The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-03-08
"A. Fright and an A@aKehfhg.
BY AGNES G. BRoeAN.
Copyright, 1921. w. N. w.


upper balcony of the little cottage and
swung her heels like a carcfrcc school
girl. For, though school days had long
hccn left behind, the invigorating
breeze coming sweet and fresh across
the lake, the chirping of birds in the
cvergrCenS overhead brought back,
with an old sense of joyous freedom, va
cations spent long since In this same
great Assembly
Above, the trees archcd close like
the roof of some green cathedral,
while beneath them scattered little
winding streets OF gayly painted
houses.
In tho 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 childrcn's choir,
here now that she hoped to hear far
famed speakers, brought to bestow
their Cloqucncc upon the favored mem
berS of the Assembly.
Cynthin's admiration for a man who
had achieved. was something akin to
awe. AS president of tho Home Lit
crary club she hoped to obtain per-
Sonal Interview with the coming great
speaker and noted divine whose bril-
liant articles had caused widespread
comment, not only il her own country,
but in those across the seas.
Her friend and hostess Of the cot
Ing possible. And what triumph
would he her report to the club. Gym
thia'S eyes shonc in proud anticipation.
She would write out her own questions
to the great man AMI 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 jublantly.
"Such luck" she exclaimed. CDR
Raymond Randall, the speaker, is to
be entertained at Nlillcr's, next door.
You will have fine chance to meet
him."
Diiidcntly, Cynthia glanced over her
shoulder at the red bungalow on the
left.
silly" her friend mocllcd her, "the
reverend gentleman does not arrive
trembling now at the mere thought Of
facing him"
ITS not that, exactly" Cynthia de-
MED. "but one feels that one must be
so proper In every respect before such
Il Parsonage. Would you-would you
wear your gray frock If YOU were me,
rs something quiet and suitable in
tastc?"
lie will probably not know whcth-
or Your frocll is gray or red" Grace
assured her; "thc mans head is so full
Of ethics and 'isms.'"
SO that evening Cynthia decided to
remain at home alone, while the 9th
crs 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.
"Whcn it grows dark" she eau
toned, "prcss the button to light the
upper hall before YOU ascend we
will leave the veranda and garden
lights going"
It was truly pretty sight. the lit
tie electric bulbs cleaning here and
there among the trees. making the
grounds rs bright rs day. Far out by
the lake the hotel windows cleaned
as with hundred eyes, and she could
glimpse the gay colors Of the throng
in tho amphithcatcr
One by one cottage doors were
locked, rs at the toll OF the hell their
Inmates hurried off to meeting.
1t came upon Cynthia presently
that In the vast, lighted stllncss she
was creature alone. Alone in hcr
trcc-vaultcd cathedral the wash of
the waves came to her rhythmically,
diStantly. 1t was rather ccric She
laughed softly at the strangcncss OF
the situation. She would go to the
upper Nnranda 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 it, SO that when she came
to the top of tho stairs the hall was
lighted to receive her She left It so
and went out to her favoritc seat In
the hammock. The talc\ was most
absorbing: in its pcrusal she forgot
the Assembly, the absent friends, the
very balcony upon which she was sit
ting