Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-22
"Good gracious, aunt" I cried, "what

me, Harold she said mildly, "how you
startled me! There Is nothing the matter
1t is the thunderstorm
The thunderstorm? ?"
Eyes. I am very nervous about thun.
der. and l have found that the best thing
to do is to try to forget it. I sit down with
my eyes closed. and try to concentrate
my thoughts upon something else. In
deed. 1 have found his plan most success
full"
"Really?" I asked. "And are all your
servants doing the same?"
Yes" answered the old lady, gravely.
Il have ordered them to do So"
This accounted for the prevailing ST.
lence. The cook, the housemaid, and
probably the gardner were all sitting
down in the Kitchen with their eyes
closed, trying hard to concentrate their
thoughts on anything but the storm. Be
fore I had quite realized this Aunt Es-
Their went on:
II am not so foolish as some people
about thunder. I know one person who
refuses to stay in house at such times
because there are so many steel articles
about her. Mine. however, is a good plan.
and I give my servants the full benefit of
1t. I think HAROLD
In another INT she might have or
dered me to follow the general example.
so ! left the room hastily. I sat down in
the hall for a few moments, to enjoy the
vision which her words had suggested,
then I took my travelling cap from the
stand and went into the garden.
Aunt Esther's garden, which I 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 further end I
found that the house behind 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 a light hand ladder. The gar
de'rer had left it there when he had been
called in to concentrate his thoughts
upon something else.
I felt an idle curiosity to know what
was or the other side Of the wall. Proba-
bly, I should find a field. or perhaps an
other garden. With cautious steps I be-
gan to mount the ladder. / am inqunisi-
tive by mature.
Slowly my head rose above the wall. 1t
was a large garden that came into view.
With a house half concealed among the
trees. Everything was very still. and
there seemed to be nobody about. I raised
myself another step, to make closer
scrutiny. .
Then I gave a start. and for a moment
drew back. 1t was only for a moment, for
then, with increasing boldness. / was
peering down at the scene which had
0p0I = HE -N..- ..
II S below, built against the wall, was
a kind of rustic summer house. It was a
wooden erection, covered with the oran-
mental bark so frequently used for flow
er boxes. There was no door, but it was
at the end, n within I could see
a couple of tall carpet chairs and a
wicker table. On the table lay two books.
sat a lady. The first glance told me she
was young and charm.ng-quite young
n decidedly charming!
Fol some seconds / could only gaze
.helplessly. She sat learning back. with
her face turned In my directin and a Tam
q Shanter cap set dainty upon her head.
Her gloveless hands were delightfully
white and small. ......
When had observed all these points +
mounted y step higher! <N
lei me say here that I am shockingly
susceptible INV exceedingly romantic.
The sound Of q girls voice, the very rus
tie Of her skirts, can always set my pulse
in rapid motion, while I am prepared to
read the Opening of a romance in q simple
meeting or in the commonest
everyday remark. AS a rule I am shy
and reserved. but, like some other men of
this character, I can occasionally act In
am absolutely reckless and daredevil a
These facts must be taken in explanation
of my further conduct.
I gazed upon that picture for another
minute. Then I mounted another step.
I gazed for a space, and them I
found myself seated astride the wall. By
time the spirit of adventure was in
me-, n I was capable OF any madness.
. thousand foolish and romantic fancies
rushing to my brain. I was already
in love!
Who and what the sleeper was, her
name, nature and station-all these had
r. IN with fho vnoffnr TJo
chance and a providentia1 thunderstorm
had led me to the spot. The same thun-
derstorm, no doubt, had sent her to sleep
with the book open before her.
I looked the ground carefully over. but
there was no sign of life. While I was
doing this I thought I heard the sleeper
stir, but when I glanced quickly down she
ton I lifted the ladder over and let 1t
on theo other side. A moment later
was in the entrance to the summer
Save for the breathing Of the sleeper.
the stillnes was almost painful. It oc-
Cured to me once to wonder what she
would say If she found me there, but I !
did not trouble to answer the question: 1
had read of similar cases before, and
always came out nicely. OF
h would see at once the romance
and beauty of the situation. I felt quite
of this when / saw that the book be-
fore her was a volume of Tennyson, open
at The Coming of Arthur" My own
is Arthur-Harold Arthur Simp-
SON.
h was absolutely charming. Beneath
the rakish cap stray curls of dark, glossy
hair wandered down to the graceful little
ears and about the ivory temples. The
were rather pale, and the lips
were closed just a triie too firmly for
perfect repose; but-but all that only
to increase the charm. I did not
gaze too earnestly. fearing to disturb her,
Ind presently took up the other book
lay on the table. It was a morocco
bound autograph album, with the ma
|ority Of the leaves empty. I turned them
Silently, t Dread a number Of unfamiliar