Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-08-26

Inc dlngN lamp above her
desk gave scanty light, and the
task heightened itself out until
a muttering of thunder and
dash of rain upon the roof
startled her Olive was not
timid, as her trip To an empty
SchoolhouSc in the dark would
prove. but to be alone in Il
thunderstorm was the one thing
that unncrved her. Hastily
rising, She looked up at the
lamp 1t was nearly empty
1t would be safe to leave il to
burn out of itself. and she could
more easily find her way to the
door. but as she reached il she
came into violent collision
with the minister He had
come in hurriedly, tripped upon
the block in the doorway, kick
ing it out of his way, and the
door slammed shut behind
him.
Olive stepped back and stood
trembling. She was astonished.
glad and sorry ut his appear
ancc. but more than all was she
dismayed at the predicament
in which he had placed her.
aud under the impulse of these
conflicting emotions she burst
forth angrily "There, now,
you've shut the door. What
brought YOU here anyway |
said | would never speak to you
again. :
The minister stared at her
in amaZemcnt.
II was passing. he explained
somewhat stifllv. land took re
fugc on the stoop from the rain.
Finding the door aiar | came
in. | did not dream that any
one was here. can go at
once. of course.
But he turned only to stand
helpless before the broken knob.
.At once he understood the sit
uation. An exclamation of inn
patience escaped him, and he
crossed the room hastily and
threw open a window and heavy
outside shutters. while Olive
sat Imply down and watched
him The lamp iiickered out,
but every few seconds he was
visible in the lightning flashes,
standing up brave and strong
and unatfrightcd. The girls
strength was fast leaving her,
and when a lurid flash danced
upon the floor and played mis-
chicvously about among the
benches She gave cry of ter
ror
The minister hastily closed
the window and gropcd toward
her. is anything the matter -
he inquired anXiously.
Nothing, only I'm afraid
so afraid of the storm" she
moaned.
His heart went out in pity
for her i'm her weakness. and.
sitting down. he put his arm
protectingly about her. as one
would soothe IA frightned child,
and said tenderly, poor little
one. And Olive, us crash
aftercrash terrorized her. clung
to him and hid her head on his
shoulder and sobbed and shiv-
cred. And so they sat until the
storm had spent itself and the
moon shone again. Then she
sat up. abashed and prim.
Il don't know how were to
get out" she said hopelessly.
How about the windows =
he inuiqrcd.
"All too high.
And the cellar =
"opens only out of doors.
There's nothing To do but wait
till some one passes and call
out. We tried every way to-
day" And then she told him
her previous experience.
He rose and paced uneasily
about the room, looking out
upon the road. Olive closed
her eyes and thought over the
events of the last three hours.
She was perfectly conscious
that she ought to be ashamed of
her conduct during the storm,
Vet 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
We are likely to be kept here
for some time. perhaps til
morning. ! am more sorry
than | can tell YOU"
Yes" She replied. Il know