Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-09
. By JANE D. ABBOTT.

baby. Milfy Leavitt," she commanded,
boiling from the room.
But with each flash, each roar of
thunder, poor. Miss Milly's courage
ebbed. Her cry-rising above the
noise of the storm brought Miss Sa-
brina and B'lindy to her.
Il can't-help-it!" she sobbed,
covering her face. It's $3.50 dread
f1i! And where's-Nancy! Oh
Even Miss sabrina's face was pale
with alarm.
You two women are like so many
mand. "Milly Leavitt, you'll work
yourself into fits Nancy's all right
somewheres! I guess Peter Hyde's
man enough to Jake care of her
mebbe they amt where this storm is,
anyways! Sabrina-you take that
baby where Milly's yellin' won't wake
it Goodness knows the craship's bad
enough! Now Milly, you just hide
your poor head in my lap" with
bit"
Sabrina had no choice-B'lindy, had
put the baby into her arms and al
most showed her to the door.
She carried it to her own room and
sat down very carefully. Never in
her whole life had she held a little
baby. What would she do if it
Weakened suddenly? And If it kicked
and .sauirmed, might she not drop it?
squirm-he felt very comfortable in
Miss Sabrina's arms-he snuggled
ever 81 gently a little closer. turned
his face toward the warmth of her
embrace. and throwing up one little
arm. laid it against her throat. The
warm. soft baby fingers burned
against Sabrina's throbbing pulse
the little spark crept down, down to
her old, cold heart and kindled some
her whole being. Cautiously she held
the baby closer, pressed it to her
breast so that she might feel the
whole perfect little body; the little
lips twisted and Sabrina. thinking it
was a smile. smiled back with in
finite te%nderness. She forgot the
storm raging without. her ears were
deaf to its oar after a little she
leaned her head down until she could
lay her cheek against the baby's soft
head.
Within the darkened room, a mir
acle was working!
Suddenly the air was split by a
sharp crackle as OF a hundred rifles
splitting fire close at hand: and SIM
ultaneously came a deafening roar as
though the very Heavens were. drop.
ping with a crash. Through 1T all
pierced Aunt Milly's CREAM. The
swayed: for a moment everything
went black before sabrina's eyes!
Then B'lindy, running through the
hall brought her sharply back to her
senses.
Were struck-we're struck! sa.
, brin'y! Jonathan!"
I Once moro Happy House had beer
struck by lightning! The crashing
had been the tumbling of the bricks
other storm. long before the light.
ming had worked it's vengeance on the
old mantel. It lay in pieces on the
floor of the sitting room, covered with
a litter Of broken bric-a-brac and
mortar and bricks from the chimney
But in the lear Of fire no one
thought Of the mantel. B'lindy ran
wildly around ordering Jonathan to
throw buckets Of water on any Gran.
smouldering fame. at the same time
heapinE all kinds Of curses down up.
on the heads Of the neighbors who'd
"let Happy House burn right to the
ground without liftin' a finger"
And Sabrina, after one look at the
~likhtntng,s havoc. still with the baby
in her arms, had gon to quiet Miss
Atilly.
When Jonathan's activity had
threatened to destroy everything in
the house with water, B'lindy finally
became convinced that there was ia
be no fire. "Funniest lightnin' I evel
see." she declared, breathlessly drop.
ping into q chair: "set down that pail
Jonathan-you've most drowned us
all. Thank Heaven, here comes
Nancy"
Nancy and Peter. after n glance
at the bricks scattered over the gar.
den. had guessed what had happened
7 "struck-sure as %preachin'! Lucky
we amt burned to<a crisp. Just look
at the muss!'' and B'lindy swept hel
arm toward the sitting room door.
Nancy's face was tragic as she saw
the broken mantel and the gaping
nrepIace. She clutched Peters arm.
what q ptty-what Z shame! It va
so very old and-and---' She lean.
ID down and picked mp M Of the
l-ALG~- IN Sar - LT~A~- I---El- LIZ