The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-11-09
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
a Knoek IN The. Night.
b ~ Gerald st. EtIenRs
(Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

= Go! Not another word. I viii not
listen to you. Stop" Flora stood on
the top step as she capaBan4ed p
sharp. decisive tones, she pointed ,
finger toward the pathway,
~ Mathew Burgess edged first on one
loot and then on the other. he had
never hac such scatching lecture in
his life as the one Flora had Just de-
Hyered him. He Ionged to take her
IN his arms and kiss away the fFoWn.
on her lips, but he did not dare, fof
there was something behind those
eyes Of hers that warned him such
movement would only make matters
worse With a shrug Of his shoulders
that was intended for a dignifed one
he started in the direction her finger
was pointing, Just as he reached the
gate he Locked back. Flora was still
standing there, a dramatic Agure re-
dectad IA the mo0light
Although he was in a shadow and
was not visible to her sight, yet she
seemed to realize his eyes were upon
her. Her chin went up in the air as
she turned and went into the open
door, stopping on the threshold long
call again, Mr.. Burgess. Hereafter l
win not be at home to you"
Poor Mathew was squelched. IL It
had been any one else but Flora he
would have had an inpertinent an
swer ready, but his tongue seemed
cleaved to the roof OF his mouth He
did murmuT something about these
women" as he unfastened his horse
from the gcte-post and climbed into
the buggy. II Flora was going to let
a little thing like his being to late to
take her to the dance come between
them, then II was time they broke OF
their engagement. AS he took one
last look toward her home, he no
tieed how dark the night had become
all at once.
The moon that had been doing its
best all night had disappeared behind
the trees rustic uueaSIly.
From away in the distance NUT.
fed sound OF thunder reached his
ears. There was going to be storm.
''Giddap!" One light touch on the
reins and Mats horse started out on
a gaiiop. He was going to reach home
before the storm came ca il it could
possibly be doae.
Flora wakened with start. She
had hardly been aslsep five minutes.
1t seemad. "Oh!" A fash of snake
lightning caused her to cover her head
in the bed clothes. and she attempted
to stuff a whole sheet in her ears to
deadea the sound of the thunder that
she knew would follow.
a0hI eA:r came in quick succession
from her lips. The tumult that vas
taking place almost deafened her, de-
spite the sheet. It sounded as if the
whole country had been struck. Flash
after fash Of lightning was followed
by crash aetar crash CT thTlde-, made
more terrible by a torrent OF rain and
wind. It seemed hours before . cain
came, but in reality it was only q
very few minutes. TIE stiffness was
almost as terrifying as the storm.
Flora longed to cry out for help. but
there Was no one within hearing DIS.
lance. Her father was tho only other
person in the house, and his room was
at the rear. He was deaf and could
sleep through any kind of storm. Sud
denly sound broke the stiffness.
Flora's trembling stopped immediate
~. She listened. The sound was re.
peated. Some one was knocking the
big brass knocker on the front door
Who was it at that hour? Flora asked
herself.
A telegram from her mother. was
the answer that presented itself
Flora jumped from the bed and slip
ped iRte slippers and kimono.
Her heart beat rapidly as she stood
with he hand on the lock of the sig
oak door. She was terrified. not OF
personal danger, but at the thought
OF what news might be waiting on
the outside Of that door for her. Fe4e
grams in the night are always hor.
rible things.
No sooner had she opened the door
than she jumped back with a scream
that rang through the house. A big
burly body had flung itself at her and
her hands had come in contact with
vet, sttchp fur Her head reeIed and
she was almost fainting when some
thing told her what 1t was.
Bonnie!" she gasped- Bonnie
where did you come from?
An answering whine caused her to
sink down with cry OF thankfulness
When she flashed on the lights there
stood Bonnie, Mats merle collie. It
was quite some time before Flora
could become composed enough to pat
tae Dog. He was shaking all over.
MAT was With him, was her thought
Ss she threw open the door. But no
MAT vas there Il was almost dawn
sank back at the sight of the wet land.
scape. Who could have knocked?
One look at Bonnie answered the cues.
ton he had reached up with his
nose ana lifted the nocker.
ne seemed to be pleading for some.
thing, Mat had been hurt ana the dor
had come for help. She had read Of
such things in stories. with this
thought came conviction.
Where is he, old fellow. and how
S S,9s ne nprt! Flora asked, frantic,
The dog wagged it's tail a. IL It IN.
aerstood. and that convinced Flora
tthe more. A tree had fallen on Nat
on his way home. or he had been
The thought was terrible. oh. What.
fNould she do! MadIy she raced M.
stairs and dressed hurridly. Il was
daylight by the time she was down
again.
RRok