St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-01-21
II felt drop of rain. Are we far

"Yes; about three miles"
"Oh. dear; are we? Why don't 20
turn quickly, then? Don't you see it
going to be wet?"
81 thought you were steering,
rudely.
"You might help me-" she sait
plaintively, tugging at the rope.
He gave a swift stroke or two, an
they swung round. There were angr
masses of clouds drifting toward ther
over an uneasy, ruffled sea.
"Why don't you row faster? W
shall never get home," she exclaimed
petulantly.
"The tide is strong and the wind
against us. I'm doing my best"
Ronald, what was that? Oh, don
| say it's lightning! I'm more afraid Q
ii than anything in the world. Oh, lis
tent"
There was a subdued but silent roa
in the distance, now dying away. nov
gathering force and cracking omi
Eously.
"Ronald. was that thunder?" said An
eelica, waveringly.
There is generally thunder when j
ightens," he answered, with bitter sar
Casm.
But we're out in an open boat. miles
from home or shelter Of any kind"
II am aware of that"
She gave a pathetic little gulp ant
pressed her hands together.
'Oh-h! There's another fash. Ron
ald-I-Im going to faint!"
Faint? Nonsense!" he returned
roughly.
Nonsense? What do you mean, Mr.
Grant? How dare you? I suppose
have right to faint if choose? +
ah!"
Crash, rattle, rattle, bang, Crack!
"Put that over you," said Ronald
s:ernly. wrapping her in his mackin.
tosh coat.
"But it doesn't rain. and that makes
it m-much more dangerous. d-doesn't
il. Ronald?'
"Much more." he answered, merci.
iessly.
"Oh! how can you be so heartless
and cruel?" she moaned. "You don't
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 hard!
know I'm a wicked girl, and this is to
punish met" A vivid CLEAN shot up to
the heavens and something seemed to
burst over their heads. "Oh, Ronald!
(in frenzy of terror) save me. save
me! Oh, let us die together! I love
you, oh. you know do! Don't look at
me SO coldly; forgive me, oh, forgive
me. Ronald" Angelica hid her face in
the cushions and sobbed.
II can better afford to die with you,
dear, than to live without you," said
tenderly. There was suspi-
cious twitching about his mouth, but
be mastered himself heroicalIy. and it
cid not become a 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 light ?" moaned
Angelica.
Look, dear. It's the SUM-"
THE sum-" She started up in con-
at can't be, Ronald Tin
Do you mean to tell me
he storm is over?"
81 think it's passed by. You seem an
royed. Aren't you glad we're out Of
langer?"
"Yes-yes. of course. Only I Thought"
.aughtily-'perhaps now, Mr.. Grant
i0u will take me home"
"Yes. I'll take you home, Nan. THEY'LL
,e surprised. won't they, at our news ?"
"News? What do you mean 2" gasped
krgelica.
Il think you know" There was no
mistake about his smile now.
Ronald" she said. pathetically.
Now, you're not going to be tire.
ome?"
"Nan." he answered, gravely.s .I do
cpe not. But, Of course, lifetime il
severe test"
You know it was only because 1 was
Q frightened. It's mean advantage
IS ungentlemanly".her voice died
way weakly.
Ronald (provokingly)-Are you quite |
ure you didn't mean all you said?
Angelica (tearfully)-It's so absurdl |
lamma will be so angry.-Mary Mac
an, in London Answers,