Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-18
SUMNER STORM.


Mary, past her first youth; Leslie, al
most II child in years.
Hes so unjust" Leslie was saying.
Fancy his being jealous of Preston
Graham"
You certainly did firt with Preston
ut the dance ut Edgewood," said Mary.
'Flirt! What perfectly absurd
word. l gave him a few dances
while Harold was so engrOssed in IIa
eel Wise he could not see that | had
come into the ROOM"
Leslie you know in your heart that
Harold doesn't care Il snap for Hazel
Wise and never has"
Some of the fire went out of the bril-
liant blue eyes.
How do know he doesn't? We are
not engaged I'm sure he is welcome
to pay attention to any girl he plcascs.
And II Here she broke down mis-
erably.
My dear" pleaded her friend. eff
you would only listen to me-
But | won'tr' broke in Leslie. She
looked up, dashing away the sparkling
drops from her laShcS and laughing.
IL won't! You best and dearest girl
in the world, l won't stand here to be
lectured 4 moment longer"
And then she was gone, a flash of
white and rose in the pale gold sun
shine Of the early summer. The way
was wide and smooth. The wood was
cool and pleasant She turned to avoid
meeting chattcring group, whose
voices came to her from the left. And
then, glad to be alone, absorbed in her
own thoughts, she fell into languid
walk and kept on, still onward. How
tiresome it was to have to pretend to
be happy! If one could only cry as
children do when they are disappoint-
ed or tired! But that would never do.
The motley, the motley! We all must
wear the motley. And it isn't only the
fool whose cap and bells keep jingling,
not only the fool.
Well, she should be missed. She must
go back.
What-what was that? \ drop of
rain! Surely it couldn't rain today
not such day as this. She stood still,
wondering. aghast. Another drop
FLASHED down on her hand, another.
And then they were coming down fast,
faster. And she became suddenly
aware that the glory of the golden day
was gone. that the bit of a breeze had
become n headstrong wind, and that
she must run for shelter as fast as she
could. Run she did fieetly in the direc-
ton of building she dimly discerned
ahead. 1t was not the castle, no. She
had come far from that. But anyhow
there would be shelter under that grim
roof And already she was drenched.
Her trim little slippers We're as so
much wet paper.
ooh, my hat" she said helplessly.
In that instant her greater trouble was
forgotten in the lesser. "My poor, pref
ty hat"
A voice calling her brought her to a
GREATNESS pause.
That voice-deep. resonant, perhaps
little imperious-was the only one in
all the world that could stir her calm
pulses to a faster beating.
"Wait" cried Harold. He gained on
her in rapid strides. Where We're you
SOlhS We sou W L ldllNltu
you had lost your way. l came to look
for you" lie was beside her, tall and
straight and masterful. He drew her
half resisting hand within his arm.
"Come! It's sudden storm, and it's
going to be bad one while it lasts.
Hear that thunder! Come! We will
go into the haunted mill beyond"
Dnnta1f' Shn prinI and SIrnnl-
back. "Oh, can't go there! I'm-Pm
afraid of ghosts
'In daylight" he laughed. "I'll pro-
tcct you. You must come. You'll
catch your death of cold else. There!
Now, will you run for it,
And run they did into the grim old
building and up the dirty, deserted and
rickcty stairs into the big bare room
overhead. Leslie went to the window
and stood looking out. Harold whis-
| tied and walked around, his hands be-
hind his back. But suddenly he was
notwithstanding. y smile illumined
his countcnance. He went on tiptoc to
Leslie, put his arm around her and laid
an admOnitory palm firmly over her
mouth.
Listen" he whispered. "Listen"
Thus imprisoned, her indignant eyes
| questioned him, but she listened. Some
peOple-two of them-were speaking
below. Evidently others of their party
had found shelter here.
and so you really thought" said the
voice of Preston Graham, that | adj
mrcd that little Leslie Forth? There's
only one girl for me. HaZcl!'
WELL" returned Hazel Wise, you
and she seemed pretty friendly at the
EdgewOOd dance"
Because you would talk with Har
old Lester
Lester" disdainfully. THAT fell
low
Overhead that fellow" kissed the
pretty lips his hand had covered.
Leslie was red as a rose. Her eyes
were shining like stars.
How foolish we've been"' she whis-
percd.
"Hark" they heard Preston say.
"ThOught heard people up stairs. You
know. they say this old mill is haunt
ed"
ut is" called out Harold in voice
mirth kept from being properly sepul-
chral.
J. Then, before the others could reach
| them, he held his sweetheart in his
arms and kissed her again. Dear
/ frh In SniI OH