The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-11-17
In the Dark
A Fright and an Awakening.
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN.
(copyrIght, 1a2l. W. n. u

girl. For, though school days had long
been left behind, the invigorating
breeze coming sweet and fresh across
the lake, the chirping of birds in the
evergreens overhead brought back,
with an old sense of joyous freedom. va
cations spent long since in this same
great Assembly.
Above, the trees arched close like
the roof of some green cathedral,
while beneath them scattered little
winding streets of gayly painted
houses.
In the distance was the big hotel,
and there, in the very center of the
grounds, stretched the amphitheater.
1t was here in the old days that Gym
thia had sung in the children's choir.
here now that she hoped to hear far
famed speakers, brought to bestow
their eloquence upon the favored men,
bers of the Assembly.
Cynthia's admiration for a man who
had achieved was something akin to
awe. AS president of the Home Lit
erary club she hoped to obtain a per-
sonal interview with the coming great
cPtahCA anu NhOSC
liant articles had caused widespread
comment, not only in her own country.
but in those across the seas.
Her friend and hostess of the cot
tage had arranged to make the meet
ing possible. And what triumph
would be her report to the club. Gym
thia's eyes shone in proud anticipation.
She'would write out her own questions
to the great man and memorize them,
that there might be no mistake In their
construction.
In order to accomplish this thought
fully, Cynthia took long walk through
the wood. When she returned, Grace.
her hostess, greeted her jubilantly.
"Such luck ~ she exclaimed. DIR
Raymond Randall, the speaker. is to
be entertained at Miller's. next door,
him."
Difiidently, Cynthia glanced over her
shoulder at the red bungalow on the
left.
''Sillyl" her friend mocked her, "the
reverend gentleman does not arrive
until tomorrow, and l believe you are
trembling now at the mere thought of
facing him.
'It's not that, exactly" Cynthia de-
MED, "but one feels that one must be
so proper in every respect before such
a Parsonage. Would you-would you
wear your gray frock If you were me,
as something quiet and suitable in
taste?"
''He will probably not know wheth-
er your frock is gray or red" Grace
assured her; 'the mans head is so full
Of ethics and 'isms.'"
So that evening Cynthia decided to
remain at home alone, while the 9TH
ers attended the lecture. She wished
to rest after her journey, and to pre-
pare herself for the treat of the next
night to come.
Grace pointed out to her the lighting
button beneath the stair In the lower
hall as they departed.
when 1t grows dark" she eau
toned, "press the button to light the
upper hall before you ascend. We
will leave the veranda and garden
lights going"
1t was truly pretty sight, the lit
tie electric bulbs cleaning here and
there among the trees. making the
the lake the hotel windows cleaned
as with a hundred eyes. and she could
glimpse the gay colors of the throng
In the amphitheater.
One by one cottage doors were
locked, as at the toll of the bell their
inmates hurried off to meeting.
1t came upon Cynthia presently
that in the vast. lighted stiffness she
was n creature alone Alone in her
tree-vaulted cathedral. the wash Of
the waves came TO her rhythmically.
distantly. 1t was rather eerie. She
laughed softly Mt the strangeness of
the situation. She would go to the
upper yeranda and read. she decided.
some thrilling magazine tale that
would put from her mind for the time
empty locked houses and queer rustling
sounds in the grass
She found the designated button
and pressed K. so that when she came
to the top of the stairs the hall was
lighted TO receive her. She left 1t so
and went out to her favorlte seat in
the hammock. The tale was most
absorbing; in Its perusal she forgot
the Assembly, the absent. friends. the
very balcony upon which she was sit
ting.
Enthralled, she bent lower over the
book and then-Cynthia stretched
forth her hands; deep. impcnetrable
darkness enveloped her, darkness
around about, darkness az she strained
her eyes above. AS realization came
slowly, her heart resumed its normal
beating. OF course, II was the elec-
tricity which had failed; in a mo-
ment It would be on again.
But far away twlnkled the lights of
the hotel. and the amphitheater was
still brilliant. Cynthia remembered