The Washington herald., 1914-07-06
A Flash Of Lighting.
BY EAloRY j. HAfNns.

on are WdihlnB etOnB country Iodu5 attet udfk-
The oyerareh Of trees makes the highway path in
blackness Ii is not in order to be afraid as you
would be in unlighted city street But it is quite
in order to pick your way carefully, for you may
come up against the stone wall Then too, the bridge
over the brook and the mildam on the right, the
farmhouse whence dogs come barking TO the gate at
sound of passing football and far away the roll Of
thunder But what comfort is the fash Of lightning
The radiance reveals mile ahead
The first great spashing drops, advance eouriers of
the storm, strike you in the face You guess at the
distance away where the storm mast cross from the
Western mountains and then over the valley before
it win be upon you. Mighty winds now assail the
branches of old trees, htfully. How far is it to
home? 1t will not be wise to take shelter under the
trees Lightning loves trees
You think of the wayside shed which milkrnen
have erected as sort of milk exchange. 1t will
be empty yet for hours before the brokers in milk
begin to meet there. 1t is open on side. Running
by the flashes, you are almost to the shelter
The thunder detects your purpose and hastens on
your tracks, coming and yet The big,
powerful gusts of the night wind also are wise to
your purpose and chase you confront you, cuff and
bluff you 1t is necessary to stop stock STILL however
trembling legs, till the next fash reveals the way.
This loss of time you can repair by buttoning your
coat tighter and pulling your cap down securely
and taking breath.
II is exciting game between you and the storm.
Not that you mind getting wet, for by this time
you wet a fish. But you do not like to
be conquered, you will make that sheltering shed
and cheat the elements. You will il there are flashes
enough Otherwise you may walk off the bridge.
Strange creaking noises, old branches of rub
bing against each other resemble groans and cries
of human beings. The kindly flashes reassure you.
No woman, little child no man struck down is in
sight. You are alone 1t was the shrieking of the
boughs. You do not wonder that they cry out. For
just behind you big limb is from aged maple
and falls to the wall 1t will be wise to keep to the
middle of the. road therefore. How kind are the
flashes that show you the safe middle of the road.
What is so, coy, palatially secure that shed
when you get there You pause, just an instant be-
fore you enter this midnight structure for there is
no knowing who else has taken refuge there Are
there dogs here, cautious bull, or some rugged
Dick Turpin who got there before you, So very
dark, yet inviting the refuge You halt and peer
in Then comes the blessed lightning and throws
such food of revelation. All is yours. You may
enter. You are alone and safe though wet is no
name for it, so drenched you But you under
a roof. You hear the rafting rain that roof You
have outwitted the storm. Let it blaze away. !
One has sense OF the peace of mind of the man
who has nothing to lose since he possesses nothing
1t would be impossible TO be more wet, more home
less, more outcast and down and out But there !
may stay long the storm peases barricade
YOU Farmhouse lamps go out in the distance. But
the whole heavens are illuminated for your benefit
The chill, which the electric storm always brings /
is getting into your bones. You kindle fire on the
blackened hearth and crouch before it till you steam
Was there ever such kindly blaze? Was there ever
warmth that so warm? How caressingiy the !
heat creeps up and down your spine. You turn your
self like duck spit being roasted. How rapidly
you are getting dry. Presently you as well off
lere you would be at home.
You have outwitted the storm. which angers the
storm till it rips three boards off the roof But the
opening is the farther side The incident docs not
mean your surrender. A flash of lightning points out
he three boards which you need for fuel. Much
obliged. indeed The worst blow OF the storm is the
yetting of your tobacco in a drenched pocket VIII
Tot the lightning please point out some shelf high
md dry and a milkmans pipe? Certainly. You dis
over it by fash OF lightning.
How swift these hours pass. Already the thunder
yrows fainter in the Southwest Too soon the
boriginal state must also pass into a memory. For
wo hours you have lived like Massasot the Indian
hIef But you must go back now into the environ
nents OF civilization flash OF lightning shows the
whole way homeward and tells that the rain is over
1t is life in epitome. The flash of lightning shows
he way to We run by the flashes. The worst
# disasters has minutes of inspiration Every
rouble has its glcam of awakened mind. We never
Foud have thought of it. except that we Just had !
o think out a way.
Perhaps no man lives who docs not owe more to
storm, 10 the thunder and the lightning in the
light than to all the sun-lit days of June Who
# us has not taken refuge IN the shack? And the
ghtning is free to everybody who is wise enough to
se it?