Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-26

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
the rain"
But Lige willetts was turning pale.
(which way did he go7 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"
She pointed to the west.
He must have been crazyr' exclaim-
ed the judge. What possessed the fel-
lowP'
Il 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
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
II know what I think" Lige broke
In. IL 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 l can I'll catch up with him
yet" He went to the front door and,
opening il, 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 a
fool. Lige." he said. You hardly ex-
pect to 20 out in that" Lige shook his
head. 1t needed them both to get the
door closed. The young man leaned
his back against it and 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 a 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 ii 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"
and found Helen clinging to Minnie's
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. IL think he's home and dry. but
1 think he got wet first. That's what l
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 n long, long while
before he could venture out. The storm
ragged and roared without abatement
IL was Carlow's worst since 81. the
old gentleman said. They heard the
great limbs crack and break outside.
while the thunder pealcd and doomed.
and the wind ripped at the caves till
1T 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. lie talked on calmly. the
picture Of rcpose. and blew rings above
his head. but Helen saw that one of
his big slippers beat an unceasng 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.
more restless. He assured the ladies
he had no anxiety regarding Mr.. Hank
less. 1t was 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 consta MT
ly rose to peer out Of the window into
the wrack and turmoil, and once or
twice he struck his hands together with
was "A lull In the fury without. and as
soon as IL was perceptible he announced
his intention of making his way into
town. He had ought 10 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
sec about il. He would return early in
the morning and bid Miss Sherwood
goodby. Hoped she'd come back some
day; hoped il 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
Rarkless, they could see him fight with
his Umbrella when he got out into the
road.
Hclen'S room was over the porch, the
windows facing north, looking out up
on the nike and DcrOSS the fields