The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-21
.9n ~ Thunderstorm


There are some curious people a,
Bessing- on-sea and they entertain De.
culiar Ideas as 10 what n the safes,
th.ns TO do in ghunderstorm My ex-
perience OF their quaintness q this re-
spect was very brief one, but my re-
collections Of IL are remarkably vivid
and distinct.
went down ID Bessng to spend A
for'mghts vacation with my Aunt
Esther. and the thunderstorm took
place on the morning after my some
"hat sudden arrival. Immediately af-
Ter my breakfast the atmosphere be-
came hushcd ana sullen while clouds
OF heavy blush complexion gathered
overhead My aunt viewed these
"mens with manifest uneasiness, ma
tural | thought. in a nervous old lady.
presently she left me To myself. and 1
re,ired 10 my own room 10 write a let
ter or two. This took me about an
hour. and the storm was still gathering
when had finished.
The hush which prevailed without
seemed TO nave found it's way 10 the
hold, there was not a sound TO be heard
anywhere. After some trouble l dis
covered Aunt Esther in the library,
seated in an easy chair, with her eyes
hast closed The expression she wore
was one OF intense pain.
Good gracious. aunt" l cried, what
ON earth is the matter?"
she opened her eyes suddenly |
Dear me. Harold" she said maIdly, |
how you startled me! There is moth |
ing the matter. III is the thunder
STORM
The thunderstorm?
es. am very nervous about thun- !
der, and j have found that the best
thing TO do is 10 try 10 forget H.
slt down win my eyes closed, and try
70 concentrate my thoughts upon some
lhins else, indeed. | have found this
plan most successful"
Reallyy'' l asked. And are all your
servants doing the same?"
yes, answered the old lady. grave
y: nave ordered them ID do So"
rms accounted for the prevailing ST.
ehce' Inc cook, the hOusemaId, and
probably the gardener were ali sitting
loWh IN the Kitchen with their eyes
iosed, trying hard TO concentrate IT,,
houShts on anything but the storm. ,
Setore had quite realized this Aunt
esther went on:
II am not so foolish as Some naomi,
bout thunder. i know one person wno {
eluses 10 stay in the house AT such /
mes because fheTe are go many steel | I
fucies about her. Mine, however is q
good plan, and ! give my servants /
'e run benefit Of ii. / think, Harold h
In another moment she might have
rdered me to follow qhe general ex- q
npc. so ] left the room hastily. I sat N
'Nh IN the hall for u few moments II
ENJOY tne vision which her words 4
~ suggested. then | took my travel "
cap from the stand and went into "
e garden. -
Aunt Esther's garden. which I had
u seen for some ten years. was an q,
'snsive and old fashioned one wTh -
e ue Walks and the privacy secured by bs
:, > stohe walls. ON reaching the IN
fther end | found that the bouse -, ~
hind ne was quite hidden from view +,
the abundance OF foliage. Before
was the wall. covered by peach ana tn
III sfeeS and against the wall stood be
lsnt nand ladder. The gardener had ~,
II 'nefe When ne had been called CIR
20 concentrate his Thoughts upon sn
nothing else an an
ielt an idle curiosity 10 know what
: on The other side OF the yralI 60
'paoiN should find a field. or per- Ies
- ahothef garden. With cautious oh,
InndaF. n t,t. .
inqu stive by nature. n
loNly my head rose above tho u,ar o.,
WIS y large garden that came into =
W. Win house half conceala,l ! on,
ing me trees Everything was very mel
: ana there seemed IN be nobodv I !,
NJ. raised myself another step to ond
Sc closer scrutiny. wai
lcn gave start ard for a mo- and
" dfew back. IL was only for a wa.
leht. Tor then. with increasing trer
mess. | was reering down AT the trlt,
y winch had startled me. =,
81 boi0W. built against the wall oh,
hlud OF rustic summer house II eve,
a wooden erection. covered v.ith
ornamental bark so Frequently usej ouie
Hover boxes. There was no ,loor 49,,
~ was open at the end. and within ma M
iid see couple OF tan carpet chairs abo,
a wicker table. On the table lav ,nor
;"oks. one OF them open. and I'm one sshot
nc cnalrs SAT ladn The first davs
&c tod me that she was fast NJ
p; tho second. that She was Young the
g TndInlhg-quite young and d. that
ly charming, ing
,ss',. g. cuIlus could only gaze aunt
eSS4y' enc sat leaning back. with ARA
- uIhed IN my direction and a as 81
'''"lCr CAP SET daintly upon "A
',s,.,T Iitr BloNeiess hands were gard,
"t'i wHite ana small. over
en- had observed all these noirts sitfir
inted step higher, asIee
me say here that 7 am sbock NV
susceptible and exceedingly ro. she
ic. The sound OF q girls voice must
cry rustic of her skirts can al. .'Nt
set my pulse In rapid motion "Y.
j am prepared TO read tho o,,o,, s.Ssbe