The Democratic advocate., 1909-08-13
ON THE WINGS
OF THE STORM.
There Came a Change In Her
Views on the Question of Love.
By PHILIP kEAN.

pestuous winds and the continuous
roll of thunder.
To the unaccustomed eye it was ter.
rifying. but Alexander gazed undis.
turbed. He was young and strong.
But something very like fear grlpped
him now as he saw between the sway
ing trees wraithlike figure running
toward the house.
BE went to the door and opened 1t.
BE dragged her over the threshold--a
little. gasping. frightened girl.
'pm so afraid" was all she could
say at first.
How does 1t happen that you are
outT He put her in big chair by
the side Of the fireplace. Its so late
aud such an awful night"
She looked at him with startled eyes
as she tried to pin up the thick brown
locks that had fallen about her shou.
ders.
FL was running away" she con.
fessed.
"Oh." Alexander said as be sat
down opposite her. ''You look a bit
old for that. was nine when / de-
cided to take to cave dwelling and n
man Friday"
A dlmple showed In the corner OF her
mouth. "But-but / wasn't running
away to live in cave. | was running
away to get married"
But" Alexander said presently.
"you-you don't look quite old enough
for that"
81 am eigbteeD," was the explana.
tion, "and he is twenty one"
''He" murmured Alexander. "Whetr
is he?"
Her lip quivered. 81 think the storm
must have kept bin home. You
wouldn't think storm would matter
to man, would you?"
mot man who was going TO marry
you" Alexander found himself say
ing.
"oh"-the warmth In his tone
brought a rosy flush to her face-"of
course something may have kept him"
Where was he to meet your Alex.
ander asked.
"Over there by the church. We are
stopping at one of the cottages just
beyond"
"And when you didn't Gnd him
there you ran 70 the nearest houseY
Il saw your light and ran toward
t."
"And now" he told her. "lf you are
rested bit I'll take you home"
''But ! can't go backl" she cried.
'"rhe door locks with a spring. and /
haven't key
"Ye gods" Alexander's brows were
knit.
And then. because be could think OF
nothing else to say, he asked, Are you
hungryT
Starved" she said.
He brought out crackers and cheese
and sardinns and olives and marina
lade and all the daintIes that a bach.
elor manager who elects 10 eat
meals the coarse food that IS given
his men keeps for private consump.
tIon.
"1f-if l only knew where Bobbie
was" she said, Il should be almost
happy"
80 his name is BobbieT Alexander
asked.
She nodded. I'VE went to school to-
gether, and he is at college now, and
he hasn't anything to marry on. and
that's why mother objected. and that's
why we ran away"
"Do You love himT Alexander asked
slowly.
"of course" she said quickly. "oniy
I'm not so sure right now. It seems as
II he couldn't have let me come out In
the storm alone--h he had loved me-"
HE couldn't" said Alexander
briefly.
And then. after a moment. he said
slowly. II wonder II you know what
love is really like-love for which one
suffers, for which one dies, II need
beT
She caught her breath. mo one ever
said such Llngs to me OF love before"
she said. "Bobbie and just thought
Of fun-and-of having our own way"
She was such little innocent thing
Ohs WAAh bhNh III bCl tetHs
n foreshadowing In her face Of tho
woman that she might be. that Alex.
ander said impulsively. Dear litt'r
girl, wait until loye-real love-comes
to you before you marry"
She held out her hand to him. II
WILL" she whispered. 81 will wait"
And even as she promised there came
knock at the door.
Alexander opened II, and Bobbie
stumbled over the threshold.
~Why didn't you waitT he com.
planned at once. "Why didn't you
wait. MollleT
at was such an awful storm. and
You weren't there. Bobbie."
"You might have known I'D have
come" be fumed. II don't see why
you came here. looked everywhere for
you, and then | saw this light, and
came over and looked through the win.
dow"
Alexander interposed. "she could
not stay out in the night and storm
You were late"
The boy turned on him. "WeIl, what
IL WASP" he demanded '1s It any
Of your businessT'
"Yes"-the older mans tone was
luiet-'it is always mans business
to see that young and helpless girl is
protected"
"But r.
II think you should take her home
Mt once" Alexander advised, sand
wait until you and she are old enough
to know your own minds"