Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-12-15
In the Dark
A Fright and an Awakening.
BY AGNES c. RRoeAN.
Copyright, 1921, W. N II,

upper UdiCOny OF Lne little cottage. and
swung her heels like a carefree school
girl. For, though school days had long
been left behind, the in%vigorating
breeze coming sweet and fresh across
the lake, the chirping of birds in the
e~Vergreens 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.
It was here 10 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 favorSa men.
beFs Of the Assembly.
Cynthia's admiration for a man who
had achieved was something Rkin to
awe. As president Of the Home Lit
srary club she hoped to obtain a per-
sonal interview with the coming great
speaker and noted divine, whose bril-
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 a triumph
would be her report to the club. Gym
thia's eyes shone in proud anticipation.
She would write out her W 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 a long walk through
the wood. When she returned, Grace.
her hostess, greeted her ~jubilantly.
"Such luckl" she exclaimed "Dr.
Raymond Randall, the speaker, is to
be entertained at Miller's, next door.
You will have "a fine chance to meet
him."
Difidently, Cynthia glanced we her
shoulder at the red bungalow on the
left.
"Silly" her friend Knocked her, "the
reverend gentleman does not arrive
until tomorrow, and l believe you are
trembling now at the mere thought Of
facing him."
sits not that, exactly" Cynthia de-
MED. 'but n feels that oneemust he
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 gurden
lights going"
It was truly a pretty sight, the lit
tie electric bulbs cleaning here and
there among the trees, making the
grounds as bright as day. Far out by
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.
It came upon Cynthia presently
that in the vast. lighted stiffness she
was a creature alone. Alone In her
tree-vaulted cathedral, the wash OF
the waves came to her rhythmically,
distantly. IT was rather eerie. She
laughed softly at the strangeness OF
the situation. She would go to the
upper veranda and read, she decided
some thrilling magazine tale that
would put from her mind for the time
empty locked houses and queer r~ustling
sounds In the grass.
She found the designated button
and pressed 1t, so that when she came
to the top of the stairs the hall was
lighted to receive her. She left 1t Sc
and went out to her favorite 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.
Enthrailed, she bent lower over the
book and t-hen--Cyntllia stretched
forth her hands; a deep, irnpenetrable
darkness enveloped her. darkness
around about, darkness as she strained
her eyes above. As realization came
slowly, her heart resumed its normal
beating. or course, II was the cleo.
tricity which had failed: in a-mo'
ment II would be on again.
But far away.twinkled the lights Of
the hotel, and the amphitheater was
still brilliant. Cynthia remembered
uncomfortably the large sum Of money
which she had been chided for bring
ing and which still remained in the
satchel In her room. Was 1t 3possible
that some one had learned Of her
carelessnessf II so, great was his
opportunity.
The lighting button. she remem.
bered, could only be manipulated in
the lower hall, and yer If she might
feel her way across this upper bal.
ronv had che the courape To 10 alone