Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-01

at the edTrtdge door,
 than had been heard for many day. But worse remained. Thus far the lightning had been appalling, brilliant ly lurid, but harmless. At 10 o'clock the storm ragged again, this time with out the preliminary downfall of rain, and the lightning, though less sen sational in appearance, was demoniac in effect, levying toll on human lives, causing fises and general damage to property, accounts of which filled many columns of the newspapers next morning. This second outburst was succeeded by heavy and continuous rain. At the hour when the theaters emptied their diminishing audiences into the streets London wore its nor nal rain sodden aspect. It was not until the following day that people fully understood the magnitude and terrifying results of the later display.
 About a quarter to s, while the first storm was at its height, carriage and pair dashed into a fashionable West End square and pulled up outside mansion cast in the stereotyped mold of the early Victorian period. The horses, overfed and underworked. had been rendered frantic by the drive through the park from the farther west. Fortunately, they knew this halting place, or the coachman would never have succeeded in stopping them. As it was, they sweated white with fear, and the footman, shouting to the occupants of the carriage that he could not attend to the door. ran to their heads after giving a vigorous tug at the house bell.
 A boy, tall and thin, and scantily at tired for such weather, who had taken shelter in the dark portico of the man. sion, ran forward to offer Lds services at the carriage door. A bundle of evening papers. covered with piece of sacklng. somewhat impeded the use of his left hand, and. as 1t happened. in his right he held large bun on which he had just commenced to dine.
 Before he could turn the handle the carriage door opened from the inside. A man sprang out
 aGet out of the way" he said im- patiently, and the newsboy obeyed, glad that he had not followed his first impulse and flung away the bun.
 A vivid flash of lightning made the horses rear and plunge.
 Look sharp, Elfr' cried the stranger fin no more cordial tone. Gather your wraps and jump out. On a night like this these nervous brutes"-
 A peal of thunder that rattled the windows interrupted him. The two animals reared and backed with one accord The plucky footman. hanging on to the crossbars of the bits. was lifted on his feet and banged violently against the pole. He was forced to let 90 and fell. staggering backward some yards before he dropped. There was a smash of Iron and wood. and the near hind wheel of the carriage jam med against the curb. A slight scream
 
 the vehicle would turn over instantly. the man who had allghted slammed the door and sprang clear. In doing so he tripped over the newsboy and fell heavily on the pavement. The boy. quicker t5 note that the breaking of the pole had given a momentary res plte. rushed into the roadway. throw ing away both precious bun and stIll more precious stock of unscld papers.
 He wrenched the other door open and shouted:
 This way. madam. QuIek-
 Madam was quick. She sprang fight into his arms and proved to be a girl of twelve or thereabouts. dressed an In white and wrapped in an erlnIne cloak.
 Over went the carriage with a fear ful crash The coachuan managed to jump from the box Into the roadway. He retained the reins and whip In his grasp and now. losing his temper. lash ed the struggling hsrses ssvagsIy. This coTed them. and they ceased their an- ucs
 The boy and the EirI found then- selves standing ca the sidewalk close to the ruined vehicle.
 -Tou have saved ny ufe- said the Eiri sweetIy and rfthout any trace Of ths nervousness whtch night naturally be expected aftsr s1ch q narrow escape fren a ssrisus accits1t
 Ths boT noted fszt ksr sTes were