The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-10-09
/ conrss. the boat rocked while she vas

hand over hers where itgrasped the oar
in order to steady the stroke. 1t was
contest between two past masters-in
the art of fiirting-and each thought
the other a novice. He told her how he
had been tied up in business in Detroit,
and had had no time for society, and
how doubly lonely it had been for him,
not knowing anyone in Kansas City
until he had met her. And she had
confded to him that she had only been
out of strict boarding-school for
few weeks, and her mother was just be-
ginning to let her receive colnpany-so
she had met hardly any young men as
yet
Absorbed in this interesting game of
hearts neither of them had noticed how
dark 1t was getting. They had left the
boathouse about seven o'clock, shortly
after sunset of beautiful May even
ing. According to schedule. the full
moon should be up at seven-thirty, and
that was[what Mr.. Wilbur had been fig
uring on. OF course, he noticed it was
dark down under the shadow of the
hill, but the hill itself kept him from
seeing the ugly, black clouds that had
been creeping up from the south.
He had dropped his oar and his left
arm had stolen around her waist, while
his right hand had imprisoned the two
white ones which still held the oar, and
he was pleading his prettiest for Just
one little kiss" Suddenly there came
asclang of thunder that seemed to split
the very heavens, and at, the same time
the cloud which had stolen upon them
under cover of the hill rose above and
over them like a great black pail. as
AS they glanced up to the hill Sadie
screamed and covered her face with her
hands as she covered closer beside him.
My God! What is that?" burst from
Wilbur's lips. as his eyes gazed in hor-
ror at the hilltop. He might well ask it.
From the lower part of the cloud was a
black, writing column, that as it
rushed over the hill was taking the
mighty trees from their roots as man
would pluck handful of clover. 1t how
cred above them like an eagle over O
lark. Even in that awful moment Mart
Wilbur did not lose his presence of
mind. He caught Sadie in his arms as
if she were baby and laid her down
in the stern of the boat, springing back
ito his oars just as the awful thing above
them seemed to swoop forward with a
roar like hundred trip hammers In
an instant the surface of the water,
which had been so calm, was boiling
like cauldron, and waves that seemed
as large as any he had ever encountered
on Lake Erie tossed their boat about
like feather. The air was filed with
debris, branches of trees and shrubbery
from the hill above. while a black mist
seemed to fit the space all about them
Then came the rama pouring food
that drenched them to the skin in a
moment. r. a.. ~.
Sadie had raised herself from the bot
tom of the boat up onto the stern seat.
All the fear seemed to have left her now.
Was it her own natural courage-or was
it her, confidence in him? she asked her
self. How cool and brave she was YET
only that afternoon he had written his
friend quite the reverse opinion of her
Why, she was a girl to make any man
love her.
And he! Could this be the young man
whom she had told Ella was only an
eastern "dude"-fit for summers
Irritation? Why he was as cool and
collected as if this was summer breeze
instead of cyclone-andy how he
could handle boat. ~ .
Only for few minutes the terrible
uproar lasted. Even the rain ceased
but darkness was setting fast over the
river, as the noise died away. Wilbur
dropped his,oars again and Held out his
hands to her, 49,,
She had lost her hat in the storm but,
gathering her wet skirts about her, she
raised herself forward as he drew her
to the seat beside him. Neither spoke
for minute only their eyes met-as
he drew her closer to him. There was
no need to plead for the. kiss ow-she
gave it without asking. and gave her
heart with it. as they rowed slowly back
to the dismantled boathouse together.
Kansas City, Mo, May %, 1881.
My Dear Frank: I've changed my
mind about little Sadie. Well, she and