For a moment Alice and Ruth did not know what to do or think. The
action was certainly strange. And why had not the man come to meet
them with the umbrella, while he was about it? There was some little
distance to go, from the fringe of trees where the two girls stood,
to the cabin, and this space was open; whereas, by keeping under the
leafy boughs they were, in a measure, protected from the pelting
rain.
"What shall we do, Ruth?" asked Alice. She wanted to defer to the
older judgment of her sister. But Ruth answered:
"I don't know, dear. What had we better do? I'm afraid----"
"And so am I afraid--but I'm more afraid of this thunder and
lightning, to say nothing of the rain, than I am of what may be in
that cabin, now that the man has so kindly left it to us. I'm going
in there, Ruth, and stay until the storm is over."
With that, picking up her skirts, Alice sped across the open space,
leaving Ruth to do as she pleased. And, naturally, Ruth would not
stay there to be drenched alone.
"Wait for me, Alice--wait!" she pleaded. But there was no need for
Alice to delay, since she would only get the wetter, and Ruth was in
no danger.
"Come along," called Alice over her shoulder, and Ruth came. The
sisters reached the cabin just as a brilliant flash of lightning,
with almost simultaneous thunder, seemed to open the clouds, and the
rain came down in a veritable flood.
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