The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-26

E-s 7gg.g
cred into the baskets preparatoryl
to returning a black cloud sunfnTiedI
from the west and spread al cross
1.-The hitherto blue sky n the heav-
ems thunder began flashes OF cleo
tricity. which became more ire
quent as time passed.
The party looked askance at the
sky and worried frowns crept across
their faces, although smile min
eled with the troubled look on
Julias countenance.
"They will scoff at my weather
man, will they?" she said to her
self and felt a sense of satisfaction
suddenly, without further prelim :,
! inaries, the black cloud split and
{ torrent descended, sheets of rain
cutting through the branches OF the
trees under which the barty sought
; safety
/ Jacob Hanaford assumed leader
ship and led the way to a ledge I'M
| der which miniature cave had
been formed. The opening served
] as a shelter. but not as an ade
quate one because waves Of water
/ were beaten in on the huddled
! group by fierce wind that suooen-
I Just a cloudburst,'' said jacob
reassuringly. "Pl1 be ell over in
F.! minute and the sun will be shining
(! as if nothing had happened"
To exclude the beating rain the
Young men OF the party hung their
! coats across the mouth of the cave.
| stringing them on some Pieces OF
| Irvine. which was part OF the lunch
equipment and which they knotted
] together, using their hands to keep
! the garments taut
/ Bnt the rain did not subside; in
stead. it seemed to gather strength,
h and before long the gray darkness
I of twilight began TO mingle with
,.he blackness OF the storm.
! The girls became peevish. and
! Julia's attitude toward Jacob pc
! came conspicuously cold.
| .rf YOU had let me bring an um
h-alla. perhaps I would be able to
I I.een nv promise and accompany
mother to church this evening.
would rather miss forty ptcn1cs
than disappoint her. You know,
she added impressively, the
paper last night predicted rain
for today
And this time nobody laughed,
although some n,ay-havet wonder
I. ed lust how much use an umbrel-
la would be in such downpour.
For two hours, at least, the
marooned picknickers stood mud
died in the prison, before an auto
mobile was observed working its
way along the muddy road, headed
toward the town. AS it approached
il developed into a. flivver coupe.
n was the first car that had passed
that way, for the road was unfre-
quented.
Julia looked over the coat bar
rier and scrutinized the auto,
which looked somewhat familiar.
suddenly she waved her hand and
the machine came to a stop IN
front of the cave A man stepped
out and approached the cave, hold
ing an umbrella over him.
"HelIo!" he called
Hello, Hiram!" Julia respond
ed. "How are the chances for
free ride?" He stopped at the
mouth of the shelter.
/ "Fine-for you. But couldn't
possible take anybody else. You
see, my coupe is full of luggage.
! I've been on a business trip to
Creston. Come on Julia
She accompanied him to the car,
and as she entered she smiled
cave. Soon she and Hiram were
vending their splashy way along
the road.
Little was said for several min
utes. then Hiram spoke.
Julia. I've quit my job at the
weather bureau and am going to-
work for an umbrella factory IN
Creston. This is one of their
samples 1t looks like a good
proposition, and IL wonder!
how about marrying me now?
I'm willing" she said, "espec-
tally since you made good with
Saturdays prediction of rain.
Hiram cleared the water from
the Windshield, opened his mouth
to speak. but held his tongue.
Guess I better not confess l
was away Saturday and my ass1s-
tant in the weather bureau~madel
the forecast OF rain for today he |
told himself.
Copyright, 1922, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate