The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1892-10-29

NJ ceme down in torrents
III thunder reared and
lightning flashed.
ii With every hard gust
~ - OF wind the doors and
widows ratified dnd
the floor and wailatrembled. Without
the ground was orp vast sheet OF wa
ter, rushing and CURLING in its haste to
seek its level; leaves, twigs and great
punches OF moss flew through the air
MS on wings, whiletrees swaved from
side to side, bent down to the ground,
cracked until they We're twisted in
twain, and fell a victim to the temp
est.
The wildness IT the weather was
not very soothing TO nervousness, and
Uncle Joe Bennett, who was easily ex-
cited at any time, pnd during storm
doubly SO, barred Up his windows and
began walking up and down across
the floor, increasing and decreasing
his speed according to the velocity OF
the storm. This evening was no ex-
ception to tho rule, and Uncle Joe
was taking his usual exercise, while
his compahion, who had twice offered
to administer something that would
quiet him, and had been refused with
tie avowal that it wasn't no good to
svaller too many drugs" sat angrily
up in one corner reading, while most
oihis sympathy for the old man was
pGse
Uncle Joe thrust aside the big double
| blanket which he had tucked up for
saety at the window and peered out,
AMI ut the same moment there was n
loud clap OF thunder, followed quickly
byn vivid flash of lightning, which
DATED through the broken pane OF
glass and advanced lightly over the
iloa, sending II chill of fright through
the old fellow, who put the curtain
bac; quickly in its place, and with di-
LATED eyes, his fingers in his ears he
CAV. low whistle and sought security
in tlo next room.
lie threw himself down across the
bed clapped n pillow over his head
andwn beginning to doze when the
iron, door was opened and closed
suddsnly. Jumping up the old man
looked in great astonishment Mt n
young woman who was standing near
the door. She was entirely developed
in gay patchwork quilt, from which
there tiickled down to the floor little
streams OF water. Her face was well
besprinlded with rain, her cheeks
| flushed and her eyes luminous.
"lf it ant Bessie Edwardsyou may
hang me- Bless he; SOUL exclaimed
Uncle Joe, going forward and taking
the wet quilt from around her and
Leading her to chair. But she made
no motion to seat herself.
II haven't II moment to stay, Uncle
joe said the young girl hurriedly.
81 only ran in to Morrow your oil
cloth coat till morning. This quilt is
so soniscd with rain that it's weight
interferes with my Walking and have
yet good distancit to go. | am on
my way for the dotor, and when I've
seen him must eoback again to Mrs.
Bell. She is very ldw, and fear to
find her dead on MY return. hated
to leave her, but {nce there WIS no
| one else anywhere TO call on had to
go"
! Uncle Joe trottedinto the next room
and returned immd iiately with the
coat. He helped hlr put it on, after
which he pressed d4wn on her head an
old hat OF his thai came well down
over her ears and partly over her
face The old fellow smiled. and
bessie, catchinga glimpse OF herself in
| the little mirror OF the wall, burs;
out laughing. unclt Joe's companion,
who had been sittiig SO quietly up IN
the corner. now ca he forward, and
extending his hand to the young WON
an, said with a sml e:
ut isn't necessary for you to &C
any further lookint for the doctor,
am he. Miss Edw{rds, at your ser
vice"
"Well, WELL" said uncle Joe. 81 was
so tooken up with this dear child
forgot DIR. Harris was within forty
mile. Beg your pardon, doctor"
But the doctor heard not a word o
the old mans speech He was lookin.
down at the pluckyIgir beside him and
waiting for him to speak. She wa
looking Mt him and admiring him. She
wished she was attired more becoming
| ly, but there was no time for vair
wishing. So she said:
"Dr. Harris, Mrs. Bell needs youl
services sorely. Please lose no time il
attempting at least to allay her suffer
ing. will follow ypu."
"Can get there by riding, or is thu
road blocked by fallen TIMBER"
"You can ride iluch better thar
you can walk" said Bessie, "thougl
your path will be zgzag, unless boil
horses and rider hre number on
jumpers. Trees ale strewn every
| where"
Uncle Joe opened the door ant
stood looking, first at the sky, then a
| the ground, Just as he doctorrode NJ
to the front steps on his way into til
road.
Miss Edwards" he called. "Hoy
do you expect to get back to Mrs
Bells to-night?"
"Just as came, sir. walked, ran
jumped, climbed, waded and crawled
guess tried every style and name
OF step and gait except swimming"
well, it has rained considerable.
since you passed the gully, amile iron
here, and | know positively it is s
| swollen now that it will take stronge
/ arms than yours to swim over.
4 L