The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-03-31

"Oh! The old gentleman appeared
to be treasured. 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? 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 crazyr' exclaim-
ed the judge. what possessed the fel-
low?''
Il couldn't stop him. 1 didn't know
how" She looked at her three COM
panlons, slowly and with growing ter
TOR, 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
MN. The judge got up and walked
nervously back and forth. Helen rose
to her feet and went toward the old
man, her hands pressed to her bosom.
"Ah," she cried out, II had forgotten
that! You don't think they-you don't
think he"-
Il know what I Think Lige broke
in. II think I'd ought to be hanged for
letting him out Of my sight Maybe it's
all right. Maybe he turned and started
right back for town-and got there
But had no business to leave him.
and if I can I'll catch up with him
yet" He went to the front door and,
opening it, let in tornado Of wind and
flood of water that beat him back.
Sheets Of rain blew in horizontally in
spite Of the porch beyond
Briscoe followed him. Don't be
fool, LigA" he said. "You hardly ex-
pect to go out in that" Lige shook his
head. It needed them both to get the
door 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."
Don't scare the girls" whispered
the 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
all there is to worry about They
wouldn't try it again so soon after last
night. I'm not bothering about that;
not at all. That needn't worry any
body"
"But this morning. ..
| "Pshaw! He's likely home and dry
by this time. All foolishness. Don't
be an old woman"
The two men re-entered the room
and found Helen clinging to Minnie's
/ h4vN %1@
them quickly.
do you think-do you-what do
you
Her voice shook so that she could not
| go on.
The Judge pinched her cheek and pat
ted it. II think he's home and dry, but
I think he got wet first. That's what I
think. Never you fear. He's a good
hand at taking care Of himself. Sit
down, Lige. You can't go for awhile"
Nor could he. It was long, long while
before he could venture out. The storm
ragged and roared without abatement.
1t was Carlow's worst since 81, the
old gentleman said. They heard the
great limbs crack and break outside,
u,
and the wind ripped at the caves till
it seemed as if the roof must go. Mean
while the Judge, after some apology, lit
his pipe and told long stories of the
storms of early days and Of odd freaks
Of the wind. He talked on calmly, the
picture Of repose, and blew rings above
his head, but Helen saw that one of
his big slippers beat an unceasing little
tattoo on the carpet She sat with fix
ed eyes, in silence, holding Minnie's
hand tightly, and her face was color
less, growing whittier as the slow hours
dragged by.
Every moment Mr.. Willetts became
more restless. He assured the ladies
he had no anxiety regarding Mr.. Hark
less. TWAS only his own dereliction Of
duty that he regretted. The boys
would have the laugh on him, he said.
But he visibly chafed more and more
under the judges stories and constant
~ rose to peer out of the window into
the wrack and turmoil, and once or
twice he struck his hands together with
muttered calculations. At last there
was lull in the fury without, and as
soon as it was perceptible he announced
his intention of making his way into
town. He ''had ought to have went
before" he declared apprehensively,
and then, with immediate amendment,
Of course he would find the editor at
work in the Herald Office. There
wasn't the slightest doubt of that, he
agreed with the judge, but he better
see about it. 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 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.