The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-10-26

that they were tnerc mofo W.
than ANYTHING eIse--that there mighs
be a matter of . spit or two. but tnAh
we'd have a fine afternoon.
So we mounted the sides Of the cars
and holding on to tho polished raiis
as we had been told was the proper
fashion we set out bravely on our way
little voting what a wetting all Ire
land was soon to have.
In a half hour or so we would De
walking over Irish lawns and admir-
ing Irish lace as they decked the forms
of gaily clad femininity gathered for
sociability and tea alongside the rho
dodendrons and fuchia bushes.
A few drops of rain fell but the
wind was south and we seemed to De
going east.
isn't this gay?" called the young
girls as we jiggled along In holiday
mood. Suddenly a silver bolt of jagged
lightning cleft the sky to the south
| and almost simultaneously . peal
| of thunder that sounded as II 1t had
| been born and bred on Connecticut
hills. SO loud was 1t, told US that the
people living to the south OF US were
going to get wet.
And then we came to bend In the
road and turned south.
"Ah. twill be nothin," said our
driver in answer to a question
We put on our cravenettes, hoisted
what umbrellas we had and gave the
blankets an extra tucking in and after
that-the deluge!
Rang. kerrassh! "A bolt from Heav'
en- followed by bolt from eacn morse.
. A sort OF echo as it we're. The drivers
J refined them in and ours started to
seek shelter under tree
As sometimes read the newspa'
ners when at home told our driver to
keep in the open.
: The lightning now became more and
more frequent and was so close that
: we let go our hold ON the brass rails,
preferring to pitch out rather tnan act
$ as conductor on a jaunting car-sucn
o things as conductors being unknown
anyway.
II was terrifying and to add to my
discomfort found / was sitting IN
II pool of water, the rain having an irish
J. insinuatingness about it that was ire
3 sistible. And now, just to snow us
q what could be gotten up on short no
s. tice for American visitors, 1t began Il
% hail and the wind blew it in lont
y, white. slanting winter-like lines across
"a the air and into our faces, and TIT
Il roads having become little brooks. tn
horses had to be urged to the driv
is er's utmost of threats and cajolery.
es thought of that waiter who ha
Ut told me it was always sunny In Ire
ly land and wished him out in the pei
40 ing storm.
gu 1--WE not seen the like in twint
Al yairs, sorr," said the driver.
TO go back was to get the storm
~ fuller fury, for the wind had shifte'
~, To 90 ahead was to arrive like drowl
Gu ed rats. but we were anxious for she
'p' ter and still the driver said. Its M
es far" and so we went on. have bee
en- in many places in all sorts OF weat
al ers, but it is years since I've been o.
'ur in such a storm. The hail stones we
L
on were az large as French peas.
~. There was not a dry stitch on
ia' and the red of the gay cushion we
IN through to my skin. My cravenet
ISL treacherously refused to let the wat
depart from me, but shed 1t on
I'M wrong side-which may be an lri
ms bull, for all know.
~ Here we are now, sorr, said Q
driver as he turned in at a beautil
'eu driveway. A winding drive OF m
-. ute or two and we arrived like
hens-eN of us-at the house Of the
ms people who had never heard OF US
til that day.
- But the warmth Of the welcol
lo from our host and hostess who ca
az. out to the door to greet US made
not only glad we had come. but e'
glad we we're wet.
isA Had there been the least stinn
we should have wished the storm
ny enough land indeed all Ireland
'ne wish 1t for 1t turned out to be the m
tremendous thunder and hail storm
oun. a score or more of years., but our
not found friends frankly laughed with
toss at our funny appearance and we "
hurried OF to various rooms to cha
ies our clothes.
TINS Our protestations of regret at
s,au ting them to trouble were met '
,or protestations Of delight at being
ailor sarva us and az INV host brou
nd como unjon garments that
you 49, r,.ao for a man of three III
non my size and l wrapped them no
na. and round me until they were gil
Fri'e | was glad had not turned bacl
we spend damp afternoon in lol
hotel.