Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-16
THE OLD AND NEW LOVE.


Ray Berry would have been very
much troubled to explain why she Tilted
Arthur oxford and became engaged to
the elderly millionaire, Mr.. McDaniels.
1t was not the money that attracted her.
but she felt that she did not love Oxford
any more and told him so frankly when
she returned his ring.
oxford could not forget her, though
he made many Intellectual efforts, and
he became very indignant when his
friends attempted to commiserate him..
To show the public that he had entirely
forgotten Rays existence, he took Nam
ME Rawdon, a notorious little tlirt, to
the great picnic whore he knew Ray
and her elderly admirer were to go.
Everybody was curious TO see what the
one-time lovers would do when they
met.
But these two, whose hearts the peo-
pie were so anxious TO see lacerated,
were used to the thing now, and were
too bright not to know they were on en-
hibition. Arthur came down the gang
plank with the tenderest solicitude for
Nannic's safety in his eyes, and when
Ray appeared she looked up into Mr..
McDaniel's face as though her life de-
| pended on what he was saying.
Some people were disappointed; and
then the dancing began, and the young
folks had their W affairs to think of,
| and the matrons were obliged to watch
their little Sallies, and Armies, and
Johnnies, who were always in mischief.
The little tug pulled brisllly along the
river; the barge, with its gay stream
ers and it's music, followed in its wake
At last they reached the spot where
| the picnic was to take place, and landed
rs merry q crowd as one could wish to
so see; and oh, the pain hat shot
| thur sitting on the grass beside Nanniel
So close, and with such a devoted air.
ooh, Arthur, don't you remember
our last picnic?" she thought.
"Ray, I've asked o five times
whether you will have n sandwich"
said Mr.. McDaniels, in rather a testy
tone. u hope, my dear, you are not
getting deaf"
Pm sure 1 beg your pardon" said
Ray, and grew suddenly very gay and
continued so till they started to return.
the sun set behind deep banks of clouds
mist was rising. Soon it II shrouded
the river like Il white pail.
The little tug made mighty use OF her
steam whistle every now and then.
Some stronger one replied to her, or so
it seemed to the untutored ears of pas
sengcrs.
And now night had fallen and they
seemed to be going blindly down the
river, and passing craft only revealing
themselves by their blurred and magni-
fed lights.
uAnd now close to them-ah, heaven,
how close-thc deep throb of n tremen-
dous engine.
Very few knew any more than that.
a sudden flash of red and green above
their heads-shrieks, oaths and q hor-
rible crash.
Ray, who had been leaning against
the railing, chung to it for an instant in
darkness.
"This is the end" she thought her.
self, ''the end of all. What does it mat
ter. Life is not worth so much. Only
mother will feel it.
She chung Il little tighter. Then she
was flung into the river, but as she
touched it someone clutched her. A
voice said in her ear:
'If you do not struggle or catch hold
OF me, | can save you. If not, we viii
both drown"
Il know she painted: and in hel
soul she resolved hat no act of her
should bring destruction on the head O
her preserver, whoever he was.
1t takes courage to be saved whei
one cannot swim; to keep quiet, and Il
keep ones mouth shut. But Ray wa
not a coward; and so in a little Will,
two people were dragged into a boa
the steamer had let down, and Ra,
looked into the face of the man at he
side and saw that it was Arthur oxford
He was in his shirt-sleeves, for, OF
the instant, he had cast off both Goa
and shoes; and he had hurt himself OF
the forehead, and the blood trickle'
over his face-a CHASTITY object, Ger
tainly, but, oh, how beautiful to Ray.
you saved mel" she whispered, an,
chung to him.
"Yes, thank Godl" answered Arthur