The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-13
of lightning me horses were nervous. Fury danced and whinned, refusing to proceed

side of the road small Dluer00Ied cOLtage which had housed district school and later an amateur radio station It was uneccuried At the rear was rude shelter for horses Michael without con suting Katharine canered back to her and seizng Fury bridle led the nervous little animal under cover
 wed better stop here minute" he said quietly. "It's foolhardy to go on just now.
 Michael helped her to dismount. Then he tied both Fury and Prince Charlie tQ the rude rail of the shelter and queted them with his reassurlng voice
 i've can % inside if you like" he told the girl after particularly vicious flash of light II had to stop nere last week in that coudburst II had a party of kids They were scared stff
 He pushed open the door, disclosing narrow room with brcked fireplace and battered school benches Someone had evidently built fire There were the re mains of logs charred and broken, Tn the grate.
 Cheerful place." Katharine commented dryly.
 He glanced at her curiously 'Its not much. Here let me dust that thing off. You can sit down.
 s.Id better not Katherine hugged her arms about
 Michael knet making shift, with bundle of twigs at the side of the fireplace and the remains of the ogs Presently he had blaze going The west wind whipped in at the open door Katharine hvered in spite of herself.
 Well go on -- lecture me :" she said, looking down at him.
 The tall young turned from the grae dusting of his lean long fingered hands,
 "For what?'
 She regarded him coolly, lighting cigaret with fingers that shook a little.
 "oh, for being stubborn--not taking the slicker-"
 "Oh, thatr
 He turned back to the fire appearing to forget her
 Suddenly Katharine felt rage sweep her. To be ignored like this was strangely maddenng! She inhaled deeply drowning angry at the absorbed young man, who bent so soctousy over the fire She knew well enough what Sally Moon-or Zoe Parker--would do such an occa- sion Sally would whimper little and shver and be wstfu and there would be good deal of argument about accepting the mans coat Michael didn't have coat, but that didn't matter He ought at least to show some human concern about her. Why, she might have pneumonia
  KATHARINE, struck suddenly by the utter nonsense IN of her reasoning (she almost never had cod)' laughed aloud
 ..Whats the joker"
 She glanced sidewse, at Michael Heatheroe "Nothng you'd understand!
 He flushed the brick tint showing above the deep dark stain of his sunburn
 ..Im not so slow" he drawled in that easy western voice of his
 q didn't mean that" Katharine hastened to say.
 Outside thunder rolled and peaed the sky steadily darkened and occasional angry flashes of lightning H. umined the room The rain, obedent to dervsh wind tore in at the door, and Michael closed it. Now they were shut in together
 "This may go on all morning." she said, at random wishing only to break the silence. s9 .E%efs@ "Oh, don't think it will It's lifting now. .
 But she had the feeling that he too wasn thinking of what he saying Were bot hof them aiittie mad sheering from thunderstorm this summer morn ing?
 Furry doesn't like it 7 he said of the lightning. Shes nervous"
 Just like woman,' Katharine said scornfuly. | Her tone reused him. I've known plenty of who didn't like storms either" tss* t71-s9 "Oh but have you? Katharine mocked him. Some devil of seemed to possess her. She wanted to starte shock, annoy him out of his usual calm acceptance of her. Sure enough!" ssS as CHE stared him, drinking in every line of his face the quizzical gray eyes with the little laughter wrinkles etched? His shoulders broad his waist slim like true horsemans She knew she told herseif dozens or betterlookng smarter, better educated Tn every way Why earth did she bother with him?< ''You don't think much of around here do you! she pursued, scarcely knowing what she said You alEpeople in Innicock? 'Yes You think we're all spoiled children-or some thing" Her hateful and she knew it, but for the life of her she couldn't change it. Michael stared at her thoughtfully She had an i'm pulse almost irresistible, to reach up and rumpe that dark red crest of har from which the stubborn curl had carefully been: ironed only that morning. Folks around here have been nightly nice to me Mighty nice '" She mocked his soft easy drawl
 Suddenly she felt both her hands imprisoned in grip of steel Gray eyes darkenng like the stormy skies with out looked into hers. |