Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-07-22
A SUMMER ROMANCE.

= ouMMEh HUMAMCE.
;,i an ldle boat. with idle oars. foatin,
luly down with the current of a calm
smooth lake, on whose placid breast III,
moonlight played at will.
ouch the picture, had one been
A.efe Spectator to the mimic scence bu
LII ssfst ofthey Thought q .5,s on1y y C, {,
themselves.
Moc59ng the moon-rays, when the,
fglaneed upward. they could see ON tn;
bank above them the twinkling Eobt,
Eof the villa and hear the merry voice.
sand gay laughter of the group from
which they had escaped.
n Arch smiles had passed between its
Fmembers as they had seen Sydney ALI.
[ son and Bayard Hunter stroll off arm
Z in arm to where the little boat was
moored.
The women had almost ceased to be
Jealous of Sydney, or to ask where Law
her charm. When she exercised hel
fascination men bowed before her first
| from necessity, then from choice
But, though her victims were count.
less, she was twenty three, and Sydney
Allison still. However, this time she
had encountered tthe little girl at Mrs
4 Graham's villa said foeman worthy ol
4 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
Meantime, the little boat foated calmly
OIL the quiet surface of the lake.
"Miss Allison r.
YvsB5tseYyY vsBts was assg. the first word either hai
She glanced mp at the speaker. The
white lace thrown carelessly upon he
dark hair, out from which peered tn,
beautiful, pale face, lent her some 0
the moons mystic charm but meeting
the magnetic gaze of the dark, earnes
eyes bent upon her, hers fell for an in
stant; then, as though ashamed of tn
momentary weakness, again shot ques
tioning look into Mr.. Hunters face.
Miss Allison" he repeated, slowly
/ "did YOU know that we were in danger ?
'In danger ?"
Her cheek grew a shade paler. Sh
| glanced mp at the blue vault wher
sailed so majestically the Goddess {
Night-dOwn into the dark depth Of tn
waters, only to see Luna's brilliancy rt
fected there around, about her. Nc
a leahet stirred.
"No," he said, in answer to her lool
mot from any Of these. The moon, tn
wind, the water, all are our friends t.
night. We are in danger from eac
OF err vnoeN! She felt j
Ol, nike q warm, crimson rose, eyel
raafe she raised her little head almos
.|defantly, as though to hurl challeDg
Z at his audacity.
\ Men had made love to her in man,
\ forms, but always as suppliants. Thi
man dared suppose her in equal DANCE
4 with himself!
n. ..Ysu dead in enigmas, Mr.. Hunter,
Il she '@ @tlirnssd haughtiIy 81 am accut
y tomod TO plain speech.
T you an GnAnOWn tongue, and that al
the first man who has dared spea
frankly. Would you have me MOI
open still? You shall have Your wisl
! A week longer under the same roof wit
you, a week more of exposure to yoI
maddening destinations and my shi
\ would go to wreck and ruin on the bal
h unless" he leaned nearer, his vol
D grew softer, more full of tender fee
ing, and his hand fell on hers We
v lightly, but with caressing grace, ''u
b less, Sydney, you would let it float 20
. pennon a d guide it into the safe hs
Dor of your love"
a She had been wooed many times,
many climes, by many men, but naug
had ever moved her as this wooing,
= this moonlight night in June. Yet tt
man dared tell her that in another we
2 this all might come to pass.
Others had sworn to go from b
presence to put an end to the existen
she had rendered miserable OF h
vowed that henceforth woman's SIN
|, would be gall and wormwood;
pleaded that she had shorn their ms
hood of its strength, and rendered tn
life burden
This one did none of these thin
; While his strength yet was his, he S
j, and met the danger.
!, "a week hence" she said to hers'
: ll;;;;sssssa.ix, ..end the flame might sir
y He does not say Il love your In II
" might love YOU"
{ Was he then to win SO easy victol
y Not so.
. s'Let us go home," she interrupt
with a little shiver. sit is grow
chilly"
: Sydney, is this my answer p
''Your answer p with an assumpt
of surprise. 81 was not aware of
question"
el "You shall not even have this exc,
re Will you be my wife ?"
nv ~, His voice was stern now-stern
I'd harshness-and his grasp frightened
e her hand.
"a you hurt me, Mr.. Hunter"
complained, petulantly, making an
\ fort to withdraw her fingers.
J Instantly he released her.
y 81 see that have hurt Won y ba