Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-02

above the hilltops and swept eastward.
to be followed by others in quick sue
cession like mighty columns Of march
ing men bent on the same objective
point. In the east these cloud-armies
met, and piling high overhead, at length
Enthusiastically assumed the shape of
a monster bird, whose mighty wings
stretched north and south, while the
elongated neck and hooked beak were
extended westward, down the valley.
What strengthening Clouds ex-
claimed Kent in wonder. There must
be fearful storm coming"
He paused with his hand on Mrs.
Mayne's gate, and long afterwards re-
called with vivid distinctness the
peaceful home as he saw it then. In
their hives by the neat palings, the
bees were drowsily murmuring, now
and then a loiterer rising from Beulah's
flower beds and winging its way home.
How bright the overs were, their sub
tie fragrance filling the air.
Within the open door sat the grand
mother, placid and white haired, and
near her chair fingered Beulah, the de-
light of the old woman's heart, the sun
shine of her life. They greeted Kent
with the kindly warmth of country folk
who do not see their nearest neighbors
often. He delivered the parcel, with
the storekeeper's message, but declined
their cordial invitation to come in;
storm was coming, he said, and he must
make haste home.
But he left them with unaccountable
reluctance, and at the orchard fence
turned and looked back. Beulah stood
on the doorstep intently watching the
darkening sky, her face looking
strangely white in the livid light.
How lonely it must be for those two,
the old grandmother and the young
girl, who lived their quiet lives to-
gether. 1t did not seem right to leave
them alone with such a storm gather
ing. For Kent possessed that true
chivalry, which impelled him to succor
the aged, the helpless and the weak.
The intense stiffness was now broken
by a dull, distant roar, as of a mighty
wind upon the mountains, and, though
it could not be later than shutdown, the
blackness of night fell suddenly Kent
retraced his steps.
"Oh, Kent, we are so glad you came
back!" cried Beulah joyfully Grand
ma and l were afraid, everything looks
so awful outside"
Kent shared their awe, if not their
fear; that heavy roar was drawing
nearer and never in his life had any
elemental commotion thrilled him like
the present one. Unheralded by wind
or thunder the rain fell, weight of wa
ter crashing upon the roof in a down.
pour incessant, deafening. Beulah
closed the door.
With trembling fingers her grand
mother lighted a brushwood fire, and
though the warmth was unneeded, the
rudy glow lent cheerfulness to the.
room. It's occupants drew closer to-
gether.
Il never heard it rain so in my life
l never did," said Mrs. Mayne solemnly.
Beulah laid her cheek against the
window pane, and Kent, holding the
door ajar, listened intently to the tu-
multi without. Every hollow, every
rivulent and rill, filled to overlooking,
was rushing boisterously to swell the
already swollen river, and he asked
himself anxiously how long the river
could keep it's banks under such pres
sure. He took lantern, and regard
less of the pouring rain crossed the low
land intervening between the house
and the river.
He drew back in CONSERVATION. The