The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-08-24
The minister stared at her IN amaze

stoop from the rain Finding the door
ajar, I came in. + did not dream that
any one was here. I can go at once. of
course"
But he turned only to stand helpless
before the broken knob. At once he
understood the situation. An exclama-
ton of impatience escaped him, and
he crossed the room hastily and threw
open window and heavy outside
shutters, while Olive sat Imply down
and watched him The lamp fickered
out, but every few seconds he was visi-
bic in the lightning flashes, standing
UP brave and strong and unaffrighted
The girls strength%,was fast leaving
her, and whensa Iufid fash danced mp
on the floor and. played misebievously
about amoRS the benches she gave a
cry Of terror
The minister hastily closed the win.
doM and CROPPED toward her. us any.
thing: the matter. ;hesSdnqnired anx
fously.
Nothing, only I'm afraid-so afraid
of the storm" she moaned.
His heart went out in pity for her in
her weakness, and, sitting down, he
put his arm protectingiy about her, as
one would soothe frightened child,
and said tenderiy. "Poor little one."
And Olive. as crash after crash ter
rorized her, chung to him and hid her
head ON his shoulder and sobbed and
shivered And so they sat until the
storm had spent itself and the moon
shone again. Then she sat up. abashed
and prfm.
Il don't know-how we're to get out"
she said hopeiessly.
"How about the windows?' he in
quired.
GAN too high"
"And the cellar"
"opens only out of doors. There's
nothing to do but wait till some one
passes3anh call out We tried every
way todayS And then she told him
her previous experience.
He foss aid paced uneasily about
the roonI looking out upon the road.
0IHe Glosed. heEses es'a and thought over
the events pf the last three hours. She
was perfectly conscious that she ought
to be ashamed Of her conduct during
the storm, yet somehow she was not,
and try as she would she could not
be otherwise than glad that he was
with her. Her reverie was broken in
upon by the minister.
He seated himself again at her side,
saying forlornly: 1--WE are likely to be
kept here for some time. perhaps till
morning. I am more sorry than I can
tell you"
EYES," she replied. IT know. It
can't be helped"
Il wish you would tell me-" he went
on, ''what you meant by your words
when came in"
Like an ice wind piercing even to
her heart came the recollection of her
VOW. There was ND reply.
Perhaps 1t isn't the proper time to
ask 1t, but I think you owe me an ex-
PLANTATION"
Olive remembered the written pages
addressed to him at home. She could
have sent him the explanation, but It
seemed wen to get it over with, at
once. 1--WE have been gossiped about,
she said duly, @and made up my
mind that I'd give up church and les
sons and everything rather than be
talked about" II Is t..tg
"And you wanted to give up psychol-
ogyY he asked ..-..... ....s So
mo. did not but I thought It
best" '''gs#
II understand how It is" he replied
slowly. II am fond Of the lessons, too,
and yet I've heard the gossip, and I've
made up my mind that I'd better give
them up" n 5.i
Her face flushed and paled. and she
sat up straighter and primmer than
ever, mentally rejoicing that she had
suggested it first.
"Unless," he continued, low but dis
ttnctly, 1--WE care enough for each 9TH
er to study together all our lives."s
The sentence ended so unexpectedly
that she caught her breath in a half
sob and buried her face in her folded
arms on the desk In front. He leaned
over her and tenderly stroked her soft
hair.
Il shouldn't have spoken Of it to-
night, little one, but it spoke itself.
And you think you could? Tell me-"
he pleaded eagerly.
Eyes, think could" came the low
reply, ''for you don't know how dread
full felt when I thought must give
up the psychology"
The sound of wheels suddenly awak-
ened them to a realization Of the pres
ent. The minister fastened to call to
the driver, who speedily released him,
laughing heartily over the scrape.
Then the two men went off together,
leaving Olive, with beating heart,
wedged in behind the door. When the
farmer drove down the road, the min
lister returned for Olive.
I'm so glad he didn't see me-" she
said, @but you must promise that you'll
never tell"
And the minister promised. Chicago
News.