The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-29

u 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 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 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 a deep throated bronze
bell doomed solemnly as the wind
swayed it to and fro.
Are we safe here?' asked the girl,
clinging tightly to Wendell's 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. 1T 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 small
black lacquered box. Wendell picked
1t up and found It to be one Of those
tiny portable stoves which the Japa-
nese are fond Of using. Inside was n
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 flame,
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 handful Of coins in the
box and returned it 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
glory of golden sunshine.
Come" he called to his companion.
II think we may go now"
She Joined him and cried aloud at
the transformation. The temple garden
was in ruins. Along the roadside peo-
pie we're 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 it. He
laughed exultantly and the girl turned
and their eyes met in 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
ing to their thanks for his timely res
cue was like dream. The only rea
, 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 awhileT
he asked
"a month";" she answered.
and may come and see your
"Ah, / hope you willr she cried i'm
: pulsively. and then she blushed once
{ more
That is the reason why Ray Wendell
!. decided not to leave Nagasaki.
r On their wedding trip, a year later
5 they came to Nippon. and a prizes
served them with tea in the temple
e garden. And he told them a strang'
tale of the day of the great typhoon
S when the storm gods took the tea ant
r cakes from his cabinet and replaced
them with many yen. And Of cours'
i Wendell filed the little drawer witt
copper coins once more. telling hi
$ wife: