OREGON CITY COURIER, FRIDAY, JULY JO, 1903,
I A FLASH of
I LIGHTNING
s .
- -By
Edtoin L. abin
CapvriQht, Ml, by Edwin L. Sabin
'OR1IAN TAGH reluctantly
rolled from beneath the cov
ers and with his feet groped
on the floor beside the bed for
his bath slippers. The rain was falling
furiously, and the wind seemed to be
increasing. Annoyed by the conscious
ness that a parlor window was up, ha
had lain as long as lie had dared, hop
ing that the storm would slacken and
relieve him of the necessity of rising.
: Even had not this duty of shutting
windows devolved upon him by right,
he was quite eertalu that tonight he
must be the one to attend to the mat
ter or It would not be attended to at
all. Assuredly his wife would not be
stir herself after the words of the pre
ceding evening. Ilardly!
While lying awake he had gone over
and over the things that bad been said
the assertions, the rejoinders, the
reckless threats. lie smiled grimly.
Yes, misunderstandings had accumu
lated and now had culminated. Which
ever was the more to blame and of the
two it was not he it was better that
they cease association; separate for a
time at least He was sensitive and she
was sensitive; he was proud and she
was proud; he was stubborn and she
was stubborn; discord was caused by
mere trifles, yet trifles which appeared
Insurmountable.
So finally had come the parting of the
ways. He would go on by one path
and she would ' go by another. He
would not litter a word of protest or
appeal. He could live without her, he
reflected angrily; he had lived thus for
many years before he met her, and he
simply would drop into his old bache
lor role.
Now he found his slippers. His soles
Invested, ho stood, and, lifting his bath
robe from the foot of the bed, where he
had thrown it upon retiring, he wrap
ped it around him. lie began to ad
vance cautiously, for the blackness was
murky, and he could not see an inch.
However, his route was comparatively
utralght and unobstructed, and be bad
In his mind a clear picture of the posi
tion of the articles of furniture in his
room andln the parlor
He did not catch a sound from hit
wife's chamber, the other side of the
portieres. She might be awake and lis
tening for him to move, but of course
she would not indicate it Or possibly
(she was not awake. With a little tug
King of bis heartstrings, he recalled
that she must have Bobbed herself into
exhaustion and sleep. , (
Hands outstretched to warn him of
Immediate obstacles, he proceeded un
til he encountered the wall and, skirt
ing it, in an instant more had reached
the door to the ball. He fumbled
Mindly for the knob. Ills fingers
clasped It, and he twisted it carefully.
Ills irresistible desire to avoid noise did
not spring on account of his wife ex
actly, but somehow he was seized with
nn lnexplalnable dread of noises amid
that inky quiet, a quiet ouly. lutousl
Sod by the rain and the low rumble of
.".rtillery as the tempest legions
marched adown the horizon. Covering
their withdrawal, upon the field of bat
tle behind them the floods were de
scending lu torrents.
Suddenly burst forth a vivid flash of
lightning. It sketched to Page the fig
ure of a man, upright, a few yards on
!i!s left. Darkness, dense, impeuetra
1 le, ruled again.
It was as if in front of his eye an
Instantaneous camera shutter had
ened and closed, leaving an image
Indelibly fixed ou the retina.
Btunned into an icy horror, not shift
ing a muscle, bis hand upon the door
'.nob, Page stood aud strained his ears.
Nothing met them save the Irregular,
ti.sty beat of the rain. N '
r Everything that he had lately read
In the nows of thugs and housebreak
ers rushed upon him. The slightest
morsel of gossip repeated to him by hit
.tiiid wife recurred to him in a gnsp.
ITfcent nights had been extraordinarily
Jirollflo of deedt by highwaymen and
tmrglart. Not a paper but chronicled
i:i euch edition a shocking list of crime.
The city was lu the throes of Its yearly
attack of hold ups and assaults and
robberies. Nobody was exempt Even
In that very block a dwelling had been
rntored, husband aud wife drugged
aid bound in their beds and the prem
iss thoroughly ransacked. ' ' ;
Good God! Had this man 'already
been in Helen's room, and was he now
pursuing his work further? Vet, he
must have been in Helen's room and
t ad Just made exit through the por
tieres between ths two chambers. .
And that was why Helen had not
ttoken, moved. She wi not designed
ly aud bitterly still. She was uncon
scious, dead, or perhaps she was at the
will of a rufilnn, the confederate of the
fellow revealed y the lightning. What
untold tortures she might have en
ilurvd, might be enduring! Supposing
cue were hnrmed or or never to
Kneak agnin. How could he bear it!
All those many things that he had
mid or done and that had hurt her an
nulled him as a llfo record 'passes be
fore a drowning person. Ills impa
tience, his fault findings, his sultlnh-tii-ss.
the count less act!i that ho had un
graciously performed for her and the
rtmntless nets that he had apathetic
tlly suffered her to perform for him
Jiese were the scenes now being brand
d on his bmln with ernel persistency.
Wlmt could he do without hex smile
tt welcome, her ready sympathy, bee
loving, Jealous watch over his belong
ings, her quick, helpful Interest in his
alms and his ambitions.
Too late, too late!
Had she wondered frantically ( why
he had not come to her aid? .
Was she at the very moment even
wondering and waiting? Was he to
bring succor or revenge?
The responsibility was awful. How
best and surest to carry out the mission
put upon him? He was eager to ex
pose himself to any risk provided that
it enabled him to attain his goal. A
great thirst for vengeance permeated
him, burning into his marrow.
When, incapable longer of bearing
her part in the exchange of words, yet
disdaining to show how the rapier
thrusts had wounded her, Mrs. Fage
had hotly fled to her room, drawing the
portieres behind her, she had flung her
self on her bed to find refuge in pas
sionate tears. Then, fearing lest her
Wimm4
inn LIGHTNINO SKETCHED THE FIOUBB
OF A MAN.
husband might approach and hear her,
abruptly she had stifled her sobs and
bad begun to undress.
All her womanhood was hi revolt.
Her husband had been detestable; he
had been brutal; he had littered things
that she never would have believed he
could, and she had been led into as-'
ertlona now keenly repugnant to her.
Oh, he was so irritating, so masterful,
so unreasonable! And thereupon
thronged into her tossing mind retort
after retort which she might have .
made, but which she had not thought
of in time.
She crept into bed and softly cried
afresh. These were not angry tears,
but tears from the depths of a desolate
heart Thus at last her married life
had gone the way of so niuny other
married lives of which she had read
and heard. The prophecies of cynical
and lmblttered acquaintances had come
true that she would discover she had
loved the ideal and had married the
reul. The dreams of her girlhood had
been beaten to death.
Well, as an end to the bickerings wel
come the separation. She would prove
to hinr that she was not dependent
upon him, not In the slightest. She
would answer defiance with defiance.
Worn out by her turmoil of resent
ment and grief, she sank asleep. She
awakened with a start, sitting up lu
bed, every nerve on tho alert A thun
derstorm was over the city. How long
It had been In. progress she did not
know, but wind and rain combined
were lashing roof and pane. The at
mosphere was surcharged with elec
tricity. She was quivering; a weight
seemed to be upon her.
As she endeavored to collect her scat
tered senses her thoughts fl vr to the
parlor window. She must go und 'shut
it for the rain was from that direction.
Norman would not do it, and she would
die rather than ask him, much as xhe
shrank at the trip thror:.:h the .'bris
tling darkness. Drawing o.. he: fteecy
house slippers, she threw about her the
first wrap-' upon which 'She lalc her
hands a raglan coat and desperately
set forth. ' '
Not a movement in Norman's room.
Surely' he was twaka; he never slept
through a thunderstorm. How cruel In
him to stay still aud permit her to
make the Journey she, such a coward!
How slleut the house was In the
midst of sough of lnd and rata, and
growl of thimilerj Almost she '. waa
forced Into speaking to Norman to as
certain if really he was awake. But,
no; she never, never would acknowl
edge a need for blm. ,!
' However, even hard in her indigna
tion, she could not help playing, the
wife,' and, mindful that her door stuck
and waa difficult to open, to avoid Sous
ing him if perchance be was asleep she
felt for ' the portieres aud passed
through in order to reach the hall by
the door from his room.
She bad taken only one or two steps
when, instant as a saber stroke, came
a flare of lightning which for the frac
tion of a second tipped everything with
fire and waa swallowed up. Brief as it
was, it gave to her dazzled eyes the
glimpse of a man Just on her left, mo
tionless, arrested like herself.
A burglar! A desperado! In Nor
man's room! What had been happen
ing there in the night? Why was Nor
man so still? And this, then", was the
subtle dread which had awakened her
an Intuition of the tragedy.
Ah, could she but have known! Could
she but have last evening back atratn!
Could she but have the last year uguinl
Bow was she to live without Norman
her knlgbA, hey husband, her Norman?
What were those petty differences be
tide the sound of his tender voice and
the clasp of his strong arm?
