Mexico Missouri message., 1910-06-16
AS the Winds Do Blow
By MARTHA MccULLocH WILLIAMS
lcOpyright, lalO by AssOcIated Llterary Press.)

him and set him to work among the
tiny children. Jack mad a way of win
ming the shyest-which perhaps ex-
plains why he had won Louisiana's
love without ever asking for it8
She had agonized over the knowl-
edge for some time, but acquitted
him, in her own mind, of either cow
ardice or double dealing. True, he
had looked love-but he had never
spoken 1t. She had known all along it
was the family plan to marry him to
his cousin, but until she saw the girl,
1t had all seemed vaguely impossible.
Now that she saw 1t not only possible,
but actual, she would wear no willow,
but go along as usual.
Il want to help with the tables
you never saw such waiter as was
lost In me-" Jack said suddenly at her
elbow.
She smiled and shook her head.
"There'd be a strike" she said. Bill
ly's bossing that job-he and his chum
are making 1t a union affair. You
know they have play union at school
and are simply pining for a pretext to
strike"
Him; doesn't that let you out?
Come along with me-" Jack persisted.
Again she shook her head. Il have
to be buster than a hive of bees" she
said. IF you want to help truly, do
see that your mother and Miss Eunice
have the very best of everything"
AS the town clock struck IL the sun
burst out in power and brilliance.
There were still cloud banks, black
and threatening, but with a big rift
between. AS the crowd ranged itself
and the walters began dashing about
with laden trays, Louisiana sighed
with deep relief. In another hour the
strain would be overlook full fed
with gossip, no less with dainties,
would hurry from the threat of the
| skies.
The breeze, as f1tful as the sun
shine, suddenly hushed. A dead
breathless calm, thick and sitting,
fell. The sun rays burned through 1t
so flercely people shifted uneasily I'M
der them. But the gay talk and laugh
ter rose in well-bred chorus. Every
body was happy, and grateful to the
good fairies who made the occasion.
Then, in a twinkling of an eye,
winds ragged. lightning flashed, cloud
banks rushed together overhead with
sound of rending and grindingl
Tree tops snapped in the wind like
whiplashes, or were twisted and rent.
Before people more than got to their
feet, staring affrightedly one at an
other, rain came, with hail behind 1t,
big, pelting stones that left marks
wnere they struck.
Through the widest rush and scurry
Louisiana did not blanch. Billy cried to
her: Run! Run home! But she went
about instead marshaling the panic
stricken through the gates nearest
shelter, saving little ones from being
trodden down, helping the level head
ed to save those who had lost their
heads.
She did not know it, but Jack was
at her elbow. He had hurried his
mother and cousin into their waiting
carriage. Gently, strongly, wisely he
untangled snarls Of vehicles, bundling
in people until they could hold no
more, and waving them off. Still the
storm ragged. But 1t was safer almost
anywhere than among the overgrown
barber trees. Half of them lay pros
trate, and lightning had struck more
than one. The place lay high, so 1t
was the very heart of the storm.
The wind tore words from the lips un-
spoken and blew away the wild cry
ing of the frightened mass.
Louisiana did not try to speak
only guided or led instinctively. The
work was almost done. The dragged,
miserable line had thinned to ragged
elumps when all the winds of heaven
gathered and blew at once. Round
and round and round they blew. Louis
lana felt herself clutched in the whirl
ard taken off her feet, Then sense
Of suffocating heat made her faint.
She knew no more until the dash of
| rain in her face revived her few hun
dred yards from where she had stood.
AS she sat up weakly something
stirred beside her-Jack, prone and
pallid, his lips blue with pain.
81 am all right; only my arm is
broken, l think" he said. trying to
smile at her.
1t was his right arm. But his left
hand CROPPED for hers, and when II
found it he said: The storm knew
it blew us away together, Darling,
we win stay together always"