The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-08

They wouldn't do it. they wouldn't
1t Isn't" Minnie cried. They couldn't come
in the storm They wouldn't do 1t in the
pouring rain!' i3
Yes! Such things would mind the RANT"
She burst into historical laughter, and Min.
ME, almost as unneryed caught her about
the waist. They would mind the rain. They
would fear a storm! Ha, ha, ha! Yes-yes!
And + let him go--I let him go,"
Pressing close together, shuddering, clasping
each others waists, the two girls peered out
at the Pickering landscape. fs55
5@. Lookn
Up from the distant fence that bordered the
northern side of Jones field, a pale, peited,
Tapping thing reared itself, poised, and
seemed, just as the blackness came again, to
drop to the ground.
Did you see?'
But Minnie had thrown herself into chair
with laugh of wild relief. MY darling
girl!" she cried Mot line of white things
just one-Mr. Jones old scarecrow! And
we saw. 1t blown down.
NO. no, no! saw the others; they were
in the field beyond. saw them! When 4
looked the first time they were nearly all on
the fence. This time we saw the last man
crossing All! i let him go alone!'
Minnie sprang up and EMBODIED her. NO,
you dear, imagining child, you're upset and
nervous-that all the matter in the world.
Don't worry; don't, child, It's all right MT.
Harklesss is home and safe in bed all rlSnt,
I know that old scarecrow on the fence like
book; you're so unstrung You fancied the rest.
He's all right; don't you, bother, dear. =
The big, motherly girl took her companion
in her arms and rocked back and forth sooth-
ingly, and petted and reassured her, and then
cried little with her, as a good nearted glri
always will with a friend. Then she LETT her
for the night with many a cheering word and
tender caress "Get to sleep, dear, she
called through the door when she had closed
it behind her 'You must If you have to go
in the morning-it just breaks my heart, !
don't know how we'll bear It without you
Father will miss you almost as much as
will Goodnight Don't bother. about, that
| old white scarecrow. That's all II was
| Goodnight, dear. goodnight. y
Goodnight, DEAR" answered a plaintlve
little voice. !Heens hot cheek pressed the
inflow and tossed from side to SIDE BY ano
I nv she turned the pillow over; it had grown
! wet The wind blew about the. caves ano
blew itself out she hardly heard It. SleeE
would not come. She got up ana laVeo mel
burning eyes ! Then she sat by the WINDOW
The storms strength was spent az lasl' LIZ
! rain grew, lighter and lighter, until 1nere 'Was
but the sound Of running water and the GRIP
dr,n an the tin roof of the porch. Only tne
thunder r,rmbling in the distance marked TN
i atorr, g course: the chariots of the gods roH
ing further and further away till tney hnai,!
/ ceased to be- heard altogether. The cloua
narted maiestically and then, between grea
curtains Of mist, the day-star was seen snln
i ing in the east r. : --~., y 80. T
! The night was hushed, and the peace ina
falls before dawn was upon the wet, ma
l.nds%., = Somewhere - in the ,sodQel
grass a swamped cricket chirped fron
an outlying tlange of the village DOG NO"
rose mournfully; was answered by anotnei
far away, and by another and another- u
sonorous, chorus. rose above the village, ule
away, and quiet fell again. ->S.s
Helen sat by the window, no comfort toucn
ing her heart Tears coursed her cheeks u
longer. but her eyes were wide and staring
and her lips parted, for the hush was proke
hv the far clamor Of the courthouse be
ringing in the night: It rang, and rang an
r.no and rang. She could not breathe Sh
threw omen the window. The bell stopped
All was quiet once more. The east%"as sio"
Ing gray. -
; Suddenly out of the stiffness there came tn
sound of a horse galloping over wet Eoa'
} He was coming like. mad Some one lot
doctor? No; the hoof-beats. grew Louder
coming out from the town. coming This wa'
Z coming faster and faster, coming here Ihef
was FLASHING and trampling In front OF ID
house and a sharp t'Whoa"F In the dim gra
OF first dawn she made out a man on
! foam-hecked horse. He drew up at the gat'
A window to the right of hers went screen
ing up. She heard the Judge clear his ,tnros
before he spoke. - ~: p
, ,s'What is it? That's you, isn't It, Wiley
, What iseH?" He took a good deal OF I'm
and coughed between! theh sentences. q IT