Connecticut western news., 1893-12-14

Its a cloudburst above, darling" said Bob. Tt won't last long-the water won't cover this rise."
 "I'm not afraid, Bob," said May, with very white lips. I'm glad I came anyhow. If we've got to die, we'll die together, and the way I've felt for the last three weeks I'm sure that's heap better than living apart"
 Bob jumped off his pony and lifted May from hers. The hail was coming bigger and beat cruelty upon them. He wrapped his slicker about her, push. ed the ponies close together and shell tered her with them and his own body as best he could.
 We won't die" he said, "but, poor little girl, what an awful storm I've dragged you out intor'
 Just then, from the farther bank of the creek, above the awful bowling of the storm, came this intelligent con- mand in old man Love's ear splitting tones:
 May Lovel Yoh come here to me this minute!' And May laughed hys- terically.
 Well, he can't get at us anyway but the hail can. Oh, look at your poor handsl Oh, Bob, l can't bear it. put the slicker back. oni''
 "Why, honey, said Bob as the tears came in earnest now, "I'd get pounded just the same anyhow, and you must let me have the comfort of keeping some of 1t of you-it ain't patchin on the way your pa would do me if he could get me right now"
 While the storm ragged and the water rose nearly to their feet, Hank Pearsall had the almost exclusive benefit of old man Love's remarks, since only his widest shrieks reached the young cou- pie, who were too much absorbed in each other to heed either him or the storm very much.
 These remarks disagreed with MT. Pearsall, who was notoriously a man of judgment and observation.
 Whats the matter with that young fellerf" he queried angrily. Watch him a-standin to the north ard uv his gal, a-keeping the hail offen heri He ain't no chumpl If he keeps that lick up right through, he'll make a better husband'n what you ever didi'
 About this time, the hail ceasing, the expectant justice came down to the far ther bank of the arroyo. The water was going down visibly, but its roar was still considerable.
 "Ho, Bobl" yelled the justice, above it's sound, "got your hcensep
 Bob took it out and waved it above his head.
 Old man Love could not from where he stood hear 8 word, but he surmised what had been said, and the sight of the document was a hvid red rag to the bull.
 'I dare ye to marry lem, '" he scream ed. 1T dare ye to do it" And in an ecstasy of rage and anxiety he forced his pony down into the foaming creek among the whirling drift, where he was promptly pitched of by the terrified creature, which instantly returned. Pearsall, at the risk of his own life, had to fish him out, receiving plenty of abuse for his pains and returning it with bitter irony.
 In two minutes time the shallower arroyo was fordable, though the creek, down which big drift continued to come, was not. Bob set May on her pony, mounted his own and prepared to ride out. The sight of the justjce-a plains Cupid, with boots, slicker and cowboy hat-preparing to take charge of the pair was too much for old man Love, and dismounted as he was he plunged, in delirum of rage, into the creek, spluttering and yelling:
 "Stopi Hold oni You just darep'
 May hesitated, frightened, but old Hank Pearsall yanked her father out again and set him on dry land, snort ing:
 "Doggone ye! pulled y out onct beforei What fer cain't ye stay out? Huh?
 When ye try buclxin agin boy like that, backed by Texas mortimer, you're agoin to git left-don't ye know itf That kids got double cinch on prov erduncei Bet ye he had this hyer storm staked out!
 "Goit, fellerl Colt, gall I'm with ye ever time-I'm fer yel Yer the right sortl I wouldn't hender ye fer all the durned old snake bit foolsin Texasi I'll jist gether up the scraps O this ole eejit an tote lem back to the ranch.
 And as May and Bob rode off, tat tered, beaten, draggled, but obliviously blissful and jaunty, faint hail follow ed them:
 "Goodby, kids-wish yer joyl Come in Chicago Herald.