Morris tribune., 1904-03-19

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a man eoas leaning 0Uer the top rail
G11d looking at him.
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 of stunned quiet
had succeeded the peal Of thunder. 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,
five 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
i of the orchard trees, for in that second
the full fury of the storm was loosed,
wind and rain and hail 1t drove her
against the kitchen door with cruel
force. The latch lifted, the door blew
open violently, and she struggled to
/ close it in vain. The house seemed to
rock. A candle flickered toward her
from the inner doorway and was blown
/ out.
Helen! Helen!" came Minnie's voice
anxiously. SIS that you? We were
coming to look for you. Did you get
Wet?"
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 student lamp.
Lige chuckled as they left the kitch-
en-. Il 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 Hank
less?" he asked Didn't he come with |
us from the kitchen?'
NO." answered Helen family. >''He's |
gone" She sank upon the sofa and |
put her hand over her eyes as if to
shade them from too sudden light.
"Gone" The judge dropped his book |
and sat staring across the table at the
girl. Gone! When?"
'Ten minutes-fve-half an hour-I
don't know. Before the storm COM
menced.' ..
"Oh!" The old gentleman appeared
to be treasured. probably he had
work to do and wanted to get in before
ths rain"
But Lige Willetts was turning pale.
(which way did he go? He didn't
come around the house. We were out
there till the storm broke"
HE went by the orchard gate When
he got to the road he turned that way"
Ehe pointed to the west.
"He must have been crazyw exclaim-
ed the Judge "What possessed the fell
low" . -.
81 couldn't stop him. I didn't know
how" She looked at her three COM
panions. slowly and with growing ter
ror from one face to another. Min
MES eyes were wide, and she had un-
consciously grasped Lige's arm. The
young man was staring straight before
him. The judge got up and walked
nerSouslS back and forth. Helen rose
to her feet and went toward the old
man. her hands pressed to her bosom.
"Ah." she cried out. 81 had forgotten
that! You don't think fhey-you don't
think he
II know what think" Lige broke
in. Il think I'd ought to be hanged for
letting him out of my sight. Maybe it's
al right. Maybe he turned and started
right back for town-and got there.
But | had no business to leave him,
and If can I'll catch up with him
yet" He went to- the front door and,
opening it, let in tornado OF wind and
food of water that beat him back.
Sheets Of rain blew in horizontally in
spite of the peach beyond. ..r
Briscoe' followed him. Don't be
fool, Lige." he said. You hardly ex-
oect to go out in that" Lige shook his
head. 1t needed them both to get the
loor closed. The young man leaned
his back against it and passed his
sleeve across his wet brow. II hadn't
ought to have left him.
'DOnL scare tue girls, WHlSpereu
he other; then in louder tone: "All
I'm afraid of is that he'll get blown to
pieces or catch his death Of cold. That's 4
Ill there is to worry about. They
wouldn't try it again SO soon after last
light, Pm not bothering about that;
,ot at all. That needn't worry any
,ody." :
""But this morning.
:Pshaw! He's likely home and dry
~ this time. All foolishness. Don't
,e an old woman"
The two men re-entered the room
Ind found Helen clinging to Minnie's
land on the sofa. sVe looked up at
hem quickly.
do you think-do you-what do
,ou'-
Her voice shook SO that she could not
70 on.
fro BE Continued