The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-07-05

what stiffiy, "and took refuge on the
stoop from the rain. Finding the door
sjar came in. / did not dream that
any one was here. can 60 at once, of
course"
But he turned only to stand helpless
before the broken knob. At once he
understood the situation. An excla-
nation of impotence escaped him, and
be crossed the room hastily and threw
open a window and heavy outside shut
ters, while Olive sat Imply down and
watched him. The lamp fiickered out,
but every few seconds he was visible in
the lightning flashes, standing up brave
and strong and unaffrighted. The girls
strength was fast leaving her, and when
a lurid flash danced upon the floor and
played mischievously about among the
benches she gave cry of terror.
The minister hastily closed the win
dow and groped toward her. ais any
thing the matterg' he inquired anx-
iously.
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 protectingly about her, as one
would soothe a frightened child, and
said tenderly: "Poor little one" And
Olive, as crash after crash terrorized
her. clung 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 prim.
al don't know how we're to get out, +"
she said, hopelessly.
"How about the windows?" he in
quired.
"All too high"
"And the cellar?"
"opens only out of doors. There's
nothing to do but wait until some one
passes and call out. We tried every
WY to-day" Aud 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, yet somehow she was not, and,
try as she would, she could not be 9TH
erwise 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 until
morning. am more sorry than l can
tell you"
"Yes," she replied, al know; ait can't
be helped
81 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 no reply.
Perhaps it isn't the proper time to
ask it, but think you owe me an ex-
planation."
Olive remembered the written pages
addressed to him at home. She could
have sent him the explanation, but it
seemed well to get it over with at once.
"We have been gossiped about" she
said, duly, "and / made up my mind
that I'd give up church and lessons
and everything rather than be talked
about"
"And you wanted to give up psy-
chology?' he asked.
mo, did not; but thought it best." !"
"I understand how il is" he replied,
slowly. al 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.
Her face flushed and paled and she
sat up straighter and primer than ever,
mentally rejoicing that she bad sug-
gested it first.
Unless" he continued, low, but dis
tinctly, 1--WE care enough for each other
10 study together all our lives"
The sentence ended SO unexpectedly
that she caught her breath in 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.
al shouldn't have spoken of it to-
night, little one, but it spoke itself"
"And you think you could, tell me ?"
he pleaded eagerly.
"Yes, l think ! eould,n came the low
reply, ''for you don't know how dread
fully felt when thought must give
up the psychology
The sound of wheels suddenly awak-
ened them to a realization Of the pres
ent. The minister hastened 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
minister returned for Olive.
"I'm so glad ne didn't see me, " she
said; "but you must promise that you'll
never tell.n
And the minister promised.-Chic-
ago News.
A Thousand TONGUES