The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-09-30

and moaned:
What shall I do-what shall do?"
The hollow tree was forty feet
away. The coming downfall was
fifty. Mr.. Flemming picked up his
burden and beat the downfall by
three feet. The hollow tree accom-
modated them both. The foodgates
opened, but the retreat was as dry as
a brick house. The thunder rumbled
and growled and made things trem-
BILE. but Mr.. Flemming soothingly de-
clared that it 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 wom-
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,
and Miss Livingston told about the
cause OF education. Mr.. Flemming be.
moaned his poor luck. and Miss Liv.
ingston shed tears as she confided to
him that she would receive the most
gigantic reprimand from Miss Prim,
and perhaps lose her place. She had
been ordered not to let girl stray.
They had scattered like frightened
chickens. She had been ordered to
repulse, and-and-she hadn't done
it!
But the girls he'd to run from the
storm" protested the fisherman.
Eyes, but Miss Prim makes no ex.
ceptions in favor Of thunderstorms."
But you were caught by the foot.
and but for me you would be held
yet
mo exceptions"
And after l 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
Miss Livingston missing and perhaps
dead. A tear stole down her cheek.
But you couldn't get out a minute
sooner" said Mr.. F1emming.
Miss Prim will ask why I didn't
see 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
rueful smile, Miss Prim would have
asked If had seen a man. and when
satisfied hadn't might have got OF
with a light reprimand"
Hang Miss Print" exclaimed Mr.
Flemming with great vigor. II pro
pose to go on to the school with you
and explain matters.
But my orders were to repulse you
emphatically. She even spelled the
word out at length. IL intended to
repulse you emphatically, but when a
girl is caught by the foot--in thunder
and lightning-and It's going to
rain"
why, she'd be an idiot to repulse!"
"And you must stop here and let me
go on alone. Perhaps If l tell Miss
Prim that / repulsed you at the last
moment"
ooh, but you haven't you know!"
"Well?" queried Miss Prim as the
delinquent reached home.
II started to leave the grove with
the girls, but was caught by the foot"
IT make no exception on that &C.
count. You should have been watch
ing your feet"
1.-THE storm was awful"
"You should have found shelter in
advance"
released my foot"
"a man! And you repulsed him
emphatically? You babe him begone
vanish? However, whether you did
or not can make no exceptions"
THAT'S what thought, Miss Prim,
and so-and So"
Miss Livingston, l shall be pleased
to accept your resignation without
further inquiry. Indeed, I fear to
draw out further details. l fear I
should learn that you had fallen in
love-"
Miss Livingston went home to her
mother, and Mr.. Flemming hadn't
visited her over half dozen times
when he asked her to make an ex.
ception in his case, and after making
him wait six weeks longer as a pun
ishment for his conduct in the hollow
tree she consented.