Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-09-29

esos --eHe wide. anc sns had I'LL
consciously srssEszi Lise's arm. The
young nan was Staring straight before
him. The judge got up and walked
nervocs!y back AID forth. Helen rose
% her fee, and went toward the Old
man. her hands pressed TO her bosom.
All" she cried out. Il had forgotten
that: You don't think they-you don't
thtak he
Il know what l think" L.ge broke
IA u think I'd ought 10 BE- hanged for
letting hin out of ny sight. Maybe It's
all right. Maybe he turned and started
night back for tow-n-and got there.
But had DO business to leave him.
and II I can TIL catch up with hin
yet" he went to the front door and.
opening it, let in tornado Of wind and
Good Of water tina, beat him back.
Sheets Of rain blew in horizontally in
spite Of th7a porch beyond.
Br>oe followed him. Don't be q
fool. Lise.' be said You hardly ex-
pect to 90 out IN that" Lise shook his
head 1t needed them both to get the
door closed. The young man leaned
his back against it aad passed his
sleeve across his wet brow. Il hadn't
ought TO have left him
Don't scare the girls" whispered
the other: then in 8 louder tone: ".All
Tn afraid of is that he'll get blown To
pieces or catch hts death Of cold. That's
all there is to worry about They
wouldn't Try it again 50 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 fool!shness. Don't
be an old woman
The two men re-entered the room
and found Helen clinging To Aiinnies
hand on the sofa. She looked up at
them quickly.
do you think-do you-what do
you
Her voice shook so that she could not
so 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
think. Never you fear. He's good
hand at taking care Of himself. Sit
down Lige. You can't 90 for awhile"
Nor could he. 1t was long. long while
before he could venture out. The storm
ragged and roared without abatement
1t was Carlox's worst since 81. the
. old gentleman said. They heard the
great limbs crack and break outside.
while the thunder pealed and doomed.
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 repoea. and blew rings above
his head. but Helen saw that one Of
tattno on the carpet She sat with fis-
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 DO anxiety regarding Mr.. Hark-
less. 1t was only his own dere!iction ci
duty that be regretted The boys
would have the laugh On him. Ae said.
! But be visib,.,- chafel more and more
under the judges stories and constant
II 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 perceptble he announced
his intention of making his way into
town. He had ought TO have went
befora.- he declared apprebensively.
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 Tie 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.
Helen's room was over the 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 a 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 the
bed
Sweetheart, you mustn't fret" she
soothed in motherly fashion. Don't
you worry. dear. He's all right. 1t
isn't your fault, dear. They wouldn't
come On a night like this"
But Helen drew away and went to
the window, dattening her arm against
the name hpf forehead nrnsaold a0ainsf