The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-23
Mrs. McWtlliams' Fright.

Well, sir-centlnued Mr.. .McWilliams,
for thia was not the beginning of his talk
the fear of lightning is one of the most dis
tressinp intlrmities q human being can be
afflicted with. 1t is mostly confined to
women; but now ahd then you will lind it
In q little dog, and sometimes In man. IL
,s particularly distressing inlirmlty, Tor
the reason that it takes the sand out OF
person to an extent which no other rear
can, and,i it can't be reasoned with, ana
neither can it be shamed out OF person:
woman who could face the very devil him.
self-or mousc-loscs her grip and goes
all to pieces in trout of flash OF lightning.
Her fright is something ptiful TO see.
Well, as / was telling you, woke up,
with that smothered and unbeatable cry OF
s.Mortimer Mortimer I" wailing in my
ears. and as soon as I could scrape my
faculties together reached over III INC
dark, and then said:
"Evangeline, ia that you calllng7 What
Is tho matter7 Where are your
s.Shut up in the boot-closet. You ought
to be ashamed to lie there and sleep 30,
and such an awful storm going on.
"Why. how can one be ashamed when
he ia asleep 1t is unreasonable; man
can't be ashamed when he is asleep, Evan
geline."
"You never try, Mortimer-you know
very well you never try.
caught the sound of muftled sobs.
That sound smote dead the sharp speech
that was on my lips, and changed 1t to
.Tm sorry, dear--I'm truly sorry. l
never meant to act so. Come back and
'.Mortimer
"Heavensl what is the matter my
love2"
"Do you mean to say that you are in
that bed yet?
"Why, of course"
"Come 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-
"Don't talk to me, Mortimer. You
know therc is no place so dangerous as a
bed, in such a thunderstorm as thls-all
the books say that; yet, there you will lie
and deliberately throw away your l.te--ior
goodness knows what, unles for the sake
Of arguing, and arguing, and.
''But contound 1t, Evanceline, I'm not
in bed now. I'm"
(Sentence interrupted by sudden glare
of lightning, followed by terrified little
scream from Mrs. McWilliams, and tre-
menlous blast Of thunder.
s.Therel You see the result2 Oh,
Mortimer, how can you be 80 protligate as
to swear at such time as this !"
sI didn't swear. And that wasn't re-
suit of it anyhow. 1t would have come,
lust the same if hadn't SAID word, and
YOU know, Evangeilne--at least you ought
to knew-that when the atmosphere Is
charged with electricity"
ooh. yes, now argue 1t, and argue 1t,
and argue it don't see how you can act
go. 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 match at such time as this Are
you stark made"
"Hang it, woman, where's the harm
The place Is as dark as tho inside OF an In
fdel; and"
'sPut it out put 1t out instantly Are
you determined to sacrifice us all7 You
know there's nothing attracts lightning
like light. Fzt!-crash!--doons--
6oloog,,-boom-boon,!] On, just hear
IT. Now you sec what you've done |"
,s'No, I don't see what I've done. A
match may attract lightning, for oil know,
but it don't cause lightnlng-Im go odds
on that. And 1t didn't attract worth a
cent this time; for If that shot was levelcd
at my match 1t was blessed poor markman'
ship--about an average OF none out Of
possible lnilllon, should say. Why, at
Dollymount, such Workmanship as
that"
"For shame, Mortlmcrl Hero we. are
standing in the very presence OF death, and
yet in 80 solemn moment youare capable
Of using such language as that. If you
have no desire to--Mortimcr ~ ~
E4 "'Well.n So s# ~ ~.
'.Dld You say your prayers tonight f''%
"I--I--meant TO, but got to trying to
cipher outnow much twelve times thirteen
Fxt !-kboon,r- 6eroona-44booaai bum
6le--un6le bang SMASH
3 a. "Oh,we! are lost, beyond all helpl How
could You neglect such thing ,,at' such 9
time as this3" - S' ~ -
'.But it. wasn't such a time as. this. "
There wasn't q cloud In the sky. How
could know there was going to be all
tbis rumtJlls and poWWpW about a little