Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-27

one will be, especially mammal 1t will
all be quite delightful"
There was a silence. The sun had dis
appeared and the blue sky had turned
to gray.
cts not SO pleasant as it was, is it?'
inquired Angelica presently.
NO." shortly.
II felt a drop Of rain. Are we far
from home, Ronald?"
eyes; about three miles"
ooh, dearl Are we? Why don't you
turn quickly, then? Don't you see it's
going to be wet?"
81 thought you were steering"
rudely.
"You might help me-" she said
plaintively. Juggling at the rope.
He gave a swift stroke or two, and
they swung round. There we're angry
masses Of clouds drifting toward them
over an uneasy, ruf1ed sea.
"Why don't you row faster? We
shall never get home!" she exclaimed
petulantly.
"The tide is strong and the wind is
against US. I'm doing my best"
"Ronald, what was that? Oh, don't
say it's lightningl I'm more afraid of
it than anything in the world. Oh,
listenl"
There was a subdued but sullen roar
in the distance, nov dying away, now
gathering force and cracking ominous-
ly.
"Ronald, was that thunder" said
Angelica waveringly.
"There is generally thunder when it
lightens, :" he answered, with bitter sar.
casm.
but we're out in an open boat,
miles from home or shelter of any kind! p
II am aware of that"
She gave a pathetic little gulp and
pressed her hands together.
"Oh-h! There another fash Ron
aid, I-I'm going to faintl"
Faint? Nonsenser" he returned
roughly.
Nonsense? What do you mean, Mr..
Grant? How dare you? I suppose l have
a right to faint if I choose? I-ah!"
Crash, rattle, rattle, bang! CRACK
"Put that over you," said Ronald
stern4y, wrapping her in his macintosh
coat.
but it doesn't rain. and that makes
1t m--much more dangerous, d-doesn',
it, Ronald?"
"Much more" he answered merci.
lessly.
"Oh, how can you be SO heartlest
and cruel?" she moaned. "You DOM
care how much I suffer! Men are al.
ways like that
"And women never, of course, +" put
in Ronald, with quiet irony.
"Oh, don't-don't be so hardl ]
know I'm a wicked girl, and this is tc
punish mel" A vivid CLEAN shot uI
the heavens and something seemed tc
burst over their heads. "Oh, Ronald,
Tin a frenzy Of terror) save me, save me
Oh, let us die togetherl l love you, oh,
you know l do! Don't look at me SC
cold! Forgive me, Oh, forgive me, Ron
add" Angelica hid her face in the
cushions and sobbed.
II a better bear to die with you,
dear, than to live without you," said
Ronald tenderly. There was a suspi.
cious twitohing about his mouth, but
he mastered himself heroically, and i,
did not become a smile.
A silence followed. The thunder roll.
ed and tumbled far away to the west,
and presently there was a CLEAN more
brilliant than any before.
whats that awful Light" moaned
Angelica.
"Look, dear. It's the sum-"
1.-THE sum-" She started up in conster-
nation. ''It can't be, Ronald (indig-
nantly). Do you mean to tell me the
storm is over?"
II think it's passed by. You seem
annoyed. Aren't you glad we're out OF
danger?"
"Yes-yes, Of course. Only ! thought
-(haughtily) perhaps now, Mr.. Grant,
you will take me homer"
Eyes, I'll take you home, Nan.
They'll be surprised. won't they, at our
news?"
News? What-what do you mean?''
gasped Angelica.
~ think You know" There was no
mistake about his smile now.
"RonaId," she said pathetically,
now you're not going to be tiresome?"
"Nan." he answered gravely, II do
hope not. But of course a lifetime is a
severe test"
"You know it war only because
was frightened. It's a mean advantage
its ungentlemanly"-her voice died
away weakly.
Ronald (provokingly) = Are You
quite sure you didn't mean all you
said?
Angelica (tearfully)-It's go absurd
Mamma will be so angry. MARY Mac
lean in Madame.