Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-08-15
THE GOBLIN STORM.

The sergeant was home from Tonquin
80 said all the village-and was stay.
ing at the inn, too proud to speak to
any one"-so added those who envied
him the attention excited by his gor.
geous uniform
But Jules and CASTOR. Jean and Emil,
said bluntly that they knew better, and
to show their faith in their old comrade
invited him to take soup with them as
he used to do before he went into the
army
Behold. then. the five friends around
the table. What have they to talk OF
after their long separation We will
listen.
The sergeant Is speaking:
Indeed, hardly know how one lives
at all in those tropics. Without boast.
ing, ! myself bear things as well us most
OF my neighbors, butt confess It, my
friends. have been frightened By the
tropics Think Of il, my boys. a French
officer afraid of the weather."
'.Of the weather." asked Emil.
at is no more than the TRUTH re-
sumed the sergeant. I'm Tonquin we
have thunder and lightning-for | can
not otherwise name them-but not such
as come to these villages-littleg groans OF
thunder here and sparks of lightning
there, but thunder storms to terrify a
bishopr
"How sog" asked CASTOR, curiously.
The sergeant had enjoyed his soup, and
truly his tongue talked of itself
"ln Tonquin," said he. rising TO his
feet tfor so one gestures more easils),
''the iightest of our thunder cracks can
non balls in two, and one peal follows
another so fast that there is never but
one. which. however, lasts as long as the
storm"
Strange enough" said jules, with his
mouth open, his spoon in the air.
"And the lightningT asked Jean,
quickly.
THE lighsning" repeated the ser
geant, much the same sort. 1t Is never
seen. All the world stays indoors and
puts on green spectacles-one or two
pairsr'
0hotOth4
looking sidewise at the veteran.
AS you say-curious indeed replied
the sergeant, smiling. "You would en-
JOY the oddity OF it, have little doubt.
But there is something more worthy of
notice. There is the rain. In Tonauin
the rain falls SO fast that it doesn't reach
the groundi''
"But, sergeant" Grid CASTOR, rising to
protest, your last statement is hardly
credibler
"Oh, you demand an explanation, '
said the sergeant with sone warmth,
and pounding the table with his stiff fin
ers, ''it is because the raindrops fall so
fast they are dried up by the friction OF
the air-that is. Of course, all but little
do not mean to say that none of the
water falls to the ground-that would be
unreasonable.
$50 thought" said CASTOR, noddine
his head wisely.
"You were right, CASTOR" said the ser
geant, grandly always tell me If you
find my stories incredible am little
irritable. but not proud And | know
(since |, too. lived in this little village
once-so long ago9 how seldom you hear
such adventures"
My word. but have heard things as
strange~ said CASTOR. dryiy.
Then my stories do not surprise your
asked the soldier. with some disappoint.
ment
why should theyY replied Castor.
81 have never been in Tonquin. | have
hnu ri saf fkfr.~.
and in this very townl"
such as?'- said the sergeant, look.
ing hard at the other and twisting his
mustache ends into two needle points
''some people would say your Tonquin
storms were not large" Gaston said.
frankly "But ! am not SO foolish.
Freely admit that such storms are rare
In this village. But ] do contend that
we have here the smallest storms that
can well be"
The sergeant moved uneasily on his
four legg,E stool. and gazed at CASTOR
with his eyelids half closed
"Did you never hear OF themg- said
CASTOR. seeming to be much surprised.
Never. said the sergeant. In pecu-
liar voice
1T Is said that once at the inn, where
you are staying man who had been a
sailor-l think il was n sailor-came
home from Algeria and told of many
wonderful experiences Sea serpents
land slides. unicorns, rocs' eggs and mer-
maids-such was his stock In trade.
Well. one morning. that soldier"
"Sailori~ said the sergeant, frowning
Sailor of course-that sailor came 10
breakfast telling OF a terrible storm. .
thunder storm-a true Tonquin storm. II
You will permit me, sergeant" The ser.
geant bowed, still frowning But.
strangely enough. CASTOR went on, mo
gne'eise had seen any sigma Of a storm
whatever. IL had seemed TO every ons