Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-09-18
A WOMAN, AFTER ALL

Lou ShVuldSt not speak -,
Charles. 1t is very wrong
why, little Dorothy? Tell me
why?"
"Thou knowest favor is deceit
full and beauty vain. We ought
to bear testimony against the van
ity Of personal looks"
fought we? Then tell me why
it pleased Providence to make
you SO beautiful, my mali
cOusin?"
"Hush, Charles. will not per-
nit thee to speak to me lin lhis
manner And little Dorothy
Hic-s, the Quakere put on the
gravest air and struggled valiantly
to turn the corners OF her mouth
down when they wanted to turn
up.
"Don't look so serious, little
girl. You positively alarm me-"
And Charles Maynard burst into
a hearty laugh that echoed thro'
the poplar irees ia the old garden.
"Now tell me, Dorothy-I insist
upon knowing. as member OF
your family, l consider that l
have the right TO be inform l.
are you goingi to marry Broad
brim?"
"Friend Ephraim is an TINA
BILE man, Charles; thou must
not speak of him thus
'Look, Dorothy. There he is.
l will quote no proverbs, but the
rim of his hat just turned the
corner as / spoke. Now don't
look as if you intended to go back
to the house, for you a"e not 60
ing. I'll tell yon secret. When
/ was down to the river this morn
ing / found boat with a tempt
ing pair of oars lying in it, and l
made up my mind that Dorothy
Hicks and her wicked, worldly
cousin from the populous city of
New York, were going for a row
in that very boat this very even
ing. 1t is neighbor Hancock's
boat"
eyes. But, Charles, FIR it
is my duty"
mo it isn't. You know you
don't want 10 spend this lovely
evening in the house entertaining
Broadbrim, and you want to go
with me and watch the sunset on
the river"
Dorothy looks doubtfully TO-
ward the house and wistfully to-
ward the river.
Femme qui hesite est perdue,'
Dorothy, which means, elf we
don't hurry, Graycoat will come
out and catch u.s." Charles takes
Dorothy's hand in his, and in a
moment they are on their way to
the shore.
"But, Charles, see that cloud in
the south? II there was to be a
storm ?"
"But there will not; come, fump
ill.,"
The oars were lifted into the row.
locks, Dorothy takes the manage
ment of the rudder in her hands,
and soon they are gliding over the
smooth surface of the water, leay-
ing a track of silvery bubbles be-
hind them. 1t is lovely even
ing. The misty shadows of tWi-
light are gathering in the east and
the west; the clouds, blood-red
and purple, are casting a rosy light
all over the river; a fresh breeze
is blowing round their faces, and
waves splash against the sides of
their boat, like low, monotonous
music. Charles is talking about
his home, telling Dorothy about
his aunts and cousins he has not
seen for long time, and anus
ing her with stories Of. his college
days, and his efforts to make his
way in his profession, which were
so unsuccessful at first. Neither
of them notice that the breeze
grows fresher, and that the dark
cloud in the south has spread over
the horizon, and liz covering it
with darkness.
Presently a low, muttering
growl OF thunder startleS them
from the dream into which they
had fallen.
"1'uru back, Chaales, turn
back!' screamed Dorothy, 1.-THE
storm is upon us!" They had
been rowing with the tide. The
river is very wide, and the ln-
ere: sing force of the waves and
the wind together is so strong that
when they attempt 10 tura about
the water rushed into the tiny boat.
Both fees grow y e in murky
light as they see The d>nger. -
1T is impossible; you can't do it!'
Tell me, Dorothy, what is that
dark object just aho1d ?"
''It is q ledge of rocks, but when
the tide comes in from the sea it
will be covered" and with low
moan Dorothy sank from her seat
and nnunrnd her face with her