The Lakeland evening telegram., 1916-10-17

roar of wind and the lash Of waves
sound the man and the girl and the
jinrikisha tore down the hill Wendell
between the poles Of the light vehicle.
wondered where the insane journey
would end.
His question was quickly answered.
Without warning they crashed into a
hedge of some sweet smelling shrub.
Wendell received the full force of the
blow as he was propelled through the
shrubbery on to what was apparently
the lawn of a gentleman's place.
The jinrikisha stuck in the hedge.
II am all right" quavered the girls
voice out of another momentary cessa-
ton of sound
Good" muttered Wendell, reaching
over and lifting her from the vehicle.
perhaps we can find shelter in the
house."
They stumbled down a path and into
a portico, where they paused to take
breath. Wendell flashed a tiny electric
light and disclosed the doorway to a
temple. The large cedar doors were
closed, but a smaller door further
along the portico admitted them to the
hush of a small temple
Incense was drifting lazily from
bronze korO on the votive tables. A
large statue Of Buddha loomed in the
background. There was the sickly
scent Of dying blossoms. Somewhere
up in the roof deep throated bronze
bell doomed solemnly as the wind
swayed 1t to and fro.
"Are we safe here?" asked the girl.
clinging tightly to Wendells arm.
"As safe as anywhere in Nagasaki
just now," he replied. "Sit down here
and If you do not like to look at the
image face the doorway"
He drew number of clean white
mats from the floor and piled them be-
side one of the pillars of the temple.
"Oh, like the face Of the Buddha."
she FASTENED to say. ut is SO calm
and peaceful-after the storm!' She
broke down and began to sob softly.
Wendell turned and went softly away.
Left to herself. he argued, she would
quickly recover her poise.
Within the thick walled temple one
heard vague rumblings of the storm
Wendell moved slowly among the vari-
GUS smaller shrines and marveled at
the singular absence Of the priests. He
decided that they had sought refuge in
some safer place. perhaps some larger
temple near by.
The votive table was laden with Of
ferings of flowers. rice and wine. On
the steps Of the shrine was q small
black iacquered box. Wendell picked
1t up and found 1t to be one of those
tiny portable stoves which the Japa-
nese are fond Of using. Inside was a
small braZier OF glowing charcoal, and
In one of the drawers were teacups and
tea. and in the other compartment
were tiny rice cakes. Some priest had
dropped his tea equipage in his hurried
flight
Wendell blew the Goals into fame,
put on tiny copper water kettle and
presently made tea In the Japanese
fashion In the small porcelain bowls.
These he carried to the girl.
She was sitting up now, and he
could see her face quite clearly. She
was very lovely with wide gray eyes
and sweet mouth.
"Tea?" she asked incredulously.
He nodded. "And rice cakes, too, If
you want them." he said. "You will
feel better afterward."
They sat together on the mats and
drank the tea and ate the priests rice
cakes. When they had finished Wen
dell dropped a handful Of coins in the
box and returned 1t to the place where
he had found 1t.
Listening, he decided that the storm
had abated in measure and, going to
to the door. thrust his head out into
the portico. The world was bathed In
a glory Of golden sunshine.
Come" he called to his companion.
Il think we may 60 now"
She Joined him and cried aloud at
tho transformation. The temple garden
was in ruins. Along the roadside peo
pie were Fastening to their deserted
homes. The road was muddy.
As Wendell helped Alice Lowell up
the hill toward the storm beaten city,
he felt that something new had come
into his life with the typhoon. Love
had come riding on the crest Of the
storm. 1t had passed him for an in.
slant, but he had caught 1t. He
laughed exultantly and the girl turned.
and their eyes met in a long glance.
When she turned her eyes away her
face was rosy, but it was not the sun.
sets glow. 1t was rather the fair
morning sunshine of love.
He went with her to the hotel, where
her friends were frantically searching
for her. His meeting them and listen
lag to their thanks for his timely res
cue was like a dream. The only real
thing was the girl and himself.
As he said goodby In the hotel gar
den, he looked down into her dark blue
eyes.
"You are going to be here awhile?"
he asked.
A month";" she answered.
And l may come and see your
"Ah, l hope you willv' she cried i'm.