The Wahpeton times., 1890-08-21

on account of the dust.
Six couples came altogether, in
cluding chaperons. Moonlight pic
MICS are useful just at the end of the
season, before all the girls go away
to the hills. They lead to under
standings, and should beencouraged
csaperons; especially those whose
girls look sweetest in riding habits.
l knew a case once. But that is an
other story. The picnic was called
the "Great Pop Picnic," because ev-
cry one knew Saumarez would pro-
pose to the eldest Miss Copleigh: and,
besides his affair, there was another
which possibly might come to hap
piness. The social atmosphere was
heavily charged and wanted clearing.
We met at the parade ground at
10. The hight was feariullly hot.
The horses sweated even nc walking
pace. but anything was better than
sitting stlllin our dark houses. When
we moved off under the full moon we
were four couples, one triplet, and
Mr.. Saumarez rode with the Cop
leigh girls, and l loitered at the tail
OF the procession wondering with
whom Saumarez would ride home.
Every one was happy and contented,
butwe all felt that things were going
to happen. We rode slowly, and it
was nearly midnight before we reach
Ell the old tomb facing the ruined
tank in the decayed gardens, where
we We're going to eat and drink. l
was late in coming up and, before l
went into the garden, l saw that the
horizon to the north carried q faint,
dun-colored feather. But no one
would have thanked me for spelling
SO we'll managed an entertainment
as this picnic-and q dust storm,
more or less, does no great harm.
We gathered by the tank. Some
one had brought out q banjo, which
is n most sentimental instrument,
and three or four of US sang. You
must not laugh at this. Our amuse-
ments in out-ofthe-way stations are
very few indeed. Then we talked in
groups or together, lying under the
trees, with the sun-baked roses drop.
ping their petals on our feet, until
supper was ready. 1t was beauti.
ful supper, as cold and as iced az you
could wish, and we stayed long ovel
it.
/ had felt that the air was grow
ing hotter and hotter, but nobody
seemed to notice it until the moon
went out and a burning hot wind
began lnsEing the orange trees with
sound like the noise of the sea.
Before we knew where we were the
dust storm was ON us and everything
was roaring, whirling darkness.
The supper table was blown bodily
into the tank. We We're afraid OF
staying near the old tomb for fear
it might be blown down. So we telt
our way to the orange trees where
the horses We're picketed and waited
for the storm to blow over. Then
the little light that was left vanish.
ed. and YOU could not see your hand
be ore your face.
The air was heavy with dust and
sand from the river, that filled boots
and pockets and drfted down necks
and coated eyebrows and mustachcs.
1t was one of the worst dust storms
OF the Year. We were all huddled to.
getller close to the trembling
horses, with the thunder clattcring
overhead and the lightning squirting
like water from a sluice, all ways at
once. There was no danger. OF
course, unless the horses broke loose.
l was standing with my head down
ward and my hands over my mouth,
hearing the trees thrashing each
other. could not see who was next
me till the flashes came. Then
found that l was packed near
Snumarez and the eldest Miss Cop
leigh, because she had pagri round
her helmet, and theyoungerhad not.
All the electricity in the air had gone
into my body and was guivering
from head to foot exactly as Il
corn shoots and tingles before rain.
1t was q grand storm. The wind
seemed to be picking up the earth
and pitching it to leewar,l in great
heaps; and the heat beat up from the
ground like the heat of the day OF
Judgment.
The storm lulled slightly after the
first half-hour, and heard a despair
ing little voice close to my ear, say
ing to itself, quietly and softly. as if
some lost soul were flying about with
the wind: ooh, my Godn" Then the
younger Miss Copleigh stumbled into
my arms, saying: "Whcre is my
horse? Get my horse. l want to go
home. want to go home. Take
me home"
| thought that the lightning and
the black darkness had frightened
her; so | said there was no danger,
but she must wait till the storm
blew over. She answered: cit is not
that! 1t is not that! 1t is not that!
l want to go home! o take me
away from here!'
/ said that she could not 60 till the
light came; but l felt her brush past
me and go away. 1t was too dark
to see where. Then the whole sky
was split open with one tremendous
flash, as if the end of the world were
coming, and all the women shrielled.
Almost directly after this telt q
mans hand on my shoulder and
heard Saumarez believing in my ear.
Through the rattling of the trees
and iiowling OF the wind l did not
catch his words at once, but at last
l heard him say: "I've proposed to
the wrong one! What shall l dor