Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-07-30
NUMBER 81.

sudden cessation of the uproar at
s O'Clock caused more prayers OF thank
fulness to he uttered I'm the metropolis
, 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 sem
sational In appearance, was demoniac
In effect, levying Il toll on human lives,
causing fires and general damage to
property, accounts of which filed
many columns OF the newspapers next
morning. This second outburst was
succeeded by heavy and continuous
emptied their diminishing audiences
Into the streets London wore its nor
nal rain sGaden aspect. 1t was not
until the following day that people
fully understood the magnitude and
terrifying results of the later display.
About quarter to s, while the first
storm was at its height. carriage and
pair dashed into fashionable West
End square and pulled up outside
mansion cast in the stereotyped mold
OF the early Victorian period. The
horses, ovcrfed and undcrwOrked 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 II 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 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 his services
Mt the carriage door. bundle of
evening papers, covered with a piece
of sacking. somewhat impeded the use
| of his left hand. and. as II happened,
| I'm 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 ont.
Get out of the way" he said I'm
| patiently. and the newsboy obeyed,
| glad that he had not followed bis first
| impulse and liung away the bun.
A vivid flash OF lightning made the
horses rear and plunge.
Look sharp, Elf" cried the stranger
| In 10 more cordial tone. Gather your
wraps and jump out. On night like
| this these nervous brutes"-
4 peal OF thunder that ratified the
windows interrupted him. The two
animals reared and backed with one
accord. The plucky f0otman, hanging
on to the crOSsbars OF the bits. was
lifted of his feet and banged violently
against the pole. He was forced to let
go and fen. 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
came from the interior. Certain that
the vehicle would turn over instantly,
the man who had alighted slammed the
door and sprang clear. In doing SO he
trippnd over the newsboy and fell
heavily on the pavement. The boy,
quicker to note that the breaking OF
the pole had given momentary res
pite, rushed into the roadway, throw
ing away both precious bun and still
more precious stock Of unsold papers.
He wrenched the other door open
and shouted
"rhis way. madam Quick"
"Madam" was quick She sprang
right into his arms and proved to be
girl OF twelve or thercabOuts, dressed
all in white and wrapped in an ermine
cloak.
Over went the carriage with n fear
ful crash The coachman managed to
Jump from the box into the roadway.
He retained the reins and whip In lis
grasp and now, losing his temper. lash
ed the struggling horses Savagely. This
cowed them and they ceased their an.
tics.
The boy and the girl found them
selves standing on the sidewalk close
to the ruined vehicle.
you have saved my lifew said the
girl sweetly and without any trace OF
the nervousness which might naturally
be expected after such a narrow escape
from serious accident.
The boy noted that her eyes were
large and blue. that she wore great
shining ornament In her hair and that
she appeared 10 be dressed In some
what fanciful manner. though the big
cloak she Wore concealed the details.
The door OF the mansion opened, and
servants came running out.
Suddenly the boy received a violent
blow on the side OF the head.
"Confound youw shouted the man
who had fallen on the pavement, "why
didn't you get out of the way when
told youT
The boy astounded by such recog-
milton OF his timely help made no re-
ply, but the girl protested vehemently.
"Oh. uncle" she cried, "why did you
strike him? He got me out Of the
carriage just before 1t turned over.
He did, indeed"'
Another vivid flash Of lightning II.
lumined the scene. 1t lit up the group
with startling briliancy. The boy.
still somewhat shaken by the vicious
blow, was nevertheless able to see
clearly the pale, handsome, but dissi.
pated features Of his enraged assail.
ant, whose evening dress and immacu-
late linen were soiled by the black
mud Of the pavement. The girl. dainty
and fairy like, little maid Of aristo-
cratic type, and Of beauty that prom
ised much In later years, was distress.
ed now and almost fearful.