The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-10-06
Selected Story.
The Lightning Stroke.

Miss Derwent walked up and down one
of the garden paths, little contracted
wrinkle between her straight brews, her
lips compressed in firm line, and a very
thoughtful light in her eyes as she looked
away across the sunlit emerald slope. AS
fine sire ch oflandscape as one may often
see was that her glance rested upon, the
long velvety decline, the river all dimpled
and breaking into golden glints, the boats
upon it floating like white-winged doves Of
peace, the swelling hills which bounded
the horizon with the purple haze ofdistance
tinting them, but Miss Derwent just then
was unmindfu Of that fair view.
Avexed question was in her mind, one
she had brought down into this obscure
pathway with the determination Of think
ing it out and settling it finally then and
there A task broken in upon by the ap-
proach Of mans step, her thoughts brok-
en- in upon by rich baritone trolling a
aong as he came:
Z ,.h1iett Grs-syt ua1se, nay l7re 2 Is it
20 be that, Helen, or will you accept my
amendment and make it never more?'
SeIfdepreciation is eminently one of my
virtues, but | claim to deserve an answer
after this much patient waiting. What is
il to be ~
Very h .ndsome and showing no great
impatience so far as outward appearance
went, he stood leaning lazily against a
cIematis-wreathed cross, smiling forward
into the thoughtful, perplexed face the girl
turned toward him.
Chow can tell? never suspected ]
should find myself in the troublesome di-
lemma Of not knowing my own mind where
so important matter is concerned, but
haven't yet decided, Mr.. Vargraye. You
must have patience yet little longer" "
"There is a point where patience ceases
to be virtue, Miss Derwent | have been
telling myself that have reached it. For
myself I've been too wilh-g to trust to my
insecure paradise. The rainbow of hope
may be ever so bright, but it isn't satisfac-
tory. / had letter last mail, and in that
letter I'm summoned away; it depends up
on you whether 60 or stay. Knowing how
, much your answer involyes-everything,
Helen--which shall / do?"
A quick CLEAN came into her face, she
looked up and made her reply promptly:
"Go, by all means. Thatwould solve my
difficulty to nicely Give me the test Of
absence and | should know myself bet
ter"
This was not III accordance with his ex
pectation. A little of the smiling conf
dcnce in. his handsome countenance abated,
something almost reaching passionate
pleading dawned there.
"Ill not go-not until nay last hope is
gone. Helen, my Helen, be mine, and do
away with my doubts and suspense. Say
that you will Ifyou cared for me in your
heart you would never daily like this"
Surely Mr.. Yargrave's love-making up
on this day was doomed to poorer success
than it usually met. For the second time
he had struck wrong chord.
Then don't care for you-notin that
way-not as you would wish me, you know
told YOU SO at first. Take that for All an
Swer, | really wish you would, and CO."
You wish itl' Did she? She was by
no means sure with the light of those dark
reproachful eyes shining upon her. "Then
you have been triaing with me, Miss Der
went! If that be the truth Il will never put
talth in woman again. 1t is what | might
have expected. ] am no equal match tor
YOU have been fool IN ny presumP
lion to suppose you might care more for
lne heart offer than your own position.-
Ind myself mistaken, and it serves me
night for having cherished such preposler-
ouSly Quixotic faith in your sex. But I an
aerstand. Ross Terry is an equal match
'oF you, and he is coming. And it's be-
cause Of him you would throw me over,
HeIe4!n
she looked away from him across the
valley closed her lips tightly for ore in-
S'an'' then opened them as she said stead