Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-06-04

ever, scarcely be ,eard on account Of the
roaring OF the storm, the creaking Of
the trees, as their gnaTied trunks, bow
ing low before superior power, came into
contact with each other, and the thou
sand unheard-of sounds that the uproar
Of the elements awakened. Then the
blue flashes OF lightning illumined
with uneanny, mOmentary glare, the
scene, while the thunder, re-echoing
again and again from the surrounding
hills, was louder even than the roar of
the storm. AT last. heavy. large drops
OF water began to fall, and before the
two young people, Fastening as fast as
their feet would carry them, could reach
the protection OF the grOttO, the rain
came down in torrents When they had
entered, the falling water formed an al
most continuous sheet before them and
they were completely shut of from the
outer world.
The fury of the storm now had abated
little and its noise was no longer as
terrifying as before the rain began to
fall, but the mOnotOnous sound produced
by the latter falling first on the leaves
of the trees, then dripping down on the
rocks, was sufficient to necessitate a
raising OF the voice, If the two prisoners
in the grotto would make themselves
understood.
Jack thought. %for lover to bawl his
professions of love into her ears, as If
she were deaf" And he again put off the
great moment till it would cease to rain.
But an hour passed and il still rained I;
a second one was nearly over aud still
there were no signs of the end of this
terrible avalanche of rain. Jacks OBJ
servation had proven true. When a
storm-cloud had found the difficult en-
fFAnGn into this tran of fafr vol !
ley, it had to stay there until its whole
force was spent. But the situation grew
very uncomfortable.
The discomfort, however, had some
compensations, for Jack at least. What
lover would not like to be incarcerated
in the same cell with his beloved one,
far away from the possibility of profane
intrusion?
Gradually the situation inspired the
young man with courage. When the
rain had abated little so that it became
possible to speak in an ordinary tone, he
actually, though awkwardly and hest
tatingly, told her his love and asked her
to be his wife.
1t would be impossible to describe the
surprise and CONSERVATION of the girl at
Jacks declaration. For a moment she
looked at him in amaZement, with eyes
staring wide upon. Then she burst into
tears, unable for some time to articulate
a syllable. Jack very naturally gave TO
her tears a meaning favorable TO his
hopes, and tried TO seize her hand, but
she repealed him, not angrily but deeid-
edly.
@Oh, why have you spoken to me that
way, Mr. SpOfford?" she exclaimed at
last, and burst into another paroxysm
of tears.
Jack was puzzled. She had not re-
fused him distinctly, and her exclama-
ton might as well be interpreted one
way as the other He began to press his
suit, and became quite eloquent now In
his duplication. His former awkward
ness and hesitancy were completely over
come. He asked her whether there was
anything in his character or his circum.
stances that she objected to. He tried
again to seize her hand, but a second
time she firmly though gently withdrew
it. Then he endeavored to look into
her eyes, but she averted her face.
To ali this she had no response but a
sad shake of the head. At last she said,
when Jacks pleadings and protestations
became more and mo. Q importunate:
"Please don't talk to me any more
about it. Mr.. Spofford cannot answer
yes"
TO BE Continued