The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-09-22

the Nsncrmun with tears IN hof eyes
and moaned:
What shall do-wbat shall do?"
The hollow tree was forty feet
away. The coming downfall was
fifty. Mr.. Flemming picked up bis
burden and beat tho downfall by
three feet. The hollow tree accom-
modated them both. The floodgates
opened, but the retreat was rs dry as
n brick house. The thunder rumbled
and growied and made things trem.
Bile. but Mr.. Flemming soothingly de.
Clared that II didn't come within fifty
rods of comparing with an earthquake.
The lightning was vivid and came
often, and like good fellow he slip.
ped an arm around the young WON
ans waist and let her hide her head
on his shoulder.
1t was an hour before the storm
passed over, and another half hour be.
fore the leaves ceased dripping. The
two in that hollow tree did not re
main dumb all this time,
Mr. Flemming told about fishing,
ana Miss Livingston told about the
cause OF education. MI. Flemming be.
moanod his poor luck. and Miss Liy
ingston shed tears as she connled to
him that she would receive the most
| gigantic rcprimand from Miss PIim
and perhaps lose her place. She had
! been ordered not to let girl stray
"
| chickens She had been ordered to
| repulsc, aud-and--she hadn't done
! IT,
But the girls had TO run from the
storm" protested the fisherman,
Yes, but Miss Prim makes no eX.
ceptons In favor of thunderstorms.
But you were caught by the foot.
and but for me you would be held
yet"
mo exceptions"
And after had released you there
was no time to follow the girls"
she would expect me TO. just the
same"
, They found the girls who had taken
shelter at the farmhouse had gone on
to the school They would report
Mics Livingston missing and perhaps
dead A tear stole down her check.
But you couldn't get out minute
sooner" said Mr.. F1emming
Miss Prim will ask why / didn';
soc the coming storm half an hour in
advance"
Suppose you had been left there
caught In the root until some one
had come from the SCHOOL,"
IN that case" she replied with g
rueiul smile. Miss Prim would have
asked If had seen man. and whcr
satisfied | hadn't l might have got OF
with a light reprimand."
Hang Miss Print" exclaimed Mr.
Flomming with great vigor. 81 pro
pose to go on to the school with yol
and explain matters.
"8ut my orders were to repulse yor
alphabetically. She even spelled thu
word out at length. IL intended L
repulse you cmphatically, but when
girl Is caught by the foot-in thundc
and lightning-and it's going t
rain"
why. she'd be an idiot to repulse!
And you must stop here and let N
go on alone. Perhaps If | tell Mis-
Prim that / repulsed you at the las
moment"
"Oh. but you haven't you know"
"Well?" queried Miss Prim as tn
delinquent reached home.
II started to leave tho grove wit
the girls, but was caught by the foot
81 make no exception on that AT
count. You should have been watch
ing your feet"
THE storm was awful"
you should have found shelter 4
advance"
And then, when man came an
, released my foot"
"A man, And you repulsed hir
emphatically? You babe him bcgon
vanish? However, whether you di
or not | can make no exceptions"
That's what ! thought, Miss Prin
and so-and So"
T. Miss Livingston, shall be please
to accept your resignation withot
further inquiry. Indeed, fear
= draw out further details. fear
should learn that you had fallen
love"
Miss Livingston went home to he
| mother, and Mr.. Flemming hadn'
visited her over half dozen time
when he asked her TO make an e.
ception in his case. and after maxim
= him wait six weeks longer as pun
y ishment for his conduct In the hollo
: tree she consented.