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


ing tears.
The wind had gone down a little. but
only little, and the electrical flashes
danced all round the horizon In mag
nitcent display. sometimes far away.
sometimes dazingly near the dark ness
doubly deep between the intervals
when the long sweep OF fat lands lay
IL Dazzling clearness. clean cut In the
washed air to the finest detail of strick.
en- Held and heaving woodland
staggering fame Glove earth and
sky, and sheets of light echoed it. and
frightful uproar shook the house AMI
ratified 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 outwar d. pressed to
her face. She ieaped to her aad threw
her arms about her.
what is it?'
"Leokw Helen dragged her 70 the
window AT the next flash! The
fence beyond the meadow
What WAS il? What was ii like?"
The lightning flashed incessa ntly.
Helen tried to point. Her hand only
)erked from side to side.
Look she cried.
II see nothing but the lightning"
Minnie answered breathlessly.
"Oh. the fence! The fencel And in
the fieldr
"Heleni What was il like?
"Ah, ah! she painted. "A long line
of white looking things - horrible
white
What Iike?" Minnie turned from
the window and caught the others
wrist in strong clasp.
Minnie. Minnie Like long white
gowns and cowls crossing the fence
Helen released her wrist from her
companions grasp and put both hands
on Minnie's cheeks. forcing her around
to face the Pickering pane You must
look! You must lookr' she cried.
They wouldn't do 1t, They wouldn't
1T isn'tr' Minnie shuddered. "They
couldn't come in the storm They
wouldn't do it in the pouring rain"
Yes! Such things would mind the
rainv' She burst into hysterical laugh
ter. and Minnie seized her round the
waist. almost as unnerved as Helen.
yet trying to soothe her They would
mind the rain" Helen whispered
They would fear storm Yes. yes,
And let him go; | let him go!''
Pressing close together. clasping
each others waist. the two girls peer
ed out at the landscape.
Look
Up from the distant fence that Dor
dered the northern side of Jones field
pale, pelted. tapping thing reared
itself. poised and seemed. just as the
blackness came again, to drop TO the
ground.
Did you see?'
But Minnie had thrown herself into
deep chair with a laugh of wild re-
lief. "My darling girl!'' she cried.
Not a line OF white things-just one
Mr.. Jones scarecrow. And we saw il
blown down.
mo. no, no, | saw the others. They
Were in the field beyond. saw them.
When | looked the first time they were
nearly VII on the fence. This time we
saw the last man crossing. Ali, let
him &c alonen'
Minnie sprang up and infolded her.
mo: you dear. lima ginning child. you re
upset and nervous that's all the mat
ter in the world. Don't worry; don't.
child: it's all right. Mr.. Harklcss is
home aud safe in bed long ago.
know that old scarccrow OH the fence
you fancied the rest He's all right.
Don't you bother. dear"
The big, mothcrly girl took her com
panion in her arms and rocked her
back and forth soothingly and petted
and treasured Ter and then cried lit
tie with her, as good hearted girl al
ways will with n friend. Then she left
her for the night. with many cheer
ing word and tender caress. Get 10
sleep. my dear" she called through the
door when she had closed il behind her.
You must If you have to 20 in the
morning. Ii just breaks my heart.
don't know how well bear il without
you. Father will miss you almost as
much as | will. Good night Don't
bother about that old white scarecrow
that's all it was. Good night, dear;
good night"
Good night. dear" answered plain
tive little voice. Helen's cheek pressed
the pillow and tossed from side To side.
BY and by she turned the pillow over;
it had grown wet. The wind blew
about the caves and blew itself out.
Sleep would not come. She got mp ard
laved her burning eyes: then she sat
by the window. The storms strength
was spent at last. The rain grew light
er and lighter until there was but the
sound OF running water and the drin.
drip on the tin roof of the porch Only
the thunder rumbling in the distance
marked the storms course. the chariots
of the gods rolling farther and farther
away till they finally ceased To br
heard altogether The clouds parted
Z. sSs sss SsN |