Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-30
CHAPTER II-Continued.

Heavier and heavier grew the cloud out
at sea. and as 1t grew denser 1t moved
landward. Its gray changed to dark blue
and then rich purple. almost black a
keen GOODNESS rresaged a coming storm.
There was stiffness all around the
mountain road: positive desolation OF
silence from which even the wondrous
beauty of the scene could not distract
the mind. Joy absolutely refused to sit In
the carriage, which was now properly
hooded. She threw on the cloak which
she had h, ought with her and stood out
on the open road where she could enjoy
the scene undisturbed by human prox-
unity. As she stood, the velvet black
cloud was rent by binding sheet of
lightning. which seemed for q moment
to be shaped like fiery tree roots up
ward in the sky. Close following came
such mighty peal Of thunder that her
heart shook. Ordinarily Joy was not
timorous, and for thunder she had no
fear. But this was simply terrific; II
seemed to burst right over her head and
to roll around her in q prolonged titantic
rear. She was about to run to the car
riage when she heard the shrieks of
fear from the two women: the driver
was on his knees on the road praying.
mother and aunt would be to keep calm
as calm as she could. So she moved her
hand and called out cheerfully:
Don't be afraid! 1t is all right; the
lightning has passed U.S. AS she spoke
the rain came down In torrents. 1t was
tropical: In few seconds the open road
was running like a river, ankle deep. BY
the exercise of her will the girls courage
had risen. She could now actually enjoy
what was before her. Far out to sea the
black cloud still hung. but 1t was broken
up in great masses which seemed to dip
into the sea. 1t was almost as dark as
night; so dark that the expanse became
lit by the lightning flashes. In. one of
these she saw three separate water spouts.
The sea appeared to have risen as the
cloud sank. and now were far apart three
great whirltng pillars like hour glasses.
And then. wonder of wonders. without
turning her head, but only her eyes. she
could see away to the left a whole world
of green expanse backed up by the noun
tains of Calabria. With each second the
sinking sun brought into view some new
hilltop flaming In the glow. A little way
in front of her, at the southern side of the
peninsula. the copper dome of the church
at Vietri glowed like ball of fire. Away
to the south on the edge of the sea rose
the many columns of the majestic ruins
of Poestrum. standing still and solemn as
If untouchable by stress OF storm or
time.
Joy stood entranced. as though the
eyes of her soul had opened on a new
world. She hardly dared to breathe. The
pelting OF the rdinstorm. the rush OF the
water round her feet. the crash and roar
of the thunder or the kissing glare of the
lightning did not move or disturb her. 1t
was all q sort of baptism into a new life.
Joy Ogilvie, like all persons of emotional
nature. had quick sympathy with natura
forces and the moods of nature. The ex-
perience of the day. based on the superla-
tive beauty around her. had walked all
the emotional nature within her. Naples
is always at spring time: and the young
heart. finding naturally its place among
the things that terminate and develop UNI
consciously. swayed with and was swayed
by the impulses of her sex. Beauty and
manhood had twin position in her virgin
breast.
Aunt Judys insight or prophesy was
being realized quicker than she thought.
Joys sex had found her out.