The Florence daily tribune., 1899-02-17
DIPLOMACY.

storm Is Z it uw luls am frightened
half to death How fortunate thai You
came 10 protect me. 1t seems good - have
a human bong in sight at such u time as
this
she appeared much excited and nervous
as she throw open the door and invited the
man to enter.
The truth is the woman was not afraid
OF the storm at all. but he could Lot kno.,
that She WAS playiI < part. She wns in
the house alone, far from any other hahi-
/ -tiun. yet even when the storm came she
had no fear She threw open the shutters
and gnzed out AT the wild night and
Thought it was grand. The thunder ruled
and rcvcrber.tcd among the hills and the
vivid lightning flashes revealed the tree,
bending before mighty wind. She had
no nerves Hs other women hnve and cnioy
cd the grandeur of the scene.
Suddenly, in the bright light OF light
ming flash, she saw a figure dart from one
tree TO another. and again a man crourhed
down by the steps that led to the vine GOV
cred porch
She knew at once their purpose Alone
and unprotected she had not even a pis tul
to take her own life if the worst came
Her cries could not have been heard on q
calm, still uiVht, and such night as this
less than ever. The man crouching bv
the steps arosc, and she stepped forward.
inviting him in.
A woman Of marvellous beauty and
power, accustomed to command aud he
oheycd. men bowed to her will. Now she
was playing her last card Would She win
suddenly n terrific thunderclnp smute
the air. She trcmblcd, and clutching his
sleeve with one beautiful, strong, white
hand she put the other to her ear
Oh, sir, are you not frightened
"No; the storm will soon pass
Studying the man in the light Of the
lamp, she saw that he was fairly good
looking, intelligent md gentlcmanlv in
appearance for burglar There was "a
hard expression about his mouth which
told OF the life he led
Yet she believed there must be some
spark of chlvalry which she could kindle
into life, and She would trust to that
The front door pushed open, and the
other man entcrcd-unmistakabl one Of
the lower sort-with dark and cruel face
Clingiug To the arm of the one she had
selected as her protector, she said in "a low
tone;
Protect me-oh, know you will,
Nou nre n man, not beastI'
Come, come, my pretty one, of with
your sparklcrs. We've no time to lose Sc
sHid the newcomer, taking a step toward
her.
"No, Bill; let the lady alone. 'risn't
quite fairr' said the other, iuterposing
"Oho How long since you We been in
the icrfcssion fer yer healthy"
We'll, m in 1t tonight for my henlth
and hers too. Furthermore, It will he for
your health not to take another step in
this direction And Bill looked down
the barrel of six shooter
His jaw dropped but he obeyod
Lay your knife and pistol on that
table and sneak Now gitl said thenthcr,
and they marched out in the storm to
gethcr
1t all happened In few minutes The
woman fairly held her breath in suspense
to see how 1t would end. Her Inst card
had won, Then she tainted She had
nerves after all
When consciousness returned the sun
was climbing over the hills She arose
and looked out. There was evidence Of a
storm, but was the rest a dream?
Looking ON the table, she saw the knife
and pistol were not there.
Just then her brother came In from the
barn, where he had been putting up his
horse.
have just returned Evelyn The
storm WAS So threatening last night that |
| thought best To stop in the village !
know how fearless you are. If you were
n timid woman. should have braved 1t
and come -
Was your trip successful?'
"Yes, quite p"
She said not word about her nights
experience, but went around all day in 4.
dazcd SORT of way. thinking 1t over. II
was all so clear. she could not believe it
a dream, vet everything was in its place
as it had been before.
| Toward evening passing farmer
stopped ON his way from town with their
mail He brought her a letter in strange
handwriting Opening it, she read;
DEAR MApAM-Nour faith in me last night
saved you, and hope has saved me, for | now
have the desire in my heart 10 be a better
man.
Some years ago was n clerk in n hank and
in order 10 increase my income speculated in
a small way, 1t il the old story-I borrowed
from the bank, honestly intending to pay
| back, hut was caught and served my time in
the pvnitcntiary.
When l came out, my mother and sister were
dead-Silied by grief at my disgrace They
would have trusted me, but no one else would
Went from place to place seeking employ
mcnt but somehow my record as jailbird
came up, and was discharged. Ii was my
hrs, odOnsc. II Is only when a man repeated
" hetrays his trust that there is no hope
believe could have been saved, yet no one
put forth a helping hand and thought there
was no faith IN the whole of humanity and
gradually sank To my present condition.
You knew my mission at your house. vet
YOU trusted To my manhood to save you. and
| thank you for il.
Sitting on your porch all night, / waited
until | heard your brother returning and
knew you would be safe. Then came in and
taking the pistol and knife went my way
with new purpose in my heart, believing
that may Yet bc able to hold up my head
among honest men.
Hoping for your welfare. l am yours sin
corely,
MaN REFORMED BY a woNAN's FAITH
Owl
The Colleges or oxford.
Each college is built round a quad
rangle with "a large entrance gateway
which often rises into a quasi tower. The