XXIV. A Prophet in His Own Country

           OneMaydayAvonleafolksweremildlyexcitedoversome“AvonleaNotes,”signed“Observer,”whichappearedintheCharlottetown‘DailyEnterprise.’GossipascribedtheauthorshipthereoftoCharlieSloane,partlybecausethesaidCharliehadindulgedinsimilarliteraryflightsintimespast,andpartlybecauseoneofthenotesseemedtoembodyasneeratGilbertBlythe.AvonleajuvenilesocietypersistedinregardingGilbertBlytheandCharlieSloaneasrivalsinthegoodgracesofacertaindamselwithgrayeyesandanimagination.

           Gossip,asusual,waswrong.GilbertBlythe,aidedandabettedbyAnne,hadwrittenthenotes,puttingintheoneabouthimselfasablind.Onlytwoofthenoteshaveanybearingonthishistory:

           “Rumorhasitthattherewillbeaweddinginourvillageerethedaisiesareinbloom.Anewandhighlyrespectedcitizenwillleadtothehymenealaltaroneofourmostpopularladies.

           “UncleAbe,ourwell-knownweatherprophet,predictsaviolentstormofthunderandlightningfortheeveningofthetwenty-thirdofMay,beginningatseveno’clocksharp.TheareaofthestormwillextendoverthegreaterpartoftheProvince.Peopletravelingthateveningwilldowelltotakeumbrellasandmackintosheswiththem.”

           “UncleAbereallyhaspredictedastormforsometimethisspring,”saidGilbert,“butdoyousupposeMr.HarrisonreallydoesgotoseeIsabellaAndrews?”

           “No,”saidAnne,laughing,“I’msureheonlygoestoplaycheckerswithMr.HarrisonAndrews,butMrs.