The Snowflake herald., 1923-01-05

ThEy TfsrEnud III VAIN TOT the nItle
night sounds that usually come steal
ing. SO hushed and tremulOus, from the
forest. And they both started, ever so
slightly, when they heard a distant
rumble Of thunder.
"Its going to st"~'n," Linda told
him.
Eyes. A Understandable un-
usual In the fall, isn't It."
almost unknown. It's growing cold,
too"
They waited breathless minute,
then the thunder spoke again. 1t was
immeasurably nearer 1t was as if it
had leaped toward them, through the
darkness, with incredible speed in the
minute that intervened. The last echo
of the sound was not dead when they
heard 1t third time.
The storm swept toward them and
increased in fury. On distant hill
side the strange file that was the Turn
ers halted, then gathered around ST.
mon. Already the lightning made vivid,
white gashes in the sky and illumined
for a breathless ;nstant--the long
sweep of the ridge above them. ''Wen
Z make good targets in the lightning"
Old Bill said.
"Ride OIL" Simon ordered. you
know a man can't find a target in the
hundredth Of second of lightning
fash. We're not going to turn back
now"
They rode on. Far away they heard
the whine and roar of wind, and in il
moment it was upon them. The forest
was no longer silent The peal of the
thunder was almost continuous.
The breaking of the storm seemed
to rock the FoIger house on its founda-
ton. Both Linda AMI Bruce leaped to
their feet but they felt little tingle
of awe when they saw that old Elmira
still sat sewing. 1t was as if the calm
that dwelt in the Sentinel Pine out
side had come down 10 abide in her
No force that the world possessed
could ever take it from her
They heard the rumble and creak
of the trees as the wind Smote them
and the fame of the lamp danced wild.
ly, filling the room with ttickerlng
shadows. Bruce Strengthened, the
lines of his face setting deep. He
glanced once more at the rifle in his
hands.
If there's going to be an attack, we'd
have better chance If the room was
in darkness. We can shoot through
the door then
She obeyed at once, knocking the
burning sticks apart and drenching
them with water. She took off the
glass shade of the lamp, and the little
gusts of wind that crept in the cracks
of the windows Immediately extin-
guished the flame. The darkness
dropped down. Then Bruce opened the
door.
The whole wilderness world strug-
gled in the grasp of the storm. The
scene was such that no mortal mem
ory could possibly forget. They saw
1t In great, vivid glimpses in the inter
mittent flashes of the lightning, and
the world seemed no longer that which
they had come to know. Chaos was
upon 1t. The tall tops of the trees
wagged back and forth I'm frenzied sig
nails; their branches smote and rubbed
together. And just without their door
the Sentinel Pine stood with top lifted
to the fury of the storm.
A strange awe swept over Bruce.
A moment later he was to behold
sight that for the moment would make
him completely forget the existence of
the great tree; but for an instant he
poised at the brink of a profound ami
far-reaching discovery. There was
great lesson for him In that dark, tow
ering figure that the lightning revealed
Its great limbs moved and spoke; it's
top swayed back and forth, yet still 1t
held It's high place as Sentinel of the
Forest, passlonless, patient, talking
through the murk Of clouds to the
stars that burned beyond.
"See." Linda said. "The Turner's
are coming"
1t was true. Bruce dropped his eyes
Even now the clan had spread out I'm
a great wing and was bearing down
upon the house. The lightning showed
them in strange, vivid flashes. Bruce
nodded slowly.
II see," he answered. 'I'm ready"
'Then shoot them, quick-when the
lightning shows them," she whispered
in his ear. They're In range now.,'
Her hand seized his arm. "What are
you waiting fOr?"
He turned to her sternly. "Have you
forgotten we only have five shellsT'
he asked. go back to Elmira."
Her eyes met his, and she tried to
smile into them.
Forgive me, Bruce-it's hard-to be
calm"
But at once she understood why he
was waiting. The flashes of lightning
offered no opportunity for an accurate
shot. Bruce meant to conserve his