Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-09

right up and speak better than the parson ever
The day had grown hotter and great menacing clouds
were gathering along the western horizon.
1--WE are going to get shower, predict, said
the blacksmith. Il noticed the devils anvil when |
first came out of meeting. | going to make haste
home and look after my stock.
The shower came up speedily than anyone
ticipated. Many caught in it. The lightning
flashed incessanty terrifying peals of thunder beloved
over the forest and with the downpour of
blast of wind which made havoc of the growing crops
and bghted the promise of great apple harvest. An
oak tree that stood near the mlpond and could have
harbored company of hundred armed men struck
by ball of red fire and then denuded of some of its
widest stretching limbs.
DENELOPE who had fingered near the meeting
house, fled to it for shelter The schoomaster had
not left the pulpit but when he heard her light, hurry
ing step he stood up and for the first time noticed the
rapidly increasing darkness flash of vivid lightning,
followed by the instant crash caused him to realize who
flying along the aisle The girl trembling with
but he took her brown hand in his and spoke IN
calm and soothing tone. Had it not been in the meet
ing house. had not been for the danger that others OF
the congregation might return for refuge from the tenn
pest the schoomaster would probably have yielded to
the ncnations of the masculine been much to
blame. He efrained from putting his around her.
As it happened, some did look in that was Noah
Grigsby the carpenter very superstitious man. He
related how he had the schoomaster in animated
converse with supernatural being with horns and
wings Penelope had thrown her apron her head.
That might have accounted for the horns; the wings
were wholly creation of the carpenters terrified inn
agination He told everyone about it, and he really
came believe in what he had seen. In spite of the
pelting ran he had all the way to his house,
pectng every moment to feel the clutch OF obscene
claws in his neck.
Penelope and the schoolmaster were wholly uncon-
scous of the panic they had caused.
"Shut your eyes Penelope, enoined the calm voice,
SHUT your pretty eyes the lightning dazzles them
Weare safe in Gods house anywhere in the world.
The Power that rules the universe controls the fiery
bolts All that He does is well"
Lightning has always had particular affection for
churches and meeting houses guerrilla warfare of
Ahriman against in spite of the wildness
of the storm Wanbridge meeting house was spared In
the unreasonable preudices of age prone to believe
all sorts of devtrles this fact was afer"ard used as
weapon to attack the eloquent young preacher.
Penelope still leaving her hand in Chr1stopher's,
would have been glad hide her face in the black velvet
of his doublet. The schoolmaster dressed expen
sively than anyone else in the community He wore aces
at his wrists, and his small clothes of costly cloth.
This had been much commented upon; no amount OF
curiosity had been powerful enough to cause people to
ask him questions or overcome the feeling of awe and
even reverence that the tall keen eyed young man
always inspired.
WHILE the storm lasted, while the meeting house
w shook under the blasts of the tornado, little
said by either of them. He repeated his comforting
words and smoothed the fingers that lay in his long,
shapely hand But, the flashes of lightning became
distant and the rolling and crashing Of the thunder
swept away Penelope quickly plucked up courage
"Schoolmaster,' she said with a touch of becoming
coyness "your words seemed winged with fire this
morning Where did you get your Inspirations
Il saw two fountains of light, Penelope; from them
got my inspiration
"That is sheer fattery, Schoolmaster; but l was
proud of you. Not even Goodman Buckton went to
sleep The tithing did once have to use his staff
Oh wish you could preach here always!"
"That is sheer fatery, Penelope. But if you were to
sit in your seat and look at always you did this
morning, | should not fail of Inspiration.
"How can you say that of a silly girl like me? Why,
all the old housewives hereabouts call me dreadful
narnes!'
@That is because they are jealous Penelope. They
are old, and you young. They are wrinkled and
ugly, and you
81 am WHAT"
"You are the one woman in all the world to me- said