Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25

his intention OF making his way into
town. He chad ought to have vent
before" he declared npprchensivefy,
and then, with immediate amendment.
OF course he would find the editor at
work in the Herald Office. There
wasn't tho slightest doubt of that nc
agreed with the Judge, but he better
see about II. He would return early in
the morning and bid Miss Sherwood
goodby. Hoped she'd come back some
day; hoped It wasn't her last visit TO
Plattville. They gave him an umbrella,
and he plunged into the night, and as
they stood for a moment at the door.
the old man calling after him CHEEKY
good nights and laughing messages TO
HAIRLESS, they could see him fight with
his umbrella when he got out into the
road.
Hclen's room was over tho porch. the
windows facing north. looking out up.
on the pike and across the fields.
please don't light the lamp, Minnie"
she said when they had gone upstairs.
II don't need it, Miss Briscoe was
fitting about the room hunting for
matches. In the darkness she came TO
her friend and laid n kind, large hand
on Helen's eyes. and the hand became
wet. She drew Helen's head down on
her shoulder and sat beside her ON tina
bed.
Sweetheart you mustn't fret" she
soothcd in motherly fashion. Don't
you worry. dear. He's oil right. II
isn't your fault, dear. They wouldn't
come on a night like this"
But Helen drew away and went to
the window, fattening Der arm against
the pane, her forehead pressed alslnst
her arm. She had let him go: che lad
let him go alone. She had forgotten the
danger that always beset him. She had
been so crazy; she had seen nothing,
thought of nothing. She had let him
go into that and into the storm alone
who knew better than she how cruel
they were. She had seen the fre leap
from the white blossom and heard the
ball whistle, the ball they had meant
for his heart-that good, great heart.
She had run to him the night before.
Why had she let him 90 into the IN
known and the storm tonight? But
how could she have stopped him? How
could she have kept him after what he
had said? He had put IL ont ot her
power to speak the word "Stay" She
peered into the night through distort-
ing tears.
The wind had gone down little. but
only little. and the electrical flashes
danced all round the horizon in mag.
nifcent display. sometimes far away,
sometimes dazingly near. the darkness
doubly deep between The intervals
when the long sweep OF nat lands lay
in dazzling clearness, clean cut in tho
washed air TO the finest detail of strfck.
en- field and neaving woodland.
A staggering flame Glove earth and
sky, and sheets Of light echoed II, and
O frishtful uproar shook the house and
rattled the easements, but over the
crash Of thunder Minnie heard her
friends loud scream and saw her
spring back from the window with
both hands. palms outward, pressed to
her face. She leaped TO her ana threw
her arms about her.
What Is ity'
Look" Helen dragged her to the
window. at the next fash! Th.
fence beyond the meadow"
What was it? What was it like
The lightning dashed .ncessantiy
Helen tried to point Her hand only
Jerked from side to side.
Look" she cried.
II see nothing Est the lightning"
Minnie answered Drea thlessly.
"Oh, the fence! The fence! And in
the field
Helen. What was it like?''
"Ah. an" she painted "A long line
OF white looking things - horrible
white
What like;' Minnie turned from
the window and caught the others
wrist IN a strong clasp.
minnie, Minnie Like long white
gowns and cowls crossing the fence"
Helen released her wrist from her
companion's grasp and put both hands
on Minnies cheeks. forcing her around
to face the tiickerins pane. You must
look You mist look" she cried.
"rhey wouldn't do IL. They wouldn I
1T isn't" Minnie shaddsrea. "They
couldn't come in tho storm. They
wouldn't do it In the pouring rain"
Yes, Such things world mind the
rain" She burst into nysterical laugh
fer. and Minnie seized her round the
waist, almost as unnerved as Helen
yet trying to scothe her. They would
mind the rain" Helen whispered
They would fear a storm. Yes, yes
And let him go; I let him co.
Pressing close together. claspins
each others waist, she two girls peer
ed out at the landscape.
Il Look
Up from the distant fence that Dor
dered the northern side Of Jones hsld
pale, Pclted, tapping thing reared
itself. poised and seemed. just as the
blackness came again, to drop TO chs
ground.
did YOU seer
But Minnie had thrown herself into
a deep chair with laugh Of wild re
lief my darling girl she cried
Not line Of white things-5ust one
Mr.. Jones scarecrow! And We saw Il
blown down"
mo. no. no. I saw the others. They
were in the field beyond. l saw them
NVbo,, 7 lont, ,si ha fSrok tim <hov xror,