The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-27
x-continued.

-
lightning, at first mere spurts Of lgh'
across the west cleaned red and sin.
lister through the smoke, The WING
plunged over the ridges in wild panic
believing and shlreking. 1t fell upor
the riciety old mill and wrenched il
with violence till II groaned and ratified
and roared. The thunder grew louder
with every peal; the lightning flickerec
and streamed balefully. Young jim
seemed oblivious Of Ii. He heaped the
wood ever and non upon his fire, and
continued his steady contemplation OF
the flames. Then some subtle magne.
tism drew up his glance and there she
was in the doorway, looking him full
in the yes.
'I'm not just sure that the mills
safe in all this wind She came VI
10 the fire, so near to him that he could
have touched her. There seemed to
be o wistful note in her voice.
"Oh, it's stood worse blows h a this,
In the winter. when the leaves are off,
the winds sweep down these valleys
fearfully.' ~
ct III put out our fire, won't it?"
Shouldn't wonder; but we can have
one inside. Let 1t go. Believe I'll get
In some slabs while / have a chance"
He fell to the work with energy.
AREN'T you afraid of thunder" he
called out cheerily. II hope not. for
this is going to be an old rattler, 10
times worse than The other"
Moo, I'm not afraid" There was
the slightest note of doubt in the tone
No wonder: the surroundings were In
deed strange and fearsome-the shud-
dering old mill; the intense darkness;
the fire, lighting everything weirdly;
and the nearing crash and below OF
the storm.
''This will cool Off the Run, won't
it," she asked almost eagerly.
Sure. Well get out in the morn
ing all right" He was flying back and
forth between the slab pile and the
mill.
II hope we cam" she echoed with a
suspicion OF usefulness. But can't I
helpT'T
ooh, no; I've got enough. Better
come in now. Hear the rain come down
the valley there! Glorious, amt IT. I
Just love a night gust ! X this"
The storm was indeed breaking upon
them In full force. The thunder, with
crash after crash, broke over their
very heads; then 1t beloved and
roared and tumbled from ridge to ridge.
The continuous volley with its rip and
roar was d~eafening. The lightning, al
most blood red from the smoke. shook
its fingers In their very faces. The
rain came, not In drops but in sheets.
IL roared on the mill roof as IL hurled
from a steamer hose. 1T hurtled down
the wind in watery wrath, dashing wild
floods as from buckets. There seemed
nothing in the whole landscape save
water and binding CLEANS and crash
ing noises. The fire by the brook
struggled ftfully for a time and then
Missed out. The stream began to rise
by leaps and bounds until 1t was al
most by the door. h#
The mill roof had been well made;
It leaked only here and there, and they
kept dry. Jim had a roaring fire in
the stove, which made the little room
really cozy and homelIke. He chopped
at the slabs and fed them into the
flames, while she sat on a bench and
watched HIM. His confidence and
CHEEKY good fellowship were contag-
ious. What glorious, self reliant fell
low he was! The thunder and light
ming were nothing to be nervous about;
he laughed at them. And, somehow,
despite the wildness and the crash
without. she did not feel frightened
or ever i'll at ease.
At length the storm began to sub
side. The thunder rolled off into
the east; the lightning came in
sheets rather than in binding bolts;
the rain began to slacken. In an hour
n was all over. "
did you sleep any? ?" he asked sud
denly.
r had just got to sleep when it be-
gan to thunder" A..
"Well. it's all over now. You must
get some more sleep; it's a long time
before morning. Say, I'm going inside
the mill there. If you want anything,
pound on the boards. Good night"
Before she could answer he was gone.
She lay down again In the bunk, drew
up the lap robe and the next thing
she was conscious of was the sound
Of voices outside. 1t was broad day
y light. y
so, you're at the bottom of this,
heigh? Where is Rose?" 1t was her
fathers voice, angry and threatening.
She's in the mill" Rose sprang out
Instantly. f.r
I'm all right. pap" she cried.
This Is a pretty trick" She could
see at a glance that he was angry,
through and through. Here Amos and
Alb n I've been hunting these noun
tains all night long, and your mothers
almost wild, and you up here with that
scamp"
WHY, father he"
IL don't want to hear q word about
it-not a word. II he's up here, then it's
on account Of you. I know that. He's
sneaked up here after you, and got
you in ahead of that fire on purpose
70 show of. I hain't a doubt he set 1t
himself. I'm going to look INTO this
pret-t-t-ty close, young man. Now, you
start. Clear out of here this minute.
I q take my daughter home alone"
His nge almost choked him. Young
Jim shouldered his AK without a word
and turned to start.
Wait Mr.. Farthing. Here, father"
mot another word. i"
Father, I'm going to speak" There
was a flash in her eyes and a ring
In her voice that silenced the man.
"Mr. Farthing was here in the noun
tains to look after his wood lot. He
met me wholly by accident In the val
ley down here. IL he hadn't I think
would have been burned; for I
wouldn't have left Pcmp until It was
Roo late. He knew the way into this
valley, n we came just in time. And
there vas no way out last night. You
know that. You've got no right to
speak as you did"
Well go home" he said gruffy.
~Come along with me-"
mot till / thank Mr.. Farthing." She
went impulsively to where the young
man was standing and took his hand.
II want to thank you for what you
have done, Mr.. Farthing. I owe you
everything"