The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-02
The minister stared at her in amaze

ment.
81 was passing" he explained some
what stiffiy, land took refuge on the
stoop from the rain. Finding the door
ajar, l came in. l 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 situation. An exclama-
ton of impatience 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 f1ickered
out, but every few seconds he was visi-
BILE in the lightning flashes, standing
up brave and strong and unaffrighted.
The girls strength was fast leaving
her, and when lurid flash danced up
on the floor and played mischievously
about among the benches she gave a
cry of terror.
The minister hastily closed the win
dow and groped toward her. rs any
thing the matter?' 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 ter
rorized her. clung to him and Ia 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.
81 don't know how we're to get out"
she said hopelessly.
"How about the windows" he in
| Quired.
"An 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 today" 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, yet 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 ir
upon by the minister.
He seated himself again at her side
saying forlornly: I'VE are likely to b,
kept here for some time perhaps til
morning. l am more sorry than ! cal
tell you"
Yes" she replied. ~ know.
can't be helped"
Il wish you would tell me-" he wen
on, what you meant by your words
when l came in."
Like an ice wind piercing even t,
her heart came the recollection of he
vow. There was no reply.
perhaps it isn't the proper time t,
ask it, but 1 think you owe me an ex
PLANTATION"
Olive remembered the written page
addressed to him at home. She coul'
, have sent him the explanation, but
seemed well to get it over with a
once. "We have been gossiped about,
she said duly, land l made up m.
mind that I'd give up church and les
sons and everything rather than b
talked about"
"And you wanted to give up psychol
ogy" he asked.
"No, l did not. but l thought
best"
!, 81 understand how it is" he replie
slowly. 81 am fond of the lessons, toS
, and yet I've heard the gossip, and nv
made up my mind that I'd better Civ
them up"
Her face flushed and paled, and sh
!, sat up straighter and primmer tina
ever, mentally rejoicing that she ha
> suggested it first.
"Unless," he continued, low but di.
tinctly, 1--WE care enough for each otl
er to study together all our lives"
The sentence ended SO unexpected
that she caught her breath in a ha
sob and buried her face in her folde
arms on the desk in front. He leane
over her and tenderly stroked her so
hair.
81 shouldn't have spoken of it t,
night. little one, but it spoke itsel
And you think you could? Tell me-
he pleaded eagerly.
Yes, l think l could" came the lo'
: reply. ''for you don't know how drea,
{ ful l felt when l thought l must giy
= up the psychology"
The sound of wheels suddenly awal
: ened them to a realization of the pre-
ent. The minister hastened to call
. the driver, who speedily released hin
: laughing heartily over the scrap
Then the two men went off togethe
leaving Olive, with beating hear
p wedged In behind the door. When IL
farmer drove down the road, the mi
lister returned for Olive.
'I'm SO glad he didn't Zee me-" 81
7 said, ''but you must promise that you
never tell"
p And the minister promised -Chicas
K News.
n