Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-11
XXX.-COntinued

"Of course I'm not going to-"
She was flushed deep rose now but
her eyes looked straight into my face,
and l felt ton-loads of anxiety and
misery roll off my chest. 1t was as il
a blessed lark began singing inside
me the words, "Of course she's not
going to marry Slim! OF course mott"
! said loudly but quite r%everently,
THANK God
Don't know what I should have
said next.
1t was at that moment that the
clouds broke INC the storm was down
upon US. Meaning this time not the
! storm that must have been coming UP
at a fearful lick during those last few
minutes when I'd beer too absorbed
to notice what was going on in the
mere world.
Suddenly cold. came the wind
through that hedge. Thunder NUT
tered and range first here and then
there like guns following the flight OF
a plane: then, down lashed that rain
upon US!
Up I jumped and caught the little
girls hands to help her to her feet.
Look here, We'll go to the nearest
place to shelter" l said. you'll be
1 wet through"
I think she said something about
wet never hurting her and not matter
higher voice was lost in the kissing
rain. Wet through, indeed! She was
that in w minutes as we a to-
wards the lane, I holding her by the
hand.
Good Lord, you're soaked to the
skim" I said. blinking the drops away
to look at her; her little jacket was
like a coat of wet paint upon her
shoulders and her serge skirt chung
' n - ,,~@I = tT ~0lp 1~~. - -,cI-
for the neartst house to dry in.
There's one behind those trees in the
field there; I see chimneys and white
windows. Come on! Just across this
field here. There's a gate. Can you
climb it?"
She climbed it to the top Of that
gate and I caught her, Just a little wet
bundle of serge and silk, as she drop.
ped to the ground. Then We ran, still
streaming path between two ponds all
cleaning white and whistliug under
rair. I suppose I ought TO
have recognized those ponds bordered
by rhodos and banboos, and the little
dinghy. Wen, in that rush I didn't.
I didn't seem to tax in hat I'd ever
seen before the odd bungalow house
with It's white balcony and long win
dows opening on to a wide veranda!
All 1 thought of at the moment was
somewhere where the little girl could
get in and take Off those dripping
things before she got cold. {,
I dashed with her on to the veranda.
There were u1npteen white pillars
with climbing roses but I couldn't
spot any door into this place. nothing
but windows.
I raped at one of them. I hollered
out, Anybody there. please2"
The weirdest little figure ran up
from the inside and pressed against
the panes a face painted all over with
patterns Of blue and scarlet. It wore
a headdress Of bright-colored feathers
and q miniature Red Indians suit,
with moccasins. At the sight of us
dripping there on the v~eranda-tiles
this apparition stared a second and
scooted back again, calling shrilly,
MANS! Open the window! Quick, it's
O surprised"
The surprise, I can tell you. was for
me.
For directly that window was rn-
fastened, and thrown open by a very
tall woman in Land Kit and a battered
white felt hat. She gave q glance
as quick as a birds from tho little
girl to me; then a quick little smile.
"1Iullo:" she said Come in at
once" She held the window open
$ laeis.ng a me. You. is it7 It
would be-" she laughed. do om
in. Jack"
I'd recognized her Just - che aid
eHullo." Phyllis eldest married sis.
ter, The Bfurtsr!