Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-14

not nelp tnlnklng tnaJ you Will Dc uC-
terly worthless to the world and to
everybody in it, I now say that
I desire to consider our engagement
broken"
There was trifing silence, during
which the parasol prodded the earth
vigorously, and the party addressed
pretended to cape, but presently
spoke:
Excuse the slang, if I say that's
pretty rough!'
"How much worse would it be for
me, girl who loves spirit and vigor,
to be harnessed to 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. I 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, OF 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,
might perhaps think better of you, for
can't love q man whose weapon is a
laugh, and his defense and argument
stretch and a 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 go away. and, indeed, partially
forgot that it was so close, until
whirring cool breeze rushed through
the leaves about them. Still they re-
mained 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 offered her 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?"
II will not go with you, for I feel
that 1 have quarreled with you. Go
on alone and L will follow"
tNo, L will follow you, or else 7
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
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. L shall not
STIR"
''But you must!" cried he, decisively
and approaching her.
''Must!" She gaZed at him in aston
ishment, while thrice terrible burst
broke upon them. He looked about,
filled with dread, and upward at the
u 10 hof q, hi
then at the girl before him.
"Come," cried he again, but sine
withdrew 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.
1t lasted but 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
sense of beautiful burden, a greater
strength, and then all became suddenly
jagged, torn and distorted.
There was vision of splitting, of
white fire and blush flame, 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, it was pretty tough,
he's all right, but little dazed. The
knocked the tree to shivers,
and you got away just far enough to
be knocked over you. self"
"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'llkeep her myself,i if she thinks
that turned out any better than she
4, IL L