Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-06-20

She pointed 10 the west.
He must have been crazy exclaim-
cd the judge. What possessed the fel-
low?"
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 I'M
consciously grasped Lige's arm. Inc
young man was staring straight before
him. The judge got IN and walked
nervousiy back and forth. Helen rose
to her feet 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
think he
Il know what I think Lige broke
in. 81 think I'd ought TO be hanged Tor
| 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 hlm,
and if l can I'll catch up with MN
| yet" He went to the front door ana
opening il, let in tornado OF wind ana
food 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, Lige," he said You hardly eA-
pect to go out in that" Lige shook MS
head 1t needed them both to get the
door closed. The young man leaned
his back against it and passed MS
sleeve across his wet brow. Il hadn
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 CT cold. Ihat 5
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 5
hand on the sofa. She looked up at
them quickly.
do you think-do you-What Go
you
Her voice shook so that she could not
go on.
The Judge pinched her cheek and pat
ted it. Il think he's home and dry, but
| think he got wet first. That's what l
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 1t was long, long While
before he could venture out. The storm
ragged and roared without abatement
It was Carlow'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 til
it seemed as if the roof must go. Mean
while the Judge, after some apology, Ii
| his pipe and told long stories of TIT
storms of early days and of odd freak
of the wind. He talked on calmly, tn
picture of repose, and blew rings abov
his head, but Helen saw that one o
| his big slippers beat an unceaslng httl
tattoo on the carpet. She sat with ~
| ed ewes, in silence, holding Minnie
hand tightly, and her face was color
Ill less. growing whittier as the slow hour
dragged by.
K Every moment Mr.. Willetts becam
N more restless. He assured the ladle
s. he had no anxiety regarding Mr.. HarI
le less. It was only his own dereliction
ig duty that he regretted. The boy
he would have the laugh on him, he sal
es But he visibIy chafed more and mo-
k, under the judges stories and constan
m ly rose to peer out Of the window IN
ct the wrack and turmoil, and once
It twice he struck his hands together Wi
IN muttered calculations. At last the
Nc was a lull in the fury without, and
in soon as it was perceptible he announc
ad his intention of making his way III
ce, town. He had ought to have we
he before" he declared apprehenslvel
and then. with immediate amendmel
be- of course he would find the editor
led work in the Herald office. Line
ick wasn't the slightest doubt OF that,
a agreed with the judge, but he bet'
ops see about it. He would return early
lllu the morning anu O1Ni -hA0o 49,
ed, goodby. Hoped she'd come back sol
her day: hoped it wasn't her last visit
uel Plattville They gave him an umbrel
aw and he plunged into the night, ana
tC they stood for a moment at the 90
to the old man calling after him chez
her good nights and laughing messages
WI Harkless. they could see him fight W
his umbrella when he got out into
DICE road.
ere HeIen's room was over the porch,
get windows facing north, looking out
on the pike and across the hel
inst please don't light the lamp, Mimi
hen she said when they had gone upsta
and Il don't need it." Miss Briscoe
the fitting about the room hunting
idly matches. In the darkness she came
her friend and laid kind, large b;
tch- on Helen's eyes, and the hand beca
50