The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-15

often he found it necessary TO put his
hand over hers where it grasped the oar
in order to steady the stroke. 1t was
contest between two past masters in
the art of flirting-and each thought
the other novice. He told her how he
mad been tied up in business in Detroit,
and had had no time for society, and
no" doubly lonely it had been for him,
not showing anyone in Kansas City
until he had met her And she had
conhded 10 him that she had only been
out Of a strict boarding-school for
lew weeks. and her mother was just be-
ginning to let her receive company-so
she had met hardly any young men as
yet.
Absorbed in this interesting game of
hearts, neither of them had noticed how
dark it was getting. They had left the
penthouse about seven o'clock. shortly
alter sunset of a beautiful May even
ing According to schedule the full
moon should be up a. seyen-thirty. and
that was what Mr.. Wilbur had been fig
urlnS on. Of course. he noticed it was
Dark down under the shadow OF the
MI. but The hill itself kept him from
seeing the ugly. black clouds that had
neen creeping up from the south
lie had dropped his oar and his left
arm had stolen around her waist. while
MS 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
a clang 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 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
WiIbW's lips. as his eyes gazed in hor-
ror at the hilltop. He might we'll ask it.
From the lower part of the cloud was a
black, writing column. thai as it
rushed over the hill was taking the
mighty trees from their roots as a man
would pluck handful OF clover. 1t hoy
cred above them like an eagle over a
lark Even in that awful moment Mart
Wilbur did not lose his presence of
mind. lie caught Sadie in his arms as
II she were baby and laid her down
in the stern of the beat springing back
10 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 haG ever encountered
on Lake Erie tossed their boat about
like feather The sir was filled with
debris, branches Of trees and shrubbery
from the hill above, while a black mist
seemed to fill the space all about them.
Then came the rama pouring flood
that drenched them to the skin in a
moment
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 let
only that afternoon he had written his
- iSAih ItiNS tIAN iVNNs ODlhlOu vi DtI.
Why, she was 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 a cyclone-and how he
could handle boat.
Only for a 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.
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 a minute--only their eyes met-as
he drew her closer to him. There was
no need to plead for the kiss now-she
gave il without asking. and gave her
heart with it. as they rowed slowly back
to the dismantled boa house together.