, 1881-07-08
A JUNE ROMANCE.

idly down with the current of Il calm,
smooth lake, on whose placid breast the
moonbeams played at Will.
Such the picture, had one been a
mere spectator to the mimic scene; but
to the two actors, surroundings were
lost sight of-they thought only of them
selves.
Mocking the moon rays, when they
glanced upward, they could see on the
bank above them the twinkling lights of
the villa, and hear the merry voices and
gay laughter of the group from which
they had escaped.
Arch smiles had passed between its
members as they had seen Sydney ALI
son and Bayard Hunter stroll off arm IL
arm to where the little boat was moored
The women had almost ceased to be
jealous of Sydney, or to ask where lay
her charm. She exercised her fascina-
tiOns among them as among men. and
they bowed before her-tirst from neces-
sity, then from choice.
But, though her victims were count
less, she was twenty-three, and Sydney
Allison still However, this time she
had encountered (the little world at
Mrs. Graham's villa said) a foeman
worthy of her steel.
What she was among men, Bayard
Hunter was among women. Therefore,
seeing these two brought beneath the
same roof, and thrown into daily inter-
course, rumor was rife, and speculation
awaited results with bated breath. Mean
time, the little boat foated calmly on the
0niat sTrfsae of the lake.
Miss Allison!
1t was the first word eeiissheE k2ssI. kssIa,ssp spoken
IN full five minutes.
She glanced up at the speaker The
white lace thrown carelessly upon her
dark hair, out from which peered the
beautiful, pale face, lent her some of the
moons mystic charm; but meeting the
magnetic gaze of the dark, earnest eyes,
bent upon her, hers fell for an instant;
then as though ashamed of the momen-
tary weakness, again shot a questioning
look into Mr.. Hunters face.
miss Allison" he repeated, slowly,
did you know that We were in great
danger?"
''In danger?"
Her cheek grew a shade paler. She
glanced up at the blue vault where sailed
so majestically the Goddess of Night
down into the dark depth of the waters
only to see Luna's brilliancy reflected
there-around about her. Not leafiet
stirred.
NO." he said. in answer to her look
"not from any of these. The moon, the
wind, the water, all are our friends
tonight. We are in danger from each
other"
Oh, how she prayed that the moon
might fail to make apparant the instant
flushing of hot blood to her cheek She
felt it glow, like a warm, crimson rose,
even while she raised her little head
almost defantly, as though to hurl a
challenge at his audacity.
Men had made love to her in many
forms, but always as suppliants. This
man dared suppose her in real danger
with himselfi
''You deal in enigmas, Mr.. Hunter"
she returned haughtily. 81 am aeeus-
toned to plain speech.
Rather say that plain speech is to
you an unknown tongue, and that I am
the first man who has dared TO speak
frankly. Would you have me more open
still? You shall have your wish. A week
longer under the same roof with you,
week more Of exposure to your madden
ing fascinations, and my ship would go
he leaned nearer, his voice grew softer,
more full of tender feeling and his hand
fell on hers very lightly, with caressing
unless, Sidney, you would let 1t
float and guide into it the safe harbor of
your love-"
She had been wooed many times, in
many climes, by many men, but naught
had ever moved her as this wooing, on
this moonlight night in June. Yet this
man dared tell her that in another week
this all might come to pass.
Others had sworn to go from her pres
ence to put an end to the existence she
had rendered miserable; or had vowed
that henceforth woman's smile would be
gall and wormwood; or pleaded that she
had shorn their manhood of its strength,
and rendered their life burden.
This one did none of these things.
While his strength yet was his, he saw
and met the danger.
"A week hence" she said to herself,
bitterly, ''and the flame might singe
him. Now his wings are all unscorched.
he does not say, I love your He says,
In time 1 might love you.'"
Was he then TO win so easy a victory?
Not so.
"Let US go home, she interrupted.
with little shIver. 1T is growing
chill"
Sydney is this my answer"
''Your answer" with an assumption of |
surprise. ''I was not aware of any ques- !
ton"
''You shall not even have this excuse.
Viii you be my wife?"
His voice was STERN now-stern to
larshness-and his grasp frightened on
ler hand.
"You hurt me, Mr.. Hunter" she