The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-01


his common sense awoke. and he look
ed about him. He was two miles from
town. The nearest house was the Bris-
Goes, far down the road. He knew the
rain would come now There was big
oak near him at the roadside. and he
stepped under its sheltering branches
and leaned against the great trunk.
wiping the perspiration and dust from
his face. A moment or stunned quiet
had succeeded the peal OF thunoer. 1t
was followed by several moments OF in
cessant lightning that played along
the road and the fields. From that In
tolerable brightness he turned his head
and saw, standing against the fence,
Ave feet away, man, leaning over the
top rail and looking at him.
The same flash swept brilliantly be
fore Helen's eyes as she crouched
against the back steps Of the brick
house. 1t revealed a picture like a
marine OF big waves, the tossing tops
OF the orchard trees, for in that second
the full fury OF the storm was loosed,
wind and rain and hail IL drove her
against the kitchen door with cruel
force. The latch lifted. the door blew
open violently, and she struggled to
close 1t in vain. The house seemed to
rock. A candle fiickered toward her
from the inner doorway and was blown
out.
"Helenl Helen!" came Minnie's voice
anxiously. us that you? We were
coming TO look for you. Did you get
wetY'
Mr.. Willetts threw his weight against
the door and managed to close IT. Then
Minnie found her friends hand and
led her through the dark hall to the
parlor, where the judge sat placidly
reading by a student lamp.
Lige chuckled as they left the kitch-
en-. i guess you didn't try too hard
TO shut that door, Harkless," he said,
and then when they came into the
lighted room. "why. where is Hark-
less?" he asked. Didn't he come with
us from the kitchenT"
NO" answered Helen family. Hes
gone" She sank upon the sofa and
put her hand over her eyes as If to
shade them from too sudden light.
Gomez The judge dropped his book
and sat staring across the table at the
girl. "Gone, WhenT
Ten Misunderstanding an hour-I
don't know. Before the storm COM
menced."
"Oh-' The old gentleman appeared
to be reassured- Probably he had
work TO do and wanted to get In before
| the rain"
But Lige willetts was turning pale.
which way did he go? lie didn't
come around the house. We were out
there till the storm broke"
"IIe went by the orchard gate When
he got Ia the road he turned that way"
She pointed 10 the west.
He must have been craZyr exclaim-
,rd the judge. What possessed the fell
low
II couldn't stop him. didn't know
how" She looked at her three COM
panions. slowly and with growing ter.
ror. from one face to another. Min.
nie's eyes were wide. aud she had un.
consciously graSped T.ige's arm. The
young man was staring straight before
him. The judge got M and walked
nervously back and forth. Helen rose
TO her feet and went toward the old
man. her hands pressed 10 her bosom.
All" she cried out. II had forgotten
that You don't think they-you dom
think he
II know what I think" Lige brok,
In. Il think I'd ought to be hanged fol
letting him out OF my sight. Maybe it,
all right. Maybe he turned and startet
right back for town-and got there
But | had no business 20 leave him
and IL can I'll catch up with hin
yet" He went TO the front door and
opening IL, let in tornado OF wind an
flood OF water that beat him bach
Sheets of rain blew in horizontally i
spite OF the porch beyond.
Briscoe followed him. Don't be
fool, Lige," he said. You hardly e,
pect 10 90 out In that" Lige shook hi
bead. II needed them both 10 get th