Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-21
nopelessiy and irretrIew40ly IN love mis-
friend had fallen with Miss Viner before
many days had elapsed.

ssp p va,er drifted into Oe;ol,er On
: smos lake some little disia,c,4 frnsn
The louse. an idle boat with Idle oars
MAS floating down with the current The
moonlight played at will ON the placid
breast Of the lake.
Such the picture had one been mere
spectator to the mimic scene-but to the
two actors surroundings y ere lost sight
of--they thought only of themselves.
Mocking the silver moon. when they
glanced upward, they could see across
the lake and through the trees the twink
ling lights of Hurlton Top and hear the
merry voices and gay laughter of the
group on the bank from which they had
just escaped. Arch smiles had passed
between its members as they had seen
Dorothy Viner and Jerome Fleetwell
stroll II arm in arm to where the little
boat was moored.
The women had almost ceased to be
Jealous of Dorothy--or to ask where lay
her charm. When she exercised her
fascinations men bowed before her-first
from necessity, then from choice.
But, though her victims were count
However, this time she had encountered
0her little sister said) a foeman worthy
of her steel What she was among men,
Jerome fleetwood was among women
Therefore. seeing these two brought be-
meath tie same roof and thrown into
daily intercourse, rumor was rife. and
speculation awaited results with bated
breath. Meanwhile the little boat flcated
calmly on the surface OF the lake.
Miss Vinerl-DJrothy I"
1t was the first word either had ut.
tered i'm full 10 minutes. She looked
quickly up at the speaker. The white
knit scarf thrown carelessly upon her
dark hair, cut from which peered the
beautiful pale face, lent her some Of the
moons mystic charm; but meeting the
earnest gaze of the dark, magnetic eyes
bent upon her, hers fell for an instant
Then, as though ashamed of the mo-
mentary weakness, again shot a ques.
tioning look into Lieutenant Feetw ellis
face.
Miss Viner," he repeated calmly,
"did you know we were in dangerT
"In dangers"
The dreamy look faded from her face,
the color deserted her cheeks aud, shiv-
ering heavily, she glanced up at the
blue vault where sailed SO ajestically
the Goddess of Night-down into the
dark depth of the waters, only to see the
silvery moons brilliancy reflected there,
are und. about her. All was peaceful.
mo-" lie said, in answer to her look,
"not from any of these. The moon, the
wind, the waterfall are our friends to-
night We are in danger from each
other"
Oh, how she prayed the moon might
fail to make apparent the instant flush
ing of blood to ther cheekl She felt 1t
glow like warm, crimson rose, even
while she raised her little head almost
defiantly, as though to hurl challenge
at his audacity. Men had made love to
her in many forms, but always as sup
plants. This man dared to suppose her
in equal danger with himself3
''You deal in riddles, Lieutenant
FleetN ell" she returned coldly. liam
accustomed to plain speech.
Rather say that plain speech is to
you an unknown tongue, and that am
the first man who has dared TO speak
frankly. Would you have me speak
palmer stillS You stall have your wish.
A week longer under the same roof with
you, week more of exposure TO your
fascinations and my ship would go to
wreck and 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 ca
i, ressing unless, Dorothy, you
would let it float your pennOn and guide
it into the safe hal Dor Of your love-"
She had been wooed many times, in
many olimes, by many men, but nothing
had ever moved her as this wooing, OH
this moonlight night in October. Yet
this soldier--this man--darel tell her
that in another week this all might come
to pass.
Others had sworn to go from her
presence to put an end TO the existence
she had rendered miserable, or had
vowed that henceforth woman's smile
would be gall aud wormwood, or pleaded
that she had shorn their manhood of its
bdcnStu anu LSH0clcN tuctI lAlS DuE-
den.
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 fame might singe
him Now his wings are all unscorched.
He does not say: / love your In time
might love your Was he then to win
50 easy victory! Never.
"Let ns go home, she interrupted in
constrained voice. at is growing
chilly"
Dorothy, is this my answer?"
Your ansp er?p with an assumption
OF surprise. Il was not aware Of any
question.
You shall not have even this excuse.
Will you be my wife?H
His voice was hOarse and stern, and
his grasp tightened on her hand.
You hurt me, Lieutenant F.eetwell, :"
she complained petulantly, making an
effort to withdraw her fingers
Instantly he released her.
Il see that hurt you, he returned
courteously, and took up the oars.
Pardon me, he continued, II will not
do il ever again.
A few bold strokes and the boats keel
z