Evening journal., 1899-02-14

of course, 1 see that be has advantages.
Oh. don't trouble TO explain what they
arel / see them. How pleased every
one VIII be, especially mammal twill
all be quite delightful"
There was a silence. The sun had
disappeared and the blue sky had
turned 70 gray.
"lt's not SO pleasant rs il was, is it?"
inquired Angelica, presently.
No" shortly
81 felt a drop Of raiu. Are we far
from home. Ronald?"
ayes; about three miles"
"Oh. dear; are we? Why don't you
turn quickly. then2 Don't you see it's
going 10 be wet?"
81 thought you were steering" i"
rudely.
"You might help me-" she said.
plaintively. tugging at the rope.
He gave a swift stroke OF two. and
they swung round. There were angry
masses of clouds drifting toward them
over an uneasy, rufiied 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
Il than anything in the world. oh. lis
tenl"
There was a subdued but silent roar
in the distance, now dying away. now
gathering force and cracking omi-
nously.
Ronald, was that thunder2" said An
gelica. waveringly.
There is generally thunder when II
hghtens." he answered, with bitter sar-
casm.
"But we're out in an open boat, miles
from home OF shelter Of any hndl"
Il am aware OF that"
She gave a pathetic little gulp and
pressed her hands together.
"Oh-hl There's another fash. Ron
ald--I-l'm going 10 faintl"
Faint? Nonsensei" he returned,
roughly.
Nonsense What do you mean. Mr.
Grant? How dare you? ! suppose
have a right 10 faint if choose? !
ahi"
Crash. rattle. rattle. bang. C-r-a-c-kl
"Put that over YOU" said Ronald
s,ernly. wrapping her in his macldn-
tosh coat.
"But it doesn't rain. and thar makes
81 m-much more dangerous. .d-doesn1
il. Ronald2'
"Much more" lie answered. merci
iessly.
"Ohl how can You be so heartles
and cruel?" she moaned. you don
care how much I suffer! Men are al
ways like that
"And women never. OF course" put IL
Ronald. with quiet irony.
"Oh. dont--don't be so hard!
know I'm a wicked girl. and this is 4
punish met" A vivid gleam shot up L
the heavens and something seemed q
burst over their heads. "Oh. Ronald
I'm a frenzy Of terror save me. saw
mel Oh. let us die togetherl I lov
YOU. oh. you know dol Don'tlook a
me so coldly; forgive me. oh. forgiv
me. Ronald" Angelica hid her face /
the cushions and sobbed
II con better afford 10 die with yoI
dear. than TO live without you" sal
Ronald. tenderly. There was u susp
cious twitching about his mouth. bu
he mastered himself heroically, and
did not become q smile.
A silence followed. The thunde
rolled and iumbled away 10 The ives
aud presently there was CLEAN NOR
brilliant than any before.
whats that awful light?" moane
Angelica.
Look. dear. It's the sum-"
"The sunl" She started up IN COT
sternation. "It can't be. Ronald (il
dignantly)). Do you mean 10 tell n
the storm is oyer?"
81 think it's passed by. You seem al
royed. Aren't you glad we're out {
dahger?"
"Yes-yes. Of course. Only Thought
neutrality-suspicious. now. Mr.. Gran
you will take me home?"
Yes. I'll take you home. Nan. They
be surprised. won't they. at our news
News? What do you mean Y''gas pc
Angelica.
II think you know" There was =
mistake about his smile now.
Ronald" she said patheticall
snow. you're not going 10 be tir
some?"
Man he answered. gravely. II Z
hope not. But. Of course. a lifetime
a severe test"
You know It was only because W,
so frightened. It's a mean advantage
it's ungcntlemanly"-her voice di,
away weakly.
Ronald (provokingly)-Are you quii
sure you didn't mean all yon said?
Angelica (iearfuily)-It's so absurt
Mamma will be so angry.-Mary Ma
lean, in London Answers.
Not Guilty.
Miss Asenath Harper is "gettir
along in years" a fact which she is u
willing to accept. She wears vel
youthful clothes; in fact. She has bee