Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-11-10
Miscellaneous.
CAUGHT In A STORM.

sbauuluB U6uinu Tue counter III new
York all these ten days." sighed Bar
bara Hale, "for all the out-of- the way
adventures we've had -
"Who wants out-of-the-way adven-
lures ?" said Dorcas Dunn scornfully.
Behind the counter. indeed r cbimed
in Mary Vannecker. "Can you breathe
in clover-scented air like this behind
the counter? Can you get mountain
view like this from Sixth avenue ? What
more would the girl want, | should like
to known"
Barbara sighed once more, and shook
her head.
ut is all so tame" she said at
isn't what expected at all"
The three girls-Barbara, Dorcas, and
Mary--were sitting on side hill. un-
der the shade Of grand old cedar tree
Barbara. who had once taken quar-
ter's lessons IN drawing, had a sketch
board in her lap, and was trying-with
but i'll success, it must be wned-to
reproduce the lovely, ribbon-like curves
of the river that wound its way through
the valley below.
Mary had her needleework in her lap,
and Dorcas with her hands clasped un-
der her head, had long given up all at
tempt to read the paper-covered novel
that she had brought with her.
1.-The sky and the sunshine are so
much better" she said.
They were three shop girls-bright,
ambitious, spirited young things, full of
life and aspirations, even though they
were kept dcwn by the force Of circum
stances, and they had dubbed together
their slender resources in order to enjoy
their vacation to better advantage.
Dorcas, the business member Of the
tirm, had bought an excursion ticket
first, and Travelled out to Schepp's VAL
Icy to see what could be done. But it
is needless to say that the hotel and
clearinghouse prices were far beyond
their simple means.
lis there no place." she said, "where
we could obtain one room and the very
simplest fare, for less money 2"
"You might try Old Man Morris's,'
said the portly dame who kept Valley
House. Its quiet place, and Mrs.
Morris she amt no great Of cook, but
there's them as has boarded there, I'm
told"
where isit?' eagerly asked Dorcas
And the landlady went to the door to
point out slender blue thread of smoke
that was curling up heavenward from a
mass of woods on distant hill, aud
once more Dorcas set forth on her pill
grimage; this time with undoubted sue
! cess.
She engaged ono room. The board,
TO be sure, was plain, the bed a coarse
husk mattress, with blanket spead on
the floor for Dorcas herself, the furni-
ture homemade and Imprinted. But
there was q grove Of pine woods in the
rear the blackbirds piped their silver
flutes all day long, aud the bees darted
in and out Of the red lilies by the garden
wall, and our three heroines believed
themselves to DO in Paradise.
But even as Barbara Hale thus be-
walled herself, portentious shadow
swept across the sun, and looked around
they saw that mass Of livid purple
thunderclouds had piled themselves up
along the western sky while distant nut
terings, and now aud them sudden
fash, announced the coming Of storm
Dorcas sprang TO her feet. Barbara
began hurriedly to fold up her sketch
ing apparatus. Mary put her thimblc
and scissors in her pocket.
1--WE must got home as quickly Al
possible r. cried oil three.
But in awaiting themselves Of "shoi
CUT acrosss pach Of woods they go
helplessly lost The sun set behind th,
purple battlement Of clouds, the dusl
fell rapidly 10 these dense woods, anc
the rain began TO patter down in hug
drops.
Barbara, the aspiraut after adventure
began TO cry. Ke s.
1--WE are lost y she said.
"Lost Nonsense r. said brave Dorcas
when eau sec the railroad tract
shining down below. Who ever 20
lost close to railway line Lets max
for the track"
"And get run over" lamonted Bar
bara, III 3 8tfft
"Not likely when there's only on
train day. and that at noon" laughe'
Dorcas. II we walk along tho railwa
line we must come out somewhere don
you sec
"And besides" added Mary, "tber
is a little rainedl cabin not far from hero
where the railroad aagman used 10 liy
before they changed the location Of til