The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-08-06
Selett StOrp.
A SUMMER ROMANCE.

An idle boat, with idle oars, floating
idly down with the current Of calm
smooth lake. on whose placid breast tbs
moonlight played at viii
Such ;hc picture, had one beea 4 mere
spectator to the mimic scene, bat TO tbs
two actors, surroundings were lost sight Of
they thought only OF themselves.
Mocking the moou rays, when they
glanced upward, they could see on tbs
bank above ghem the tWiukling lights oi
the villa and hear the merry voices aud
gay laughter Of the group from which they
had escaped.
Arch smiles had passed between i,s
members as they had seen Sydacy Allisou
and Bayard Hun,er s;r5ll off ARA ia srm
to whore the little boat was moorcd.
The women had allngs; ceased to be
jealous Of sydney, or 10 ask where lay her
charm When she exercised her faseiDa-
tiou men bowed before heF-arsl from ne
ccssity, thea from choice
But, though her victims were countless
she was twenty three, aud sydney Allison
still However. this time she had en-
eouutcred the little girl at Mrs. Graham S
villa said foeaau worthy Of her steel
What she was among men, Baysrd Hun
ter was among women. Therefore, seeing
these two brought beneath the same roof,
aad thrown into daily Intercourse, rumor
was rife, and speculation awaited results
With bated breath Meantime, the little
boat foaied ealmly on the quiet surface Of
the lake.
Miss Allison
IL was the first word either bad spoken
in full fiyc minutes.
She glanced np at the speaker. The
white lace tlrowa carelessly upon her dark
hair ont from which peercd the beautiful,
pale face, lent her some Of the moon 5
mystic charm, but meeting the magnetic
gaze Of the dark, earnest eyes bent upon
her, hers fell for an insiaui, then, As though
ashamed Of the momentary weakness,
again shot = questioning look into Mr..
Hunters face.
Miss Allison, be repeated, slowly,
did you know that We were in danger
ia danger ?
Her cheek grew a shade paler. She
glanced up 4, the blue vault where sailed
SO majestiealIy the Goddess Of Night
down into the dark depth of the waters,
only 10 see Luna's briIlianey reflected
there-aTouud, about her Not a leadei
stirred.
NO, he said, in answer to her look,
mot from any of these The moon, the
wind, the water, all are our friends To-
night We are in danger from each
other
Oh, how she prayed the moon might
fail 10 make apparent the instant flushing
Of blood 10 her cheek She felt it glow,
like a warm, crimson rose, even while she
raised her little head almost deiantly, as
though to hurl challenge at his audacity
Men had made love TO her iG many
forms, but always as suppliants. This man
dared suppose her iu equal danger with
himself!
you deal in enigmas, Mr. Hunter,
she returned haughtily. Il am accustom,
ed to plain speech .
Rather say that plain speech is to you
an unknown tongue, and that am the
first man who has dared speak frankly.
Would you have me more open still
You shall have your wish. \ week lon
ger under the same roof with you, a week
more of exposure 10 your maddening fas-
cinations and my ship would 20 to wreck
aud ruin on the bar; unless" he leaned
nearer, his voice grew softer, more full of
tender feeling, and his hand fell on hers
very lightly, but with earessing grace,
unless, Sydney, you would let it float
your pennon and guide it into the safe
harbor of your love.
She had been wooed many times, in
many elimes, 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 90 from her pres
enee 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, be saw and
met the danger.
ga week hence, she said to herself,
bitterly, "and the fame might SINCE him.
Now his wings are all unscorched. He
does not say 81 love you! !" "In time 1
might love you"
Was he then to win so easy victory ?
Not so.
''Let us go home, she interrupted, with
a little shiyer. at is growing chilly"
"Sydney, is this my answer?"
"Your answer ?'' with an assumption of
surprise II was not aware of any ques-
tion"
"You shall not even have this excuse.
VI L., g. D'7