Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-10

those blossoms had SuOWn lOrIH liOm
thcir % curtains of foliage The only dow-
crs TO be seen anywhere now were asiers
NJ a dim violet color, or here and there
fow sunflowcrs that seemed to BE- max
ing preparations for speedy death
IF n lyrical mood is awakened by the
charms of the woods in everyday peo-
nIc. even in the experienced, cynical
man of the world how much more must
this he true of two uncorrupted young
naople each of whom is in love-
Hatties thoughts were where thcy
olwovs strayed in moments Of sentiment
following Relph over the sea. She
hal received lcttcr from him the day
before in which he announced that he
was at tho moment in Esenaeh, Ger
many the place where Martin Luther
snont his boyhood. She had been struck
by the fact that Ralph did not speak OF
his wife in as rapturous tones as Ill Dne
few that had preceded TINS one Du.
she had not given this observation any
further thought
Jack SpoTord threw from time 10
time admirngglances at his fair com
panion. when he wars sure that she wouio'
not see him. Several times he was on
the polnt of uttering the fatcful Word,
but then he hesitatod again and post
noned it till they should nave reached
the grotto
In this manner they reached spot
where the path had risen somewhat
above the bed of the little stream, ana
an o3ening in the forest permitted 1uli
Wow of the lower valley. They were
lost in admiration of the panorama
when Hattie was attracted by dark
mass Of clouds that were RAPIDLY being
driven up the valley by brisk breeze.
She suggested the prudence OF return
inc at once. so as not to be caught In the
approaching rainstorm.
This idea did not ut Jack at all, and
he employed all his rhetorical gifts to
convince her that there was no pro0a-
bilty of storm. These clouds, nc salu'
often stood for whole days over the en-
tran~e of the valley without ever getting
into It. till a shifting of the wind dis.
persed them. If by any chance they ala
get between the rocky walls encircllng
the valley he owned, these thunder
storms had habit of raging for hours
and hours with a vehemence that was
unknown in the lowlands.
The truth of these observations was
we'll known to Miss Beckford, and sho
allowed herself to be persuaded. ABOUT
Two thirds of the distance had been trav-
eled. and another quarter OF an hour OF
up-hill walking would bring them to the
| goal of their journey.
But hardly had they walked five min
utes when the storm overlook them.
With incredible rapidity the clouds COW
cred the sky, and q strange, wallln9
sound went through the tops OF inc
giant pines. as they bent before the wind
Presently branches, some OF them large
enough to be mistaken for young trees,
were torn of and hurled to the ground
W th q terrible crash that could, how
ever, scarcely be heard on account OF the
roaring of the storm, the creaklng OF
the trees, as their gnarled trunks, bow
ing low before superior power, came into
contact with each other, and the thou
SIND unheard of sounds that the uproar
of the clements awakened. Thea the
blue flashes of lightning ill&Nned
with uncanny, momentary glare, she
scene. while the thunder, re-echo1n9
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 ram
came down in torrents. When they had
entered, the falling water formed an al
most continuous sheet before them and
they were completely shut off from the
outer world.
The fury of the storm now had abated
little and it's 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 q
raising of the voice, if the two prisoners
in the grotto would make themselves
understood.
"Not very promising situation,
Jack thought. "for lover to Dawl his
professions of love into her ears, as Il
She were deaf" And he again put off the
great moment till it would cease to rain.
But an hour passed and it st rained;
a second one was nearly over and still
there were no signs of the end of this
terrible avalanche Of ran. Jacks OBJ
s1rvation had proven true. When a
storm cloud had found the difficult en-
trance into this trap of a mountain val
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 .ill :, 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 litt'o so that 1t became
poss G to speak in an ordinary tone, he
actually, though awkwardly and hest
tatingly, told hci his love and asked her
TO bo his wife.
1t would be impossible to describe the
surprise and CONSERVATION of the girl at
Jacks declaration For moment she
looked at him in amazement, with eyes
staring wide upon. Then she burst into
tears, unable for some time to alticulate
syllable. Jack very naturally gave to
her tears meaning favorable to his
horej, and tried to soizc her hand, but
she repclled him, not angrhy but decld'
| cdly.
"Ch, why have you spoken to me that
way, Mr.. Spotford@ she exclaimed at
! last, and burst into anoth paroXysm
of tears.
Jack was puzzIeL, Sh, had not re-
fused him distinctly, AID h'r xclama-
ton might as well lc Intcrprclc GO
way as the other He bean u pa
suit, and became quit, 'qI en- 'v'
| his supplication. Ills fO nc IL