The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-28
| IN A THUNDERSTORM:
Showing That It Ia Dangerous to
Kiss G Sleeping Beauty.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Observation-Disclosures
There are some curious people at
Bessing-On-Sea, and they entertain pc
culiar ideas as to what Is the safest
thing to do ID Thunderstorm. My eX-
perience Of their qualntness in this re-
spect was a very brief one, but my
recollections OF 1t nre remarkably vivid
and distinct.
went down to Bessing to spend a
fortnights vacation with my Aunt
Esther, and the thunderstorm took
place OH the morning after my some
what sudden arrival Immediately
after breakfast the atmosphere be-
came hushed and sullen, while clouds
Of heavy blush complexion gathered
overhead. My aunt viewed these omens
. with manifest uneasiness, natural, l
Thought, in nervous old lady. Pres
emily she left me to myself, and I re-
tired to my own room to write n letter
or two. This took me about an hour,
md the storm was still gathering when
had finished.
The hush which prevailed without
seemed to have found its way to the
inmost quarters Of my aunts house
hold, for there was not q sound to be
heard anywhere. After some trouble
/ discovered Aunt Esther In the H.
brary, seated in an easy chair, with
her eyes fast closed. The expression
she wore was one Of intense pain.
"Good gracious, aunt?" cried.
"What on earth Is the matter?"
She opened her eyes suddenly. "Dear
me- Harold" she said mildly, chow
you startled me! There is nothing the
matter. 1t is the thunderstorm"
"Thc Thunderstorm"
Eyes. am very nervous about
thunder, and have found that the
best thing to do is to try to forget it.
sit down with my eyes closed and try
to concentrate my thoughts upon some
thing else. Indeed have found this
plan most successful"
'Rcally?" asked. "And are all
your servants doing the same?"
EYES," answered the old lady grave
ly. II have ordered them to do So"
This accounted for the prevailing 81
lcncc. The cook, the housemaid and
probably the gardener were all sitting
down in the kitchen with their eyes
closed trying hard to concentrate their
thoughts GU anything but the storm.
Before I had quite realized this Aunt
Esther went on:
II am not so foolish Us some people
about thunder. know one person
who refuses to stay In the house Mt
such times because there are so many
steel articles about her. Mine, how
ever, is good plan, and give my
servants the full benefit Of it. T.think,
HarOld''--
In another moment she might have
ordered me to follow the general eX-
ample, so leit the room hastily. sat
down in the hall for q few moments.
re eHjoJ- ts.e vision which her words
had suggested, then / took my travel
ing cap from the stand and went into
the garden.
Aunt Esther's garden, which / had
not seen for some ten years, was an
extensive and old fashioned one, with
wide walks and the privacy secured
by high stone walls. On reaching the
farther end found that the house be-
hind me was quite hidden from view
by the abundance of foliage. Before
me was the wall, covered by peach and
pear trees, and against the wall stood
q light hand ladder. The gardener
hadAeft 1t there when he had been call
ed In to concentrate his thoughts upon
something else.
felt an idle curiosity to know what
was on the other side Of the wall.
Probably should find field, or per-
haps another garden. With cautious
steps began to mount the ladder.
Slowly my head rose above the wall.
1t was large garden that came into
view, with house half concealed
among the trees. Everything was very
still, md there seemed to be nobody
about. raised myself another step,
to make q closer scrutiny.
Then l gave. start and for a mo-
ment drew back. It was only for q
moment, for then, with increasing
boldncss, I was peering down Mt the
scene which had startled me.
Just below. built against the wall,
was a kind OF rustic summer house. It
was a wooden erection. covered with
the ornamental bark 80 frequently
used for flower boxes. There ,was no
door, but 1t was open ut the END, and
within / could see couple Of tall car
pet chairs and wicker table. On the
table lay two books, one Of them open.
and in one of the chairs sat lady.
The first glance told me that she was
fast asleep; the second, that she was
yound and charming quite young and
decidedly charming!
For some seconds could only gaze
helplessly. She sat leaning back, with
her face turned in my direction and a
Tam O'Shanter cap set daintily upon
her head. Her gloyeless hands were
delightfully."- white and small.
When had observed all these points,
I mounted step higherl
Let me say here that ] am shocking
ly susceptible and exceedingly roman
tic. The sound of o girls voice, the
very rustic OF her skirts, can always
set my pulse in rapid motion, while
am prepared to read the opening Of O
romance in q simple chance meettng