The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-08-16
AFTER THE RAIN.

A huge raIndrop fell upon Hates
cheek, and, mindful or her best nat
she fed to the first doorway until tne
| storm should pass. II was only
summer shower, but she wanted the
hat to wear at the picnic tomorrow
and she hurried for shelter.
| 1t happened to be the open doorway
OF a business block. A fire had emp
tied the place Of tenants and there
| was smell OF wet. burned wood that
| was unpleasant
| But still more unpleasant was the
| fact that the doorway was already oc-
cupied and by Harris Hitchcock, q
all persons.
"If my presence distresses you, ne
said coldly, 4 might find some other
shelter"
| 'sDo not disturb yourself on my &C.
( count. she said coldly There ~
| plenty OF room for us both
TT will only be for few moments.
he said with smile These furious
| storms seldom last
Kate made no reply to this state
ment OF selfevident fact. She was ue-
termined not to be drawn into con-
| versation.
Hitchcock only smiled again. NO
sense Of guilt hung heavily upon MS
conscience He had made run o.
Hates favorite matinee hero, and she
had angrily declared that she never
again wished to speak to man VINO
was 80 lost to the appreciation OF
artistic endeayor He had attempted
to defend his position and mad only
succeeded In angering her the more
| He knew how frightened she was
by thunder showers. and every time
she shrank from the heavy reverbera-
tions he longed to take her in his arms
and comfort her, but he knew better
than TO seek to force the conversation
when her every nerve was jangiing,
| But when an exceptionally heavy peal
rent the air, he sprang forward ana
grasped her arm
Don't be afraid, he said, reassur-
ingly"That struck nowhere near mere
There ii not the slightest danger.
! Kate regarded him Indignantly he
, had sometimes leased her about her
fear Of lightning. and she was keeniy
sensitive about her popularity.
In her overweight nervous condi-
| ton she believed that he was again
i tormenting her and, at his touch, she
shrank back, her face white with
anger and her eyes blazing.
aSince II appears that am not safe
y form annoyance here" she said, not
ly, will you kindly permit me y
= pass?'' !.
y Hitchcock barred the doorway. :"
1 win co. he said, quietly. Believe me
i did not mean to offend. Z
4 Before he could step out into tn
I, deluge she had thrust him aside, r.
the doorway. gathering her skirts Ii
= one hand
Q Just at that moment dazzling f1asl
9 shot from the heavens and rent tire,
:. on the opposite side of the street
while the discharge was accompanied
o by terrific clap OF thunder.
J. With a little cry Kate turned ant
Q blindly sought Hitchcock. who sprana
forward to catch her. She threw her
Q self, sobbing, into his arms, and he
obliyious to all else, sought to calm
!. her. Gradually the sobs softened. and
at last Kate lifted her head.
You always said was a silly about
lightning" she said, smiling through
. her tears. but never supposed that
1t would lead me to be quite so fool.
r ish."
Il can understand It," he said com.
fortingly II shall forget all about II
.. and consider that 1t never happened.
We are still our friends the enemy
You don't suppose that can quar-
!, rel with a man. when I've been cry
ing In his arms the past ten minutes.
do your" she demanded. 1T was a
Judgment upon me for being SO head
strong"
And you are not angry?" he cried
You were nice and didn't laugh, :"
she explained. I'm sorry was so
cross the other night. Though. she
added, you were not right ia saying
what you did about Mr.. Kernochan.
If you had let me finish what I
was going to say could have told you
my reason" he said with a smile.
Mrs. Kernochan, or Mrs Cassidy.
rather, is suing him for divorce be-
cause OF his cruelty. | am her attor-
ney, which is how came to form my
estimate of his character. He was In
jail once for wife beating
Harry" she said. He bent his
head to catch the whisper.
What is 1t, dear?' he asked.
You won't beat me when we're
married." she asked
Il should say not. Look, Kate, it's
clearing up. Let's go and get the
ring.
1T was such lovely storm" she
sighed contentedly as they stepued