Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-31

IT'S nor-so pleasant as II was. Is it?-
inquired Angelica. presently.
'No." shortly.
81 felt drop OF rain Are wa Tar
from home. Ronsld7"
eyes. about three miles.-
''Oh. dear; are we2 Why don't you
turn quickly, then7 Don't you see it's
going 10 be wet?-
Il thought you we're steering"
rudely.
"you might help me- she said.
plaintive ". Juggling at the rope.
He gave swift stroke OF two. and
they swung round. There were angry
masses of clouds drifting toward them
over an uneasy. ruled sea.
why don't you row faster7 We
shall never get home" she exclaimed.
petulantly
The tide is strong and the wind IL
against US. I'm doing my best"
"Ronald, what was that? Oh. don't
say it's lightning! I'm 1ore afraid OF
it than anything in the world Oh. lis
tenl"
There was a subdued but silensroar
In the distance. now dying away. now
gathering force and cracking oni-
nously.
"Ronald, was that thunder7" said An
Gelica. waveringly.
There is generally thunder when ii
hghtens.' he answered, with bitter sar-
casm-
"But we're out in an open boat. miles
from home or shelter Of any ldndi"
az am aware of that"
She gave a pathetic little gulp and
pressed her hands together.
"Oh-hl There's another fash Ron
ald-I-Pm going to faintl"
Faint? Nonsensel" he returned.
roughly.
Nonsense? What do you mean, Mr..
Grant? How dare you? I suppose
have a right to faint If I choose? L
ahl"
Crash, rattle, rattle, bang, C-r-a-c-kl
''Put that over you," said Ronald,
sternly, wrapping her in his mackin-
tosh coat
But it doesn't rain, and that makes
it, Ronald?'
''Much MORE" he answered, merci-
iessly.
'Obl how can you be so heartless
and cruel?" she moaned. "You don't
care how much I sufferl Men are al
ways like that"
"And women never, of course" put in
| Ronald, with quiet irony
1 "Oh, don't-don't be so hard!
know I'm a wicked girl, and this is to
! punish mel" A vivid gleam shot up TO
| the heavens and something seemed TO
| burst over their heads ''Oh, Ronald
| lin frenzy OF terror) save me, save
mel Oh, let us die togetherl 1 love
| you, oh, you know dol Don't look at
me so coldly; forgive me, oh, forgive
me, Ronald" Angelica hid her face in
the cushions and sobbed.
| ST can better afford to die with you,
dear, than to 1--we without you," said
Ronald, tenderly. There was a suspi-
cious twitching about his mouth, but
he mastered himself heroically, and IL
did not become q smile.
A silence followed The thunder
rolled and tumbled away to the west
and presently there was a CLEAN more
brilliant than any before
whats that awful Hght?'' Inoanet
Angelica.
Look, dear. It's the sun"
"The SUM" She started up In con
sternation. at can't be, Ronald lin
dignantly)). Do you mean to tell m,
the storm is over?"
81 think it's passed by. You seem an
royed- Aren't you glad we're out O
danger?"
"Yes-yes, of course. OnlyIthought'
haughtily-"perhaps now, Mr.. Grant
you will take me homer"
"Yes. I'll take you home, Nan They'll
be surprised, won't they, at our news p
News? What do you mean?" gaspe,
Angelica.
II think you know" There was n,
J mistake about his smile now.
Ronald" she said, pathetical1y
'Now. you're not going to be tire
some2"
man," he answered. gravely. at d
hope not. But of course, lifetime
a severe test"
"You know it was only because wa
| so frightened It's mean advantage
it's ungentlemanly'-her voice die
away weakly.
Ronald (provoldngly)-Arey you quit
sure you didn't mean all you said?
: Angelica (tearfully)-It's so absurd
Mamma viii be so angry.-Mary Mac
: lean, in London Answers.
: Not Guilty.
\ Miss Asenath Harper is "gettin,
-