Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-22
"'NIy love"


to be my husband there would be at
least some lingering spark Of manli-
ness, and"
Glove, that was foolishl II was,
indeed"
"And some faint atom of spirit.
That there would he some energy that
would show itself on some great occa.
sion, even il il was usually concealed
by other habits. Now, / have been
foolishly led into becoming engaged to
you, and l hoped that all might come
ont all right--but-but," here the
voice began to break little and the
lips to tremble, but they both Gained
almost instantly; "but now that can.
not help thinking that you will be ut
terly worthless to the world aud to
everybody in it, L now say that
l 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, If 1 say that's
pretty rough"
Glow much worse would it be for
me, q girl who loves spirit and vigor,
to be harnessed to q 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. L feel
ashamed to think that / ever looked
upon you with even forbearance. II
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
| can't love man whose weapon is n
laugh, and his defense and argument
a stretch and yawn."
After oil 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 60 away, and, indeed, partially
forgot that it was so close, until
whrring 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 word relating to the subject
then before them, looked about at the
threatening weather.
He offeredher his arm, but she drew
away and motioned him to go on alone.
He did not move neither did she. 1t
became rapidly darker, and shelter
was some 400 yards off,
Come" said he, finally, "don't you
think we had better go?"
~ will not go with you, for 1 feel
l.
on alone and / will follow"
"No, / will follow you, or else l
shall stay"
"Then stay"
1t became darker and darker, and
soon the rain burst upon them, and
inky-black clouds were rising in the
horizon. The lightning was terribly
near, and he looked at her rather
nervously, and perceived that her
womans 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 anew 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. / shall not
stir.
"But you mustl" cried he, decisively
and approaching her.
"Must!" She gazed at him in aston
ishment, while n thrice terrible burst
broke upon them He looked about,
filed with dread, and upward at the
huge, towering shaft above him, and
then at the girl before him. r.s
Come" cried he again, but she
from him. Another burst
broke in rafting thunder from the
clouds above them, and the earth
seemed to tremble under their feet.
He dared wait no longer, but rushed
upon her, and seized her and fed, in
spite of her angry struggles and
screams. r' t.
1t lasted but a second; she had
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
Il L