The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-09-06
A STORMY WOOING.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
~ WOULD die for you, Annie.
Yes, and I would kill any
man that stood between me
and Ynnp'
ByD l. Metto.

and your
Annie gave n little laugh. How dare
she when her very soul was shaken by
the violence of her lovers passion,
when, In the darkness, she could see
the sparkles shoot out of the gloom of
his eyes. She knew that his knit brow
was bent close upon her, and his hands
were holding hers like a vice. But
coQuetry was a 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 fu-
nerals here In the port, and two ghosts
of you to haunt me ever after on dark
nights. 1t is a fine offer, Richard, and
so sensiblep'
The young man recOiled little I'M
der 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.
ITO love you is to hate you, Annie
Bergen, and to hate you is to love you,
and l love you" he said, drawing her
to him In a fierce embrace.
Suddenly the girl broke down, all her
coquetry was gone, as the foam goes
when the wave breaks and leaves moth
ing but little ficks of mist, which
creep sObbing into the earth. Annie
was weeping on her lovers breast, her
wet cheek next to his.
r "a l.
last, thank God, and you will marry
me. Speak girl, and give me your
promise"
Then she spoke. They were only
tremulOus, and broken words with
fearful joy half sobbed, half spoken,
but they made her the betrothed of
Richard Cranshaw.
Was it an hour or only a few min
utes they stood there together? Happy
lovers, they could not tell Suddenly
a door was opened and a long bar of
light shot out into the darkness. With
the light came the sound Of music and
dancing, and the sight Of dancers
whirling past the open door.
"They are looking for u.s." said An
ME, 1--WE must go in for the last dance"
''It Is my last dance for long time,
l sail tomorrow"
There were no traces of tears on
Annie's face except the shining Of her
cheeks, which flashed as roses do in
the last drops of a summer shower,
her lips were tremulous with shy ten
derness, and her eyes shot sparkles Of
triumph. Such face, so quickened 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.
II have been looking for you for
the last Dance" said a dapper young
man, who made bow more elaborate
than that in practice by the young meI
of Seaport. He was clearly a travel
ing man. The air Of cities, Of hotels
and of sleeping cars was upon him
lie 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 Il
some of the girls.
ooh, Mr.. Marquett" cried Annie, 81
really fear you are mistaken. l do no
remember giving you this dance"
ct is q mistake somewhere" saiC
Fred Parker, a young man who haC
the village store. Its the dance en-
gagged you for ten days ago when W,
were talking OF getting up the Assem-
bly,"
"Oh. Fred" Annie answered lightly
''you know I have not any memoir!
and you ought not to have asked ~
so long beforehand"
Its my dance, and you know it,
muttered Richard in a suppresse
tone. which only Annie heard. H
stood close to her side glowerine wit
black brOws upon the group. Sh
could hear him breathing hard. Th
situation was getting to be ridiculous
Let me seer she cried, checking Of
her partners with a motion Of her pre-
" forehnger. Fred, ten days age
Mr.. lArQuett five hours, and you jus
new" turning with a look into RicI