St. Landry democrat., 1888-01-28

western skies. If | had seen this
should have known that one of those
terrible summer storms, so common in
the Lower Lake Regions. was about to
break The first intmatien | received,
however, was slight flash OF
lightning, followed by the low
rumbling of thunder. was, perhaps,
three miles from the village. and half
mile from the shore-wlnch al that
point and at that time was covered by
dense woods. had always beer ter
ribly afraid of lightning, and the sud-
den flash, added to my knowledge of
the fact that was alone on deep wa
ter, made me very nervous. A more
vivid fl ash lit up the darkenng skies,
followed by loud thunder, and before
l had time to gather my fast-scatter-
ing senses, fearful wind-storm blew
in terrible gusts over the lake. My
frail boat spun round and round
like y boys top--so swiftly
that the motion made me
quite dizzy. It is wonder that / was
not upset, but in less than two min
utes the wind passed away, and !
found myself safe in the boat, only
without oars! And then the rain came;
not in drops, but in solid sheets, while
the binding flashes of lightning and
the yolleys of thunder mingled SO
closely together that it was impossible
to tell which followed the other. / can
not remember just what my thoughts
were at that time; was greatly fright
ened, and believed that the time had
come for me to die. But did not cry
out, and know / did not pray. / just
sat tremblingly still.
Out there, amid that wild. harsh
storm music, it would have been quite
impossible to hear the splash of oars
or the sound of voices. / heard and
saw nothing, until l felt my boat give
q slight lurch, and knew that I was
being steadily rowed by strong arms.
And then l heard voice that sounded
strangely familiar, saying: "Be brave,
Miss Leonard. You are quite safe,
now, and we shall soon be ashore"
Was dreaming9 Could it be? All,
yes; for the lightning flashed that in
slant, and showed me a face which I
had not beheld since when, one peace
full Sabbath night, curiously gazed
upon it, lit up by the glow of q setting
sun,-Jimpy. though how he came
there just then shall perhaps never
know.
In three minutes we were ashore,
and at least safe from the danger of
drowning. But the shelter we could
secure from the rain was very poor,
being only small deserted log ca bin,
the door of which had been carried
away and whose windows were inno-
cent of glass. Jimpy almost carried
ME to this welcome refuge which, poor
as it was, served to keep off the rain.
Jimpy piled up some large stones, and
we sat down side by side. Strange as
it may seem, although we had not
met for two years, we talked very lit
tie, and after the stones were placed
for our seat, we were quite silent. In
deed, the storm was so loud and fierce
that talking was very difficult. And
yet as sat there, soaked with the rain
and terrified by the lightning, l was
strangely content, and | knew then
and forever that Jimpy was more to
me than an old friend.
Presently the rain SUI bsided some
what, and the thunder peals became
less frequent 1t was in one of the short
intervals of comparative silence that /
said: "You remember when we were
together last?" yes he replied,
and added. shut why speak of that?"
';Jimpy," I answered. Il have felt
sorry ever since, and without seeing
you I have learned to care for you.
If you still feel as you did that Sum-
day evening, take me, if you will
have me. We will love each
other and''-- But the thunder
rolled and roared and cut off the end
of my sentence. When it ceased.
Jimpy began again: You must not
talk SO, Miss Leonard. I have seen
ever since that did wrong TO tell you
OF my love. And yet, though am sc
unworthy of you. / do love you still.
/ can not accept any sacrifice from
you; but oh, Miss Leonard-oh, Grace,
my darling, if you will give me one
kiss while we are here alone together
| will go away content
I turned my face upward toward |
his, and Jimpy bent forward to kiss
me. But before our lips could meet.
an awful shaft of lightning struck the
hut we were in-struck Jimpy. and |
the man who had saved my pride from
insult and my life from sudden death
the man whom loved too late. lay
dead before me. knew no more un-
til searching friends found M, quite
senseless, with my head resting on my
lovers arm. But Jimpy was quite
dead. w. H. S. ATKINSON.