The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-04
eyrisbt, 1899. By Doub,eday @ McC1ure CO.
Copyright 1902. By Mcclure. Phillips <2 Co
0Iohf TO have left him" "

ought to have left him.
Don't scare the girls" whispered
the other; then in a louder tone: All
Pm 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"
s.But this morning.
"Pshaw! He's likely home and dry
by this time All fooishness. Don't
be an old woman
The two men re-entered the room
and found Helen clinging to Minnies
hand on the sofa. She looked up at
them quickly.
1Do you think-do you-what Go
you
Her voice shook so that she could not
so on.
The judge pinched her cheek and pat
ted it. ..k think he's home and dry, but
think he got wet first. That's what !
think. Never you fear. He's a good
hand at taking care of. himself. Sit
down.r 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
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 boomed.
and the wind ripped at the caves TIL
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. 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
seds eyes, in silence, holding Minnie's
hand tightly, and, her face was color
less, growing whiter 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. Itwas only his own dereliction OF
duty that he regretted. The boys
would have the laugh on him, he said
R,,t he yisibly chafed more and more
under the judges stories and constant
IL rose to peer out Of the window into
the wrack and turmoil, and once of
twice he struck his hands together With
muttered CALCULATIONS. At last there
was lu1l in the fury without, and as
soon as it was perceptible he announced
his intention Of making his way into
town. He 'shad ought to have Went
before" he declared apprehensjvely.
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. be
agreed with the Judge, but be better
see about it. He would return early n
the morning and bid Miss Sherwood
goodby. Hoped she'd come back some
day; hoped it wasn't her last visit to
Plattyille. They gave him an umbrella.
and he plunged into the night. and as
they stood for a moment at the door.
the old man calling after him CHEEKY
good nights and laughing messages to
Harkless, they could see him fight With
his umbrella when he got out into the
road
Helen's room was over the porch. tl.'
windows facing north. looking out c,2
on the pike and across the fields
please don't light the lamp. Minnie.
she said when they had gone upstairs
Il don't need it, Miss Briscoe was
fitting about the room hunting for
matches. In the darkness she came u
her friend and laid kind, large hand
on Helen's eyes, and the hand became
wet. She drew Helen's bead down or
her shoulder and sat beside her On th
bed.
Sweetheart, you mustn't fret" 81:
:oo.hed in motherly fashion. Den
you worry. dear. He's all right.
:;.,.t yc;:- fault, dear. They wouldn't
80 o.. a night like this.
-. 81 ueicn drew away and went te
= V:,!-ow. daftening Ter arm aS;;::ns
,.;aa. Ter forehead pressed aga:ns
-: :........ She had let him so: she bad
i'm 50 alone She had forgotten ta'
..:.sei, that always beset him. Sh" t:'
~: so craz.-:: size had seen noSs.n-
IL - Of nothing. She had let Ei'''
80 t,:..:t ard into the sto"m a,oa"
. ..::aow better than she how c:'l.
- v-orr. SIZE had seen the TIE iea
ra..: tie wi.ite blossom and heard IT,
u ~...;st,e. TIE ball they had mean
). IS Leart-that good. great hear
:. lad run to him. the night befor,
..v had she let him &C into the Gn
,ao<~n and tie storm tonight? ff:
- col,lA size have stopped h!2:: &c
.2,.,;l s,.e have kept hini after WHAT !
I'D sad? Ie had put it ont CT b.
,rcr 20 snaak TIE word Sta" -
.e.~;} into TIE niG',11tt tLro&-::: 1;isto.
- tc,,ls.