Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-18
FRIDAY

which might have been a scornful ten
derness.
Forget it, George" she said not UNI
kindly. You have had my no, and You
must take it for your answer"
"Falice," ne cried again, and took
step toward her.
She raised both hands as if to ward his
coming and Strengthened her back
against the stern of the shrouded boat.
With an impetuous gesture the young
man drew back and. STOPPING, snatched
up the oars and hurled them far out into
the wall of fog.
There he hoarsely shouted at her, as
if in desperate defiance of her perversity.
"Since you wish it so, we will indeed end
1t all, but together, not apart"
He sank back modify into his seat, and
clasping his hands modify about his
knees stared at her gloomily through
the fog
Falice had started up with a little cry
as he threw the cars away. She knew too
well what that meant They had become
a helpless derelict, supine on the silent,
CLASSY water. unable even to creep to
safety toward the shrouded voice of the
mourning siren. But she too sank to her
seat and was STILL The fog grew denser.
Now swift rush of wind rippled the wa
ter and stirred the tiny craft uneasily.
The lake grew voiceful beneath it's SOM
bre mantle of dull gray and with pad
ding tongue licked hungrily the seams of
the oreless boat. Every minute the 81
rem sounded to the gloom it's iterant
Hoo! Hoo" The warning call seemed
now farther away. The girl bent her
head but remained untongued.
George rose unsteadily and stood on
trembling legs in the rocking boat.
third time he spoke her name. There
was the light of a love-born frenzy in
his blue eyes and he drew his fine figure
upward as one who has formed great
resolve
"Falice." he said. "You say you love
me. You say you cannot marry because
| have no ambitions. You charge me with
Incidence. You even laughed and said
it is untrue the giant sloth is extinct.
Well we will end it. Come
He held out his hand imperiousy. This
time the girl looked up. His manner
made his purpose clear.
The wind had risen higher still and
now whistled shrilly about them. The
boat was drifting. Falice looked
straight before her through the breeze
swept alleys of the fog and across her
face once more fitted that uninterpre-
table shadow of a smile. so swiftly evan
escent She held out her hand to George
and put her foot upon the gunwale as he
did his.
"Come!" he cried again-and they leap
ed together hand in hand. The lines of
his mouth had grown grim and straight
but the girl, who looked behind him,
hardly could conceal a tender fearful
laughter.
AS they splashed furiously into the rip
pied lake the breeze swept the light boat
away and instantly it's keel grated upon
the beach. moment, as they sprang.
he had. repentant sought to stay the girl,
but it was too late. They entered the wa
ter together-and then, stood erect. 1t
reached her waist. With a passionate
gesture he drew her to his arms ,there
in the comprising water and kissed her
fondly, all unresisting. Then she threw
her round arms about his bent neck and
burst into hysterical sobbing interleaved
with ribald laughter
He looked at her ruefully. Then he.
too, laughed but his laugh was honest
and like the larks' matin song.
Come" he said, and unclasping her
| clinging caress and taking her in his
strong arms he sturdily waded up the
shelving beach to shore.
Let us run, Falice," he cried gaily.
"Let us run to the parson."
| She felt for his hand once more and let
| hers nestle there.
at was because I loved you so.' she
said. answering a question which no
voice had asked
Hoo! Hoo" cried the siren jauntily,
! as they ran away together claspinS
| hands.