The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-18
THE GENTLEMEN FROM
INDIANA.


"0hw The old gentleman appeared
TO be reassurcd. Probably he hae
work to do and wanted TO get In before
the rain
But Ligc Willetts was turning pale
which way did he got He didn'i
come around the house. We were on,
there I'll the storm broke"
HE went by the orchard gate. when
he got 10 the road be turned that way
She pointed TO the west.
"IIc must have been crazy" excIaim.
ed the Judge. What possessed the Eel.
iowr'
II couldn't stop him. didn't know
how" She looked at her three com.
panions. slowly and with growing ter.
r0r from one face TO another. Min.
nle's eyes were wide, and she had un.
consciously graspcd Llge's arm The
young man was staring straight before
him. The Judge got up and walked
hcrvously back and forth. Helen rose
TO her feet and went toward the old
nan. 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 think" Llge broke
In. II think I'd ought TO be hanged for
letting him out Of my sight. Maybe It's
all right Maybe be turned and started
right back for town-and got there.
But I had no business 10 leave him.
aud II | can I'll catch up with him
yet" He went 10 the front door and,
opening It. let In a tornado Of wind and
Hood 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," be said. You hardly ex.
pect to 20 out In that" Llge shook hir
head. II needed them both TO get the
door closed. The young man leaned
his back against It and passed his
sleeve across bis wet brow. Il hadnt
ought to have left him."
Don't scare the girls." whispered
the other; then In a iouder tone: "All
I'm afraid Of 10 that bell get blown to
pieces or catch his death Of cold. That's
oil there IL to worry about They
wouldn't try II again % soon after last
night. I'm not bothsring 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 footishness. Doa't
be an old woman"
The two men re-entered the room
and found Helen clinging to Mlnnle's
hand on the sofa. She looked up at
them quickly.
do you think-do you-what do
you
Her voice shook 70 that sho could not
20 on.
The Judge pinched her cheek and pat.
ted II. II think he's home and dry, but
| think he got wet nrst. That's what
think. Never you fear. He's a good
hand at taking care OF himself. Sit
down. Lige. You can't 90 for awhile"
Nor could he. II was long. long while
before be could venture out. The storm |
ragged and roared without abatement
II 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 till |
Il seemed a. n the roof must so Mean
whiis the Judge. after some apology, lit
Ais 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 NJ.
ID eyes, in silence. holding Minnie's
hand tightly. and her face was color.
lees, growing whittier as the slow hours
ragged by.
Every moment Mr.. willetts became
more restless. He assured the ladies
le had no anxiety regarding Mr.. Hark.
ess. Itwas only his own dereliction Of
luty that he regretted. The boys
would have the laugh on him. he said.
But he visibly chafed more and more
lnder the judges stories and constant.
y rose to peer out OF the window into
he wrack and turmoil and once or
vice he struck his hands together with
nuttered CALCULATIONS. At last there
vas lull In the fury without, and as
Don as 1t was pcrceptible he announced
lis intention Of making his way into
own. He had ought to have went
'efore." he declared apprehensively,
nd then. with immediate amendment
( course he would find the editor at
york In the Herald once. There
Vasn't the slightest doubt OF that, he
greed with the Judge. but he better
ee about It. He would return early In
he morning and bid Miss Sherwood
oodby. Hoped she'd come back some
ay; hoped II wasn't her last visit to
lattviile. They gave him an umbrella,
nd he plunged into the night, and as
hey stood for moment at the door,
he old man calling after him CHEEKY ,
ood nights and laughing messages to
Iarkless, they could see him fight with
is umbrella when he got out into the
bad.