Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-26
The DdilyN
Poor Prognossicator
BY r. Roy Baker

! BY r. Roy Baker
jNOBODY had any faith in the
~ weatherman. Nobody ever has faith
In any weatherman. unless It is mega
tive. II see by the paper tomorrow will
be fair; that means rain sure" says the
cynical dear public, and the dear pub.
lie laughs and congratulates itself on
being witty. 1'ut the joke Is as ancient
as Mount Ararat. You will remember
that Noah's prediction Of rain was
treated with the same lack Of respect.
But this story is no discussion Of the
merits or demerits Of weathermen In
general. 1t deals with one particular
rrognosticator. by name Hiram Lake.
As has been said, moody had fnitl IN
him that ia, nobody except Julia Col.
Inns. and even she was beginning to
weaken.
Julia had. lived all her life in Wes.
ley except for the time spent in board
ing school, and. having finished her
course In finishing In that institution,
she had come home and settled down,
ready to get married--when some suit.
able. marriageable man should happen
along.
There was Jacob Hanaford, whose
father owned twine factory and had
tied up more than his share Of wealth
with his product Jacob was "willin' y
were things about him she didn't like:
Hiram happened along, and he seemed
to suit in every particular until he lost
caste by his professional record.
Wesley had just been designated
weather headquarters for that part Of
the State, and the Government sent
Hiram to preside at the prophesying.
He met Julia, and a romance started
to bud-until she suddenly discovered
he had become the joke of the town,
and her friends, by means Of derision
and sarcasm, began to undermine her
regard for Hiram.
Julia struggled against this. but the
friends persisted, aided and abetted by
Jacob, and she weakened. jacob was
invited to all the parties, and nobody
would have anything to do with Hiram
and the young woman enjoyed parties.
So the rich mans son finally worked his
way into her favor to some extent, al
though the weathcrman still called oc.
casionally-when there was no social
activity to require her attention.
Wesley folk were very exacting. The
grocer who mixed sand in sugar was
ostracized, as was the dairyman who
put water in milk-that is. more than
n reasonable amount. A jeweler who
sold paste for diamonds would loss
popularity, and the townspeople could
not make an exception In the case of q
prophet who had it rain when he prom
ised sunshine. Hiram scanned his daily
reports with meticulous care and made
his deductions with scrupulous caution,
but when a low pressure area seemed
headed for certain in the direction OF
Wesley and he predicted storm on the
strength of 1t, mild weather was in.
evitable.
The Sunday of the big picnic hike
dawned as fair as the most hopeful
could wish, and when the walking
club stopped for Julia every member
was in high spirits. Still, Julia in
sisted on taking an umbrella until
they laughed her out of the idea.
"Rain?" said Jacob. "Why, look q,
that sky-clear as n bell"
But" Julia faltered. ''the paper
last night predicted rain for today"
The uproar produced by this remark
made her feel very sheepish, while ia
cob's exuberance prompted him to q
witty remark to the effect that the pre-
diction of rain was positive assur.
ance of continued sunshine. Julia was
downcast on her own account MS wei
M Hiram's. She just couldn't helr
having some faith in her weatherman
, because-because-well, she did care
for him, even though he was the joke
, of the town.
But she went without the umbrella.
Out on n country road, through the
woods turning green under the breath
Of spring. the mixers hiked, carrying
lunch baskets and creating sharp ap.
petites for their contents. Their BLOOD
| was warmed by the spirit of the sea
son and they made merry
Lunch was eaten at the edge of tn,
woods, far from any habitation. with
the sun shining brightly. But Will
, the dishes were being gathered int
the baskets preparatory to returning
black cloud unfurled from the Wes
sky. In the heavens thunder begaI
, flashes of electricity, which became NOR
frequent as time passed. -
The party looked askance at the SIX.
and worried frowns crept across thei
!. faces. although smile mingled with tn
troubled look on Julia's countenance.
"They will scoff at my weatherman
will they?" she said to herself and fel
sense of satisfaction.
Suddenly, without further prelimi
naries. the black cloud split and tor
rent descended. sheets of rain cuttin
through the branches Of the trees.unde
, which the party sought safety.
Jacob Hanaford assumed Leadership
, and led the way to ledge under whicl
miniature cave had been formed. Tn
. opening served rs a shelter, but no
, as an adequate one, because waves o
!. water were beaten in on the huddle
group by fierce wind that suddenl
developed.
"Just a coudburst," said Jacob re
assuringly. It'll be all over in min
ute, and the sun will be shining as
nothing had happened"
u -1,,ln xLn