The age-herald., 1900-08-12
..H StOrmu WOOlnO..
BY D. !. MErro.

'I would die for you, Annie. Yes, and would kill any man that stood between me and you!'
 Annie gave little laugh. How dare she when her very soul was shaken by the vio- lence of her lovers passion, when, in the darkness, she could see the sparkles shoot out of the gloom his eyes. She knew that his knit brow was bent close upon her, and his hands were holding hers like vice. But coquetry was part of Annie as the foam Is part of the waves. She gloried in her power
 Then there would be two dead men of you, all on my account Two funerals here in the port, and two ghosts of you to haunt me ever after on dark nights. It Is fine olIer, Richard, and so sensible!
 The young man recoiled a little under the taunt as a great oak might move in a winter storm He laid his hands on the girls shoulders and held her off at arms length.
 ..fo love YOU is to hate you, Annie Ber- gen, and to hate you is to love you, and love you" he said drawing her to him in a fierce embrace.
 Suddenly the girl broke down, all her CO., quetry was gone, as the foam goes when the wave breaks and leaves nothing but little Hicks of mist, which creep sobbing into the earth. Annie was weeping on her lovers breast, her wet cheek next to his.
 you love me, Annie. I know it at last, thank God, and you will marry me Speak girl and give me your promise"
 Then she spoke. They were only trem- ulous. and broken words with fearful joy half sobbed, half spoken, but they made her the betrothed of Richard Cransnaw.
 Was 1t an hour or only few minutes they stood there together? Happy ioVers' they could not tell. Suddenly door was opened and a long bar of light shot out into the darkness With the light came the sound of music and dancing, ana the sight of dancers whirling past the open door. .
 "They are looking for us,'' said Annie i've must go in for the last dance'
 Tt Is my last dance for a long time. sail tomorrow"
 There were no traces of tears on Annie's s face except the shining of her cheeks, which flashed as roses do in the last drops of summer shower, her lips were tremu- lous with shy tenderness, and her eyes shot sparkles of triumph. Such face, so quick ened in the strife of pride and love, one might never chance to see in a whole life time, it caught the gaze of the dancers as they swept past. When the music stopped the young men edged about the spot where she stood.
 q have been looking for you for the last dance," said d dapper young man, who made a bow more elaborate than that in practice by the young men of Seaport. He was clearly a travelling man. The air of cities of hotels, and of sleeping cars was upon him. He had come to the place to sell goods and to show samples; had made &C., quaintances of the young men; stayed to the dance and been introduced to some of the girls.
 "Oh, MT. Marquett" cried Annie, "I re- ally fear you are mistaken. do not remem- Der giving you this dance!'
 Tt Is a mistake somewhere" said Fred Parker, a young man who had the village store Its the dance l engaged you for ten days ago when we wera talking of get ting up the assembly,
 "Oh, Fred" Annie answered lightly; you know I have not any memory and you ought not to have asked me so long before hand"
 Its my dance, and you know it," nut