OF II any
way, seeing 1t happens so seldom;
haven't missed before since L brought on
that earthquake, four years ago."
Mortimer! How you talk Have yoq
forgotten the yellow fever Z"
my dear, you are always throwing up
this yellow fever to me, and L think II is
perfectly unreasonable. You can't even
send teIegraphic message as far as Mem
phls without relays, so how is a little de-
votional slip of time going TO carry SO lar.
I'll stand the earthquake because it was IN
the nelghborhood; nut I'll be hanged II