Suddenly a wave of wild wrath up
rose in her like a consuming . flame.
Luckily she had hot cried out. Perhaps
the man had not seen her or deemed
that she had not seen him. The little
revolver which Norman had taught her
to use was in the top drawer of her
chiffonier. Silently she began a pur
poseful retreat, her face turned toward
her unseen enemy, her ears wary. It
Was the retreat of a tigress bereft
that seeks but a vantage point for a
furious leap. Vengeance, not safety,
was her end.
Although while thinking Page had
been listening, listening to apprehend
the least indication of the where
abouts of his mysterious opponent, he
had hoard nothing save the dash of the
drops. The silence was brimming with
possibilities. He must not open the
dcor, for this would betray him. The
night covered him like a velvet pall,
and, shrouded in his red robe, he was
as invisible as was his antagonist
Doubtless the other also was listen
ing, peering, planning. Was he steal
ing nearer and nearer until he might
grapple, or was he cr&uching, prepared
to shoot as soon as his senses should
guide him ever so little? Amid the
storm a pistol shot would spread
abroad no alarm.
Page fancied that he could detect the
gradual approach of his ruthless foe.
His faculties were concentrated until
it seemed that his head must crack
from the stress.
The effort was futile.
Oh, for a chance to put himself upon
an equal footing! Only give him some
thing with which to kill, kill, kill! Ills
heavy cane was In the opposite corner.
A fierce longing to clutch it possessed
him.
He startod to withdraw his fingers
from the knob.
Another lightning flash so brilliant
and unexpected that It blinded him as
with a white hot iron. Crash the
thunder peal close following and Jar-
Ting, echoing, fading a.way until sub
merged by the pelting spears!
"Norman!"
Page's heart was Jumping, and his
ears thumped painfully.
"Norman, Is that you ?"
Helen's voice! Helen was alive, un
harmed! The shackles of fear that
bound him were shattered Instantly.
"Yes, pet; I'm coming," he answered.
Recklessly bold, he strode resolutely
in the direction of the dresser, hastily
swept his hands over the top, seized a
match and applied it to the gas. The
broad Jet leaped into life, and, clutch
ing the smoldering match, Page stared
with all his eyes at the spot where he
had descried the man.
He saw only the pale face of his
wife above her raglan coat. .
"Oh, Norman, I was so frightened! I
got up to shut the window, and the
- "poor swuktheart !"
lightning showed me you, and I
thought it was a burglar until the next
flash!" she walled, reaching out ber
arms and whimpering like a lonesome
child. ' '
"Poor sweetheart!" be said, spring
ing to her and gathering her in his
grasp to kiss her find stroke ber hair.
. Her forehead was damp and her
cheeks were wet A surge of compas
sion, regret and self reproach welled 10
his throat. ' ' 1
"I thought you were killed; I thought
that I'd lost my Norrte," she quavered
plteously, clinging to him. . .,- . . t
"But I'm with you, you see," he com
forted, gathering her still closer. '
"Aud we'll never be separated?" she
appealed. 1 " 4
"Never, dearest," he whispered.
ne carried her back to her bed and
With loving hands tucked her in. Then,
kneeling and bending over her, he mur
mured impulsively:
"Dear, I was to blame. I was mean
to you last"
"No, no," she protested quickly. "I'm
so sensitive. I wish I wasn't"
"You're perfect," he remonstrated,
almost with indignation.
The assurance lu his voice and in his
kiss was complete, for with a sigh of
happy eonteutiueut she nestled her
head upon his arm aud was silent
Thus holding her, he remained mo
tionless until long after she hud fallen
asleep nml the wind and the rain hud
subsided.
Biff
Your Banking?
No matter how small, ,
No matter how large,
ZfcBank
of
Oregon City
' Will give it careful
attention. This mes
: sage applies to the
men and the women
alike.
"71-
V
THE MORN1NQ TUB
cannot be enjoyed in a basin of limited
capacity nor where the water supply and
temperature is uncertain by reason of
detective plumbin heating apparatus.
To have both put ,o thorough working
order will not prove expensive if the
work is done by
F. C. CADKE
& '
I THE COBWEB
wivywit viij a hcauLny nine nuu9B
All the'leading brands of Cal- l
forniajtWines kept in stock. $
$ Come and see us.
I ; .' E.A-BRADY
'C3ss3sssss5
Tht
But
Lo
Priced
Padishah
Jeweled
Witch
Made
Non-Magnetic
Rickel Silver Caie
Fully Guaranteed
Forialeby ,
ALL JEWELERS
Illustrated Booklet
oa request, ehowlng
COLORED
FANCY
DIALS
The New England
Watch Co. ;
Factories
Waterinrr, Coen. '
Offices
New York. Cilcars,
Saa Fraacltce.
