St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-01-21
CAUGHT IN A STORM

AA O~AAA AN "A 0AVxN44
0~~~~
THERE are some advantages,
said Ronald, meditatively, Ill
being cousin, after all"
He addressed Angelica, who sat op
Posite him. All about them was deel
blue screnity-on one hand stretctin,
away to meet in line with fainter
azure. on the other merging distantl,
into long shining masses of greenish
brown rocks, with ragged cliffs tower
ing above them. Angelica's hands wer.
thrust into the pockets of provoking
REFER coat. her hat was tilted little
forward and the breeze darted il
among her curls, tossing them merrily
about her face. She was a diminutivs
person il all respects save two. which
two were particularly large, brilliant
languishing, and in every way dan.
gerous.
But on the whole, Angelica" added
Ronald. deliberately, Il regret that
am in any way related to or connected
with you.-
..Ronald!" she exclaimed, II really
cannot allow you to be SO flattering."
a cousin is a nondescript, variable
sort OF being-at times an absolute
stranger, at others q sort of second
hand brother-in that capacity ex-
tremely useful. OF course. that is some
thing; but still"
Il think it's great deal; but see
you are the same as ever. You always
were greedy little boy" said Angelica.
Thanks. You. ON the other hand,
were rather nicer as little girl than
you are now-in some way.oh! you
could still be nice If you tried"
'sIf l tried? How funny! Ishouldn't
know-yon see most people think
she regarded her shoes inquiringly.
II dare say; but 1 am not most peo-
ple.' stand alone"
81 thought you were sitting down."
interrupted Angelica. (She certainly
was provoking to-day.) And l wasn't
aware that you were alone. But per
haps don't count"
my dear, that's the worst Of It. You
do count. and there's no one else in the
world who does. just worship you.
Nan! Have startled you?"
mot at ALL" she answered politely.
"You see they all say that or something
equivalent" She turned her head lit
tie and dsbbled in the water with her
hand.
"Oh. yes, know! OF course, I'm
r
have thought lately"-he paused and
then ADDED: do you remember last
week at Cowes?"
Yes" said Angelica. radianuy. ''On
that afternoon-I don't mind telling
you, Ronald very seriously consid-
cred falling in love with you. THERE'S
q yacht quite close to us, she added,
hastily; Il considered, and after due
deliberation decided"
"Well. Nan?"
Not 10 fall in love with anyone at
ALL"
'You mean"
Ronald. if you don't row, how can
steer? We don't want to be swamped. |
Love is so inconvenient."
You're pulling the wrong rope. |
confess don't quite see how"
"Well, it doesn't always 60 with other
things"
But is it not worth more than
other tbings?"
Ronald" replied Angelica, some
what irrelevantly. have you any idea
Of the price OF Paris hat:"
The left rope again. All, now we're
safe! A Paris hat. l-well, / have
heard that they're something ridicu-
lOus.'
They are absolutely ridiculous.
That fact alone" said Angelica, SOL
emnly. rs enough to make any thought
Of love impossible and wicked"
Except for anyone with a heart,
with soul, composed in fact of any
thing but shallowness and vanity"
My dear boy. if you go on" she said,
.ncourasingly, you will in time make
the most accomplished flatterer of the
age |,
Don't jest with me. Nan. It's moth
.ng TO YOU, perhaps, but to me it's
everything. I love you. II you knew
what the word meant" he burst out
sehemently, ''you could not sit there ,
,oolly breaking my heart in your
aands"
Hush! Not so loud. Yes; 1 know
I'm wicked (penitently). oughtnt to /,
oe here with you at all. when I'm going l
% marry some one else"
"You'le going to-Nan, is this true? ?"
"Mr. Rathbone." said Angelica, droop- q
ng. I
Are you engaged to him?' "a
He win ask me tonight" Il
"How do you know that?" curtly. II
'Oh. Ronald, don't be SO absurd, o
low do / know?"
This was convincing.
"Wcll. he's consummate fool" said
Ronald, savagely.
Thanks" she murmured.
.And. moreover, he could not possa-
,ly love you" :.
"Thanks-0nce more" |.
.sOr anyone else, except himself. But. !,
i course. see that he has advantages. / \
|h. don't trouble to explain what they !.
re! I see them. How pleased every !
ne will be. especially mamma! twill i.
II be quite delightful" i,
There was Z silence. The sun had .
isappeared and the blue sky had 9
urned to gray. (.
SITS not 50 pleasant rs it was, IL it7'' n
,quired Angelica, presently. y
s)lo," !" shortly. J