El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-06
1THjIE RAIMMAMIELR@ !
By ELLIS PARKER BUTLER.

Copyright. 1889, by Errtn U-ardman.

x x
They were looking into the garden.
From deep and constant study of
novels" she said, Il have learned that
whenever lovers quarrel indoors the rain
drops uniaiiingly 'plash against the
pane.
We might play at being lovers
"Of course" she said, only to quar-
rel
Well he said, what shall we fight
over, Girly?'
81 wish you wouldn't call me 'Girly.'"
Very well; your wishes shall be obey
ed. Miss Morton"
Il never gave you permission to call
me anything else, anyway" she said.
You never objected" he retorted.
NO. she said, because we were
babes together. You should have sense
enough to know when to quit"
81 thought you rather liked it," he
sneered.
"Fudge!' she cried. "Your thoughts
take great liberties. 1 should like to
know why you should think l liked it.
1t always bored me-"
b perhaps 1 bore you now" he said
stiffly, turning to the door.
perhaps you do" she said.
|! He went into the hall and took his
hat. She sat with n wrinkle on her brow
A low rumble echoed through the air.
Jack she called.
He re-entered the room.
did you hear the thunder?' she ask
ed. at is working splendidly."
ct was only some one driving over the
bridge" he said. That was what it
really was.
but, Grace" he said, ''you didn't real
lily mean that you dislike being called
'Girly,' did your
Il really don't like it, she said.
"But every one else does" he pleaded.
"That makes no difference to yOu,"
she said.
81 suppose you wouldn't object if Tom
Rhodes should call YOU
''What Tom Rhodes does or does not
call ME has nothing to do with it, she
cried, blushing.
"Oh," he sneered. 81 suppose he can do
what he pleases."
/ She arose and faced him, trembling.
"Mr. Kent" she said stiffiy, MIR.
Rhodes is at least q gentleman"
! you will pardon me-" he said, IF l
take exception to your remark. L think
otherwise.
She clinched her hands.
"You''- she began, but against the
window fell a shower of FLASHING drops.
She turned suddenly with a smile and
looked out. The sky was overcast.
He laughed weakly. SIS it raining|'
he asked.
1T is the gardener sprinking the
roses" she said.
For a minute they were silent.
do you know when you insult one Of
my friends you insult me?" she asked Sc
verCly.
''If you choose such friends, you must
expect to be irsulted,'' he said fercely.
"If you were a gentleman"- she be-
gan.
"Oh, pshaw' he laughed, Don't be
heroic
'And anyway" she said, seating her
self on the sofa, 81 think you are very
small and mean to say such things about
any one who is absent"
He seems to have a very partial de-
fender at hand" he said, Struggling his
shoulders.
'If I choose to defend him, it is my
own affair."" she said.
Certainly" he said stifly. defend
whom you like. 1t is to be presumed
that you like whom you defend"
Il like people who treat me decently,"
she cried.
"And 1 like those who have a little
sense" he said.
Thank you" she said haughtily.
"Perhaps if you try you can find some
one-elsewhere.'
81 can at least find some one who will
not prefer the company of a Tom
Rhodes to mine"
He walked half way across the room.
Good afternoon he said.
She did not answer. He closed his
lips firmly and walked into the hallway.
He paused with his hand on the knob
and looked back. She was sitting with
her face in her palms. The raindrops
were FLASHING against the window pane.
He threw his hat into Il corner and sat
beside her on the sofa.
'It is raining, Girly,' he said.
She did not look up.
"And that proves we are lovers" he
said. taking her wrists in his hands. He
gently drew her hands away from her
face.
81 am sorry, Girly." he said. 1--we
We're only pretending to quarrel, you
know. / didn't mean a word"
She looked up with moist eyes.
eyes" she said. smiling, Eve were only
pretending"
you do love me, don't your he said.
"Of course. you dear boyr' she cried.
"And, just see, it really Is raining"
She turned her face toward him. He
saw good place for kiss and put one
there.
The sun burst from behind the cloud,
and the rain ceased.
"Jack." she cried reprovingly, you
shouldn't have done that
mot kiss you?" he asked ruefully.
Eyes" she said. You might have
known. In novel the sun always
bursts from behind a cloud when the
lovers make up, and it is so awfully hot
today, Jack. You might have let it
rain
81 wonder he said thoughtfully,
what effect on the weather another kiss
would have|'
81 don't know" she said. 1.-THE novels
don't go into that part of it very deep
ly."
81 should hate to bring on a cyclone"
Il f,,II,