The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-26
What the
Lightning Did
Bv ALAN HINSDAL

II was q terrific storm. Yeardley
stood at his window looking at the
lightning, which was followed In some
instances by almost instantaneous
thunder. He was fearless fellow, ana
no matter how near the bolts, he kept
his place, admiring the battle OF the
elements.
Clara was below in the drawing
room with Hammersley. She was ell
gagged to Yeardley, but was In love
with Hammersley. Yeardley possessed
a fortune, and Hammersley was poor
The wedding between Yeardley ana
Clara was to come of that day week.
Clara had insisted that he make Will
In her favor before the wedding. Set
Elements are not common in America.
but Clara argued that her fiance had a
lot of relatives who In case OF his
death would make trouble. Without
will she would receive only widows
third. and that would not content her.
Yeardley had cousin, Lucia, who
had been left an orphan, and he had
since then provided for her. When he
made his will he left small income to
Lucia. But Clara objected to this, pre-
ferring that a clause be put In instead
stating that the testator expected his
widow to support Lucia out Of the in
come of the estate 'in every comfort
The bride to be convinced her expect
t1ak
better way, and since she promised
him to obey the injunction faithfully
in case he died before her, he yielded
the point.
During the storm Clara. who had
nervous dread of lightning, was so
agitated that Hammersley put an arm
around her to soothe her. While they
were In this relative position there
came a binding fash, and amid the
roar Of the thunder they heard some
thing fall in the room above. Ham
mersley went quickly upstairs, follow
ed by Clara. Yeardley was lying by the
window motionless. Help was sum-
m0ned, and he was laid on the bed.
The doctor came and pronounced him
dead. The room was closed and the
body left alone.
| The thunder was muttering In the
| distance when the door of the death
chamber opened and Hammersley and
Clara entered. Approaching the bed,
they looked down on the marble face.
Then they went to the window and
stood looking out, talking in a low
tone Hammersley drew Clara to him.
and her cheek rubbed against his.
| After a few minutes they went out,
closing the door softly behind them.
Hammersley and Clara went back
/, to where they had been standing when
the storm broke. Clara tried to look
like . girl who had Just lost her fiance
but failed. Hammersley did not even
/ try to look mournful. Indeed, smile
!, lowered about his lips. Clara would
now be his. e,~a RI =.
i Later Lucia entered the room and
approaching the bed, sank on her knees
buried her face in her hands and sob
bed. Then she arose and looked down
through her tear dimmed eyes upon hel
cousin. In another moment she passed
out, sobbing convulsively.
Two hours after Yeardley had beer
stricken an electric bell rang out sharp
". The register indicated that it had
been rung from his room. What could
it mean? If any one was there who
wanted anything, surely he would moi
have rung the bell.
The butler was sent up, and presently
i returned with his eyes wide open.
"Mr. Yeardley isn't dead" he ex
F. claimed.
T. what do you mean?" cried Clara.
Hes sittin' up in bed"
All fastened up the staircase, and be
fore entering the room saw, through
the open door, Yeardley in a sitting pos
ture.
"What's been the matter with me?'
he asked, in a dazed fashion. II fee
as II I had been keelhauled."
Clara ran out of the room Hammer
sley followed her. Lucia came in and
seeing her cousin alive whom sh,
thought dead. seized his hand and kiss
ed II.
Electricity is curious antagonist
Sometimes 1t kills outright sometime.
1t will strip coat off a mans bacl
with but trifiing injury to him, ant
sometimes 1t will throw him into {
coma for hours. Yeardsley's bodil,
faculties had been temporarily para
lyxed.
Clara returned to the room where
her betrothed lay and expressed heI
Joy that he had returned to life. Blu,
1t Is difficult to express Joy when on,
feels regret. She explained that sh,
had been so suddenly cast down ant
relieved that she could not control he
feelings.
/ Nobody ever knew whether Yeardle,
had been struck by the bolt or stunned
BY its proximity. The question nov
uppermost In his flancee's mind wa,
whether he had retained consciousness
But she dreaded to ask him, and he re
Trained from speaking Of the matter.
The next day Yeardley was all righ
again. He sent for his fiancee and toll,
her that he had decided not to make
viii before his marriage. He had mad
| n VOW to leave his pronarty tf fo,,na :,