The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-03
THE EVENING STORY
ssNo Exceptions"
(By Lawrence Alfred Clay,

(By Lawrence Alfred C1ay.)
Mr.. Guy F1emming, civil engineer.
| was passing a couple of weeks at the
village of Colville. That meant that
he was fishing. That didn't mean
that he was catching any fish, because
the month was August, and a fish
that will bite in August is not worth
the carrying home.
A mile outside the village was the
Prim school for young ladies-Miss
Janet Prim principal, proprietor and
all that.
| As the school buildings were situat-
| ed on the banks of the same river in
| which Mr.. Flemming was vainly fish
ing for fish, suspicious person like
Miss Prim must see through his dupli-
city sooner or later. He was gradual
\ ly approaching the school grounds as
he fshed, and the day would come
when he would venture to climb the
wall and address one of the dozen
damsels remaining there through the
summer vacation. Miss Prim did see,
and she called up Miss Fanny Living
ston, one of her assistants, and SOL
EMMY said:
| Miss Livingston, there's man
around. That is, there is a strange
man gradually approaching this place
along the river bank. He has come
a little nearer every day for the past
week"
rs the constable to be notified,
ma am Pr was asked.
| "Oniy as a last resort. Under your
care the young ladies are to visit
Maple grove tomorrow. The grove is
on the river. Should that man be
fishing in the vicinity and dare to ap-
proach you and the young ladies he
must be emphatically repulsed-e-m-
| p-h-a-t-i-c-a-l-ly repulsed, Miss Ldv-
| ingston. I trust that you understand
me?"
/ srYes'm."
Then ext day Mr.. F1emming went
fishing down the river. He had hith-
erto fished up the stream. He knew
nothing whatever of the jaunt to the
| but the voice of Fate called to him.
He had been in the grove for couple
| of hours, and he had almost had two
/ bites on his hook, when the grove was
invaded. He heard song and laughter,
and he soon reasoned out who his cal
lers were.
1t was very proper of Mr.. Flemming
to sit there and fish and fish and not
go spying. By skulking through the
| brush a hundred feet or so he could
dell, but he didn't skulk. He sat there
and bobbed his line up and down and
watched the bubbles and the froth.
More than an hour had gone by
when Mr.. F1emming heard the rumble
of thunder, and looked up to see the
sky darkening. There was going to be
a thunderstorm. He heard exclama-
lions and CALCULATIONS from the young
ladies and knew they were preparing
to take shelter in a farmhouse a quar-
tier of a mile away. He didn't propose
to get wet. but he had noted great
sycamore tree with a hollow trunk
1 that would give him shelter.
4 The voices of dozen running,
lharum-scarum girls had died away in
the distance, and Mr.. Flemming had
laid down his fshpole, when he was
startled by q cry for help. 1t was near
at hand. 1t was the voice of a woman.
The fisherman made rush of fifty
i feet to confront young woman whose
foot had been caught in a root as she
started to flee with the others. She was
hanging to the limb of a tree and
twisting her foot, but the heel was
damned fast.
was, held prisoner by her foot, a soak
hing old thunderstorm coming along
} and the man she had been command
ed to repulse-emphatical repulse-
lstanding before her. and the only per-
son on earth she could ask for assist
ance. If she emphat1cally repulseo
him
at see the trouble and beg par
, don," said Mr.. F1emming after an in
. slant; and he dropped on his knee
seized the foot and wrenched it clear
: Then the lightning came, and Miss
!. Livingston screamed.
! Then the first big drops of rain
} were heard on the leaves overhead
and the poor young woman looked az
! the fisherman with tears In her eyes
, and moaned:
what shall do-what shall do?'
} The hollow tree was forty feet away
The coming downfall was fifty. MI
Flemming picked up his burden ano
hollow tree accommodated them both
J The fioodgates opened. but the retreat
was a dry as a brick house. The
thunder rumbled and groWled ano
ming soothingly declared that it didn't
; come within fifty rods of comparing
with an earthquake. The lightning
J was vivid and came often, and like 9
; the young woman's waist and let hel
| hide her head on his shoulder.
1t was an hour before the storm
passed over, and another half hour De
) fore the leaves ceased dripping. Tns
: two in that hollow tree did not remain
7 dumb all this time.
I MI. F1emming told about fishing
and Miss Livingston told about tbs
cause of education. Mr.. FIemming pc
moaned his poor luck, and Miss Liv
ingston she tears as she conf1ded t.
him that she would receive the mos
gigantic reprimand from Miss Prim
t and perhaps lose her place She hat
been ordered not to let girl stray
, They had scattered like frightened
7 chickens. She had been ordered t
repulse, and-and-she hadn't done it
j. But the girls had to. run from tn
Z storm" protested the fisherman
Eyes, but Miss Prim ma kes no ex
ceptions in favor of thunderstorms."
? but you were caught by the foot
] and but for me you would be hell
yet
a mo exceptions"
q And after / had released you Their
J. was no time to follow the gtris."