Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-12-15

The minister stared at her ID amaze
nent.
Il was pass,nr." he explained sonic-
what stlfiy. "and took refuge on the
sto0p from the rain. Finding the door
Hjar. | came In. J did not dream thnt
any was here. a 90 ct nee. Of
course"
Drt lie turned only TO stand helpless
before the broken knob ~ once ne
understood tho situation. An exclama-
ton OF Impotence escaped him, and
he crossed the room hastily and threw
| open a window and heavy outside
shutters. Willie Olive sat Imply down
and watched him. The lamp nlctcgcd
out. but every few seconds he wax ylsi-
be IN the Lightning aushca. SHADING
10 brave and strong and unaTfightel.
The girls strength was fast leaving
her, and when n iurid flash dauced TIP
on the floor and played m~lschievously
about among the beaches sEe gave q
cry OF terror.
The minister hastily closed the via
dow ana gropcd toward her. rs any
thing the matterI' lie inquired anx-
iously.
Nothing. only I'm afirid-so afraid
OF tie Storm she moanct.
His heart went out 10 pity for her IN
her weakness, and. sitting down. he
pot his arta protcctinriy about her, rs
q would socthe Il frightened child.
and said tcndc1ly. Poor little one"
And Olive, as crash after crash ter
rorlzcd her, chung to him and bid her
head on his shoulder and sobhcd and
shivercl. And so they sat until the
storm had spent itself aud the moon
ahone again. Then she sat up. ablshed
and prim.
81 don't know how we're to get out"
she said hopeicssly.
How about the windows?' he N
qulred.
"Al too bigh.'
"And the Cellar?'
"opens only out Of doors. There's
nothing TO DO but wait til some one
passes and call ort. We tried every
way today" And then she told him
her previous experience.
Ee rose and paced uneasily about
the room, looking out upon the road.
Olive closed her eyes Gad thought over
the events of the las; three hours. She
a 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 reyerie was broken III
upon by the minister.
He seated himself again ut her side,
eaying forlornly: We are likely to be
kept mere for some time. perhaps till
morning. | am more sorry than l can
tell you"
YES" she replied. 81 know. 1t
can't be helped"
81 wish you would tell me-" he went
on, what o meant by your words
when | came in"
Like an ice wind piercing even to
her heart came the recollection of her
vow. There was no reply.
perhaps Il isn't the proper time to
ask it, but ! think you owe ne an ox-
PLANTATION"
Olive remembered the written pages
addressed to him AT home. She cou,d
have cent him the explanation, but it
seemed well to get 1t over with at
once. 1--WE have been gossiped about"
she said duly, "and | made IN my
mind that I'd give up church and les
sons and everything rather than be
talked about"
"And you wanted to give up psychol-
ogyT' he Gsled.
mo, l did not, but thought 1t
best"
Il understand how It is" he replied
slowly. Il an fond Of the lessons, to2,
and yet I've heard the gossip, and I've
made up my mind that I'd better give
them urf'
Her face flushed and palod. and she
sat up s~tlaighter and prlmmer than
ever, mentally rejoicing that she had
suggested it FIRST.
Unless lie continued, low but dis
tinctly, 1--WE are enough for each 9th
er TO study together all our lives"
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. lie leaned
e her and tenderly stroked her soft
hair.
Il shouldn't have spoken Of it to-
night, little one, bat it spote 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
ful felt when | thought | must give
up the psychology"
The sound Of wheels suddenly awak
ened them to n realization Of the pres
ent. The minister FASTENED to call to
the driver. who speedily released him.
laughing heartily over Tie scrape.
Then the two men went off together.
leaving Olive, with beating heart.
wedged in behind the door. When the
drove down the road, the min.
returned for Olive.
I'm so glad he didn't see mo" she I
said. "but you must promise that you'n
never tell"
And the minister promised.-Chlcago
These Rapid Days.