The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-03-30


almost Instantly; ''but now that 1 can
not help thinking that you will be ut
terly worthless to the world and to
everybody in it, I now say that
/ desire to consider our engagement
broken"
There was trifling silence, during
which the parasol prodded the earth
vigorously, and the party addressed
pretended to cape, but presently
spoke:
Excuse the slang, il l say that's
pretty roughl"
"How much worse would IL be for
me, girl who loves spirit and vigor,
to be harnessed to a hulking fellow,
who can do almost nothing but sleep,
whose labor is playing billiards and
whose aspiration is to smoke better
cigars than all his friends. 1 feel
ashamed to think that / ever looked
upon you with even forbearance. If
you could only show some scar, or
show some work done in this great
world, or show that you even give
some of your wealth to charity or
the relief of suffering, or even had the
pluck to knock down the stable boy, l
might perhaps think better of you, for
| cant love man whose weapon is
laugh, and his defense and argument
a stretch and yawn."
After all this the most beautiful girl
must needs go into Mysteries, or,
rather, an hysterical fit of weeping,
which prevented her from seeing the
scarlet flush creep into the face of the
discarded youth, who still affected to
be unconcerned. They both remained
silent for some, and, indeed, many
moments, and both became aware of
an approaching storm, but neither
cared to go away, and, indeed, partially
forgot that it was so close, until
whirring cool breeze rushed through
the leaves about them. Still they re-
manned quiet, both perfectly calm, he
without sign of his old habit of
laughing, and she resolute and little
white in the face.
Presently he reused himself, and,
without a word relating to the subiec:
then before them, looked about Mt the
threatening weather.
He offered her his arm, but she drew
away and motioned him to go. on alone.
He did not move neither did she. It
became rapidly darker, and shelter
was some 400 yards off.
"Come," said he, finally, "don't you
think we had better go?"
81 will not go with you, for / feel
that l have quarreled with you. Go
on alone and L will follow"
"No, L will follow you, or else
shall stay"
"Then stay"
1t became darker and darker, and
soon the rain burst upon them, amt
inky-black clouds were rising in the
horizon. The lightning was terribly
near, and he looked at her rather
nervously, and perceived that her
woman's nerve was yielding under the
frightful noise about them.
81 must insist on your going, for
You are drenched, and this place
is particularly dangerous; the
tree is very tall and stands quite
alone"
She trembed as new burst of storm
broke upon them, and shrank from
him further inward toward the trunk.
NO." she gasped. 81 feel quite
safe here. Go yourself. 1 shall not
stir"
''But you must!" cried he, decisively
and approaching her.
''Mustr She gazed at him in aston
ishment, while a thrice terrible burst
broke upon them. He looked about,
filled with dread, and upward at the
huge, towering shaft above him, and
then at the girl before him.
''Come," cried he again, but she
Withdrew from him. Another burst
broke in rattling thunder from the
clouds above them. and the earth
seemed to tremble finder their feet.
He dared wait no longer, but rushed
upon her, and seized her and fled, in
spite of her angry struggles and
screams.
1t lasted but second; she had a
sense of torrents of rain beating on
her upturned face, and of fierce winds
sweeping about her, and of strong
arms encircling her, and he had a
sense of beautiful burden, greater
strength, and then all became suddenly
jagged, torn and distorted
There was vision of splitting, of
white fire and blush fame, and feel
ing of rocking and stumbling, and
great upbearing of all about him, and
then dashing to the earth, and then
a stiffness and death-like quiet.
The sun was shining when he awoke
again, and there were kind faces about
him, and among the rest, that OF the
first conspirator.
"Ah, old boy, twas pretty tough,
he's all right, but little dazed. The
lightning knocked the tree to shivers,
and you got away inst far enough to
be knocked over yourself"
"What does she say?" whispered
the other.
"Not much, but, from what I see,
there's no chance for me-"
''No, I don't think there is, for I
think I'll keep her myself. il she thinks