Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-06-08

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ing glass hung, before which she fun
bled with his cravat!
Esther stood at the sink with her
back to him, and just opposite the trap
door was white cross chalked on the
rough wall boards, marking the spot
where she wanted the outer door cut.
Somehow the sight of the innocent
mark angered him again. She seemed
to have chalked it for a purpose, and
he went out, slamming the door child
ishly.
Presently the girls came in all in
fiutter, looking very pretty and dainty
in their simple lawns and big hats and
quite overlooking with the pleasurable
anticipations of youth.
at was a shame, mother, to leave you
in this hot place to do the dishes alone"
said Ria, penitently, "but we had to
make ready. See, the Warmer boys
are driving in the gate now" They
kissed her and futtered out, and she
followed to take look, fond, proud
look after them as they rode away with
their cavaliers.
1t was almost insufferably hot that
afternoon; the mercury mounted high
er and higher in the tube on the stoop;
the fowls went with dropping wings
and gaping beaks; the cattle sought
grateful shade and ruminated in shall
low pools; the house dog dug a grave
behind the currant bushes, in which he
lay painting with lolling tongue; vege-
talon shfiveled and wilted; the earth
was cracked and baked; but by and by
clouds gathered in the west and gusts
of wind oapriciously swirled the dust
and caught. up sticks and straws in ell
fin dances. An old farmer driving by
called to a man digging ditch in a
field: 81 guess the dry SPELLS broken.
A shower is coming up"
A gloom almost appalling settled on
the landscape; the bees few to their
hives; the cattle snorted and raced
about, frightened at the rolling of
thunder and the shooting of javelins
of fire from the jagged clouds.
There was a going in the treetops, a
strange, distant murmur of millions Of
raindrops advancing with the swiftness
Of a mighty host.
81 wonder if Giles shut the barn
door?" said Esther, hurrying out; then
there was thunderclap that seemed to
shake the universe to it's foundations,
and binding, swirling deluge!
1t was four o'clock when Giles Hewitt
logged homeward. Dixey and Topsy,
his big black mares, resented being held
down to a sober gait and tossed their
heads and snorted as they splashed
through puddles. The clayey mud
caled the wheel rims, streaked the
spokes and chung in tenacious blobs to
the hubs. Everywhere were signs of
the storms havoc, and Giles was con-
scious of certain ugly misgivings lest
the new barn, the pride of his heart,
might have suffered; but no, as he
turned a corner he sawit silhouetted on
its hill, dominating the landscape, the
shining weather vane all agleam with
reflected glories of the west.
He breathed more freely now and
critically scanned his neighbours fields
to see what damage had been wrought.
When he came in sight of the white
frame house he wondered to see num-
Der of people in the yard. Then he said:
''By George, if the old elm hasn't been
struck! What a shame!"
Dan Comfy, his neighbor, hurried
down to meet him as he turned up the
drive. His face, was CHASTITY. What on
earth allied the man?
81 say, Hewitt"-he clasped his
hands mechanically as he called-"stop
minute-hold OIL want to tell you
God Almighty! man, how can L? The
lightning struck : Esther's dead!
Whoa, there!" catching the reins that
fell from Hewitt's palsied hands and
leaping to the seat beside him. Lean
on me! There, therel You had to know
it. God! but it's rough"
Kind neighbors stood aside in silent
groups as Giles Hewitt tottered into
the room where Esther lay.
Obvious of spectators, he fell on his
knees beside her with an exceeding
bitter cry.
Esther! Estherl You are not dead!
Speak! Look up! You were always
good, Esther. You were never unrea-
sonable. You shall have that door
made. You shall, I say. Somebody get
johnson"
Crazed with shock and anguish, he
stroked her cold hands. Speak TO me,
Esther, speak to mel Do you want the
door,"
Some of the neighbors left the room
weeping. In the next room Mrs. Comfy
rocked Historically back and forth.
'The Lord knows 1 can't stand it to
see man going on So" she cried. Its
just awful. says to Dan, says L:
Break it to him gently, Dan; kind O.
lead up to it, ana there; he's just gone
and right out with it and shocked him
crazy. Harkl there he goes again, talk
ing senseless-like about o door. Hes
clean out Of his mind!"-N. 7. indie
pendent,