Rough : and Dressed
LUMBER
. Vlx Brttb'th of Scbubtt,
Are now prepared to furnish all kinds of
Rough and Dressed Lumber.
Yellow Fir Lumber cut
out of the best tim- .
ber and furnished at
reasonable prices : : : :
Mer Cut to Orler on snort Notice.
Write or call. ' "
Dix Brothers,
' 1 ' Scbubel, Oh
Choicest Meats
AT
R. PetZOlds Meat Market
New Plumbing . u
and Tin Shop
A. MIHLSTIN
JOBBING AND REPAIRING
a peclalty
Opposite Oaufleld Block OREGON CITY
CVLUJ!
C
has stood the test 25 years. Averse Annual Si!es
vviuwj, -.tiij cwm m
mmmmmmmmmmj
Ejiler$ Piano Hou$c I
Is the best place on the
I Coast for Piano Bargains
1 -
m Prices Always at
- i
Payments Small and
If you want a good piano at a specially
little price come in and see the second
hand pianos we are now selling off for a
song. Many of them are as good as new
and all are in perfect condition. : : :
You can pay for them by easy stages if
you want to. Every instrument guaran
tred, and money back if purchase fails to
prove perfectly satisfactory the invariable
custom of this house. ::::::
EILERS PIANO HOUSE
Washington St., Cor. Park, Portland Ore.
The store that sells the three finest
1 r:
pianos in the world, the Weber of New w
York the Chickering of Boston, and fc
the great Kimball, Chicago's famous.
' : Large stores also at San Francisco, Cal.; "'
Spokane, Wash., and Sacramento; Cal.
SS5
liiiAiiuiiilfliil,.iiillTiiiIUQtii1titj1,')
1
S
SHANK & BISSELL, Undertakers
Phones 411 and 304
r'llflllllll'l'liplllllPl"l'P"ll't'lllll'll'ii'"ill!l'ilNi'"ilt
7th
Are You Going to Build?
Do you use Lumber ?
-' We want to furnish you,
We are located near the Eldorado
School House, near the.postoffice of
Carus. - -
r t We have a good mill,
v are cutting (umber out
of the best yellow fir.1
"'I Can fill your order on .
v short notice for any
kind of lumber, . . . ..,.( . ,
If you need lumber don't fall to write to us
or corns to see us. It will pay you
Slurges Brothers,
A Cams, Oregon.
Oregon City
Sbcond-IIand & Junk Store
Sugarman & Co. now have a full
line of camping stoves on hand at
$1.15 up. Also all kinds' of sacks
cheap. Call on us and, we will
convince you of our bargains. All
kinds of junk bought and sold.
loth and Main Sts., Oregon City, Or.
Grove's Tasteless Chill Tom
vi lues edyKfej it yu4 f
the Lowest Notch m
TM
Terms Reasonable
tt a ifr'-iiillllliinillliiiiallltiiiillh
We carry the only complete line L
of Caskets, Coffins, Robes snd '
Linings in Clackamas County. '
We have the only Firct Class
Hearse in the County, which we
will furnish for less than can be
had elsewhere.
Embalming a Brjecialtv.
Our prices always reasonable.
DHUBittcuon guaranteed.
Main St., Opp. Huntley'i
Hiiuiiiipiiiiiipniii
"""HI''1"1!!1""! HliN""Hji ipwipi'n
iiip,ms'sy
Brown & Welch
-Proprietors op thk-
Meat
Market
A. 0. U. W. Building
OREGON CITY, OREGON
Do You Use Shingles?
If you do, let us supply your
needs. We have an up-to-date.
' mill, located five miles east of :'
Molalla and two miles from "
Meadowbrook , with ; alt the
fatest and best equipments.1
- " 'Lane's automatic machinery. ' ,v
, ,H- We cut our shingles from the
: v; very finest cedar and turn out -
as good shingles-as there are )
--. In the world. . Our prices are :
as low as the lowest. We v'
want your trade. f .
Mail orders promptly filled. X
Ball Shingle Co.,
Box 59 molalla. Oms
U. L rrullinger
Manufacturer of
ILmiiber
A large stock of of all kinds of
Lumber! Jcept; constantly on
hand. Prices very reasonable
UNION MIT l ! odc
"Wy, JlC. f ' '
ever One end a Katf VtSSem
;C VEire. no rav