The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-16


denly 1t was blown to the four quarters In one
lcrco gust that rs quickly dispersed the lounr.
ors dropping in shade and cover. For fow
seconds tho long avenue was lost In flying
clouds Of dust and then was loft bare OF life or
motion. Rain drops In hugo stars and rossttes
appeared noiseessly and magically upon the
acknowledgements OF m DISTURB apparently drop
ped from midalr. And then tho omlnous hush
returned.
A milo away along tho rocks I turn.
cd for shelter into q onvsrnous passage
OF tho overhnngins cliff. whore could
still watch the coming storm upon
the 500. murmur OF voices presently
attracted my attention. then observed that
the passage ended in q kind OF open grotto.
where could dimly discern the little figures OF
several children. who separated from their
nurses in the sudden onset Of the storm. had
taken refuge there. AZ tho gloom deepened
they became silent again. until the stiffness
WAS broken By u familiar voice. Thore was no
installing it; 1t was Sarah Walkers. But II
| was not lifted In lamentatlon; II was raised
| only IA II rcsuining suspended narrative.
Her name" said Sarah Walker. goomily
was Kribbes. She was the only chid-ot-
Of orphaned parentngc. and fair 10 soc
but sle was bad and God did not love her
And one day she was separated from her nurse
on a desert island like to this. And then
|
| big thundcrbolt cnmo galumping after her
| And 1t kotched her and rolled all over hcr-so
| and then 1t came back and ketched her and
| rolled hor Oversee! And when they came to
| pick her ny thcre was not SO much as Nat left
OF hcr. All burnt up"
| Wasn't thoro Just little bit OF her shoe 2"
| suggested n cautious auditor.
| Not II bit" said Sarah Walker firmly. All
tho other children echood mot II Bit" indiG-
| L.
| pleteness OF Kribbless catastrophe At this
moment the surrounding darkness was sud.
denly nlod with a burst Of bluo celestial fire :
| the heavy inky sea beyond the black edged
| mourning horizon. the cleaning sands. each
nook and corner Of the dripping cave. with
| the frightened faces of the huddled group Of
children. started into vivid life for an instant.
| and then fell back with deafening crash into
| the darkness.
| There was n slight sound OF whimperinG.
| Sarah Walker apparently bounced uron tho
| culprit. for it ceased.
| Smiling tracts Electricity" she said. SEN
tentiousy.
But you thaid it wath Dod!' llsred casu-
| ist OF seven.
It's all the same." said Sarah sharply. and
| SOS asking questions"
| This obscure statement was, however ap-
parently understood. for the casust lapsed
| into silent security. Lots ~ things tracts
it," continued Sarah Walker Gold and silver.
and metals and knives and rings"
| And pennies 2"
And pennies most of ALL Krlbhels was that
vain. she used to wear jeweiry and fly in tho
face OF Providence"
But you thaii-"
| VIII you? There! you hear that ?" There
was another binding flash and a bounding roll
| OF thunder along tho shore. wonder you
didn't kctch it. You would only Pm here"
All was quiet again. but from certain indca-
| tions 1t was evident that a collection OF those
| dangerous articles that had proved fatal to the
unhappy Kribbes was being taken up. l could
! hear the clink OF coins and Jingle Of ornaments.
That Sarah herself WA tho custodian was
presently shown. But won't tho lightning
como to you now p asked timd voice.
No." said Sarah. promptly. cause amt
afraid Look"
A frightened protest from the children here
ensued. but the next instant she appeared ut
| the entrance OF the grotto and ran down tho
| rocks toward the sea. Skipping from boulder
to boulder she reached tho furthest projection
OF the ledge. now partly submerged by the ris-
ing surf. and then turned half trumphantly
half dehantly. toward tho grotto. The weird
phosphorescence OF the storm lit up tho reso-
| Lutte little figure standing there. Gorgeouslv bo-
| decked with tho chains. rings. and shiny
| trinkets Of her COMPANIONS. With q tiny hand
raised In mock defiance OF the clements she
seemed to lean coniidingly against the painting
breast OF the gale. with Tutoring skirt and
flying tresses. Then the vault behind her
| cracked with three Jagged burning assures
a weird fame leaped upon the sand. there
was a cry OF terror from the grotto. echoed by
| n scream OF nurses on tho cliff. n delugs OF
rain. terrific onset from the ale-and-Sarah
| Walker was gomez Nothing OF the kind When
| reached tho ledge, after a severe struggle
with the storm. found Sarah on tho leeward
sido. drenched but delighted l held her
tightly. whilo we waited for lull to regain the
cliff and took advantage of the sympathetic
| situation.
But you know you ,cere frightened. Sarah"
1 whispered; you thought of what happened
to poor Kribbes."
DO you know who Kribbcs was ?" she asked
confldentially.
No"
We'll" she whispered. Il made Kribbles UP.
And the hlgeous storm and thuudcrbot and
the burning All out of my own head"
The only immediate effect Of this escapnde
was. apparently. to precipitatc and bring into
notorety tho growing affection of an obscure
lover OF Sarah Walkers hitherto unsuspected.
IIo was mild. inorensive boy OF twelve.
known as Warts" solely from an inord mate
exhibition OF these youthful oxcrescences. On
the day Of Sarah Walkers adventure his pas
sion eliminated in q sudden and illogical at
tack upon Sarah's nurse and parents while
they were bewailng her conduct and in as
sauting them with his feet and hands.
Whether he associated them in some vague
way with the cause OF her momentary peril. or
whether he only wished to impress her with
the touching lattery Of q general imitation OF
her style, cannot say. For his love- making
was peculiar. day or two aftsrward no came
to my open door and remained for some mo-
ments bashfully looking at me. The next day
found him standing BY my chair in the
piazza with an embarrassed air. and in
utter inability to explain his conduct. At the
end of u rapid walk on the sand ono morning
l was startled by the sound OF hurried breath.
and looking around. discovered tho staggering
Warts quite exhausted by endeavoring to keep
up with me on his short legs At last the da lily
recurrence OF his hunting presence forced n
Fa