The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29

erylbing lightning and lres and
horses and mice
"Oh. don't Bert
well. it's true. isn't IT."
A terrific clap at that moment set
the girl to trembling all over like
frightened bird.
"Well, it's supper tine, and mother
sent me after you with your mack
intosh." Bert interrupted petulantly.
He was hungry. and he felt savage
at the idea Of having to run through
the rain to get his sister
With trembling fingers Helen but
toned her waterproof. and, clinging 10
Bert's arm. the two sped rapidly down
the drenched sidewalk. Now she felt
not only frightened. but a sense OF
deep shame had taken possession Of
her. Every one Of the girls in Miss
Pitkin's school knew how timid she
was. and plagued her about It, and
Bert. for whom she felt an affection
that almost reached reverence. laughed
at her until her timid heart was al
most broken.
"But I just can't help IT," she
thought to herself as she had thought
hundreds Of times before. i think
won't be frightened again. but when
storm comes up just can't help t. |
guess / was born that way"
"Fraldy, fraidy, coward piDed su-
san when Helen came In. and even her
father. who sat reading his paper BY
the lamp-light. looked up and smiled.
At the supper table Bert told with
many gesticuiations how he had found
Helen all in a heap In the corner Of the
academy assembly-room, "prostrated
by thunder"
When they all began to laugh two
tears welIed up In Helen's eyes, and
with a choking sob she pushed back
her chair and ran upstairs 70 her room.
There she buried her face In pill
low and her shoulders shook conyul-
sigely. Presently a hand was laid soft
~ en- her head and she heard her moth
er's voice saying:
Never mind. Helen; the children
are only IN fun"
The girl sat up and threw her arms
impulsively around her mothers neck.
"But it's all so. she said, deieetedly-
Il am a coward. I just can't help be-
Ing frightened when a storm comes up
/ know it's foolish. but just lose my
Wits II IL wasn't so I wouldn't care
for the teasing"
For answer Mrs. Gordon patted Hell
ems head and smoothed back the wayy
hair.
There are different kinds Of cour-
age, she said. presently. "and It isn't
al all improbable that you may be
brave IN some was that the other girls
at the academy don't know anything
about"
"Do you think SO. mother?" asked
Helen, eagerly.
I'm sure Of It. You are something
like your grandmother. whom you do
not remember. She had a nervous
dread OF storms which she was years
in conquering but when the soldiers
came marching np to the front gate Of
our house, vas just little girl then
and demanded where your grand
father was. she stepped out as brave
as lion and faced them and refused
TO give a word OF information about
him or his plans. although they threat
enod her life. That was Inc kind Of
courage she had. Perhaps my Heller
has the same kind. Time win tell.
"Did grandmother ever get all ovel
her fear OF storms2"
N don't know. No one but grand
mother herself ever knew. She made
up her mind 10 conquer her fears, ane
conquer she did. and II she suffered
any dread she hrayely kept Il 70 her
self. And I'm sure Il took more rea
courage 70 do that than TO face th'
soldiers"
After the little talk In the dusk!
bedroom Helen grew more cheerful. o
course an the girls at the academy
heard how she had hid aEay In tn
old assombly-room when the storm
came up ana many HNA- NAN 1it A~A
erences TO it that brought the color =
/ Helen's cheeks. But she remembered
the story OF her grandmother's suffer
ines and tried 10 be brave.
Il was drowsy afternoon nearly 1
week later. The girls we're in the up
per south room OF the old academy
and Miss Pitkin was standing on tho
front platform IN a cloud Of chalk dust
explaining a problem IN algebra. /
was the first chilly day Of autumn ans
the windows and doors were all fas
closed. and some Of the girls were
shiyering under their light fall wraps
Suddenly there was the sound Of run
ming and pounding In the hall outside
AZ the noise became louder Miss Pit
kin began 10 frown. and her thin lip.
grew thinner and paler-an infallibl'
sign that she was provoked.
Helen Miss Gordon she said al
last. 4 wish you'd step out and SEE
what the trouble IS II It IS the jani-
tor. explain to him that Rotations are
going on IN here and that they must
not be interrupted"