The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-09-24

head leaned gradually against his waist.
coat, and III five minutes he stopped in
the middle of his narrative. Then Amy
Herbert spoke:
nm not asleep; have been awake
for some time, and have been thinking.
You are the gentleman who rescued Ida
OFF the rocks, are you not?"
eyes" Hugh said.
- thought so, Now, please, how
came you and Ida here, and where are
we, and why don't we 60 home ?"
"You rolled down n steep grassy
slope on to n ledge. You struck yo,il
mead i'll falling, and were insensible for 0
time. l came up, and should have run
of for assistance, but l feared if you
moved before / came back you would
fall over another fifty feet, 30 l took Idl
and slipped down to YOU"
Cant I move9" he girl asked pres,
emily.
"Are you uncomfortable p
"No," she said shyly.
"Then You had better liestill," Hugh
said decisively. "The ledge is very
narrow, and you are weak, and | dare
say giddy, for you lost great deal OF
blood. So You really might fall over il
you sat up. With my arm round you,
you are quite safe"
And Hugh emphasized the fact by
drawing her still more closely to him.
Her slight figure yielded to the pressure,
and with little movement, which was
very like the nestle with which Ida had
prefaced her subsistence to sleep, AMY
Herbert lay quiet, and in avery few min.
utes Hugh was sure, from her regular
breathing, that she too was asleep.
at must he near ly ten O'clock" Hugh
said to himself. 81 should think we
ought very soon to get out of this. The
old lady will be fidgety by half-past
seven, alarmed by half-past eight, and by
half-past nine she ought to have all
yarmouth ont with torches. But women
are so long before they set about a thing
in earnest. They begin to fidget long
before man does, but they don't set To
work to take desided steps. Still,
searchers ought to he out by this time.
am beginning to feel horribly cramped.
] suppose some fellows would like this
sort Of thing, but don't see any point
in it whatever"
In another quarter of an hour Hugh
saw several lights coming along road be-
low and could hear faint shouts, which
seemed to be echoed by party proceed
ing along the hill. They were moving
but slowly, for there were lights half
way up the lace, and they were evidently
searching very carefully. The wind
was from them, and it was useless for
Hugh to try and return their shouts.
Gradually they got nearer, and he de-
termined to make IN effort, but to do so
it was necessary to stand up. He moved
slightly, and the elder girl moved also.
Wake up, please" he said; "help
is ut hand
She raised herself at once.
81 do think l have been asleep.
feel ever so much better"
81 will stand up to shout" Hugh
said. "Will you lean back against the
hill? Twill lay your cousin down with
her head in your lap. She is as sound as
top. Now for it," and standing ND.
Hugh gave shout with all the power of
his lungs.
There was pallse in the movement of
the lanterns, and then a shout.
"Hallo-a-a! Hugh shouted again;
"this way!"
Rapidly the lanterns came ALTERING
along the road till they were down in
front of them.
Here We are here are the ladies p
Hugh shouted.
"Any one hurt 2"
"Not much, but we can't get either up
or down. You must let n rope down to
us from above. Here we are;" and Hugh
struck match and lighted large piece
of paper. "Have the party above got
ropes?"
There was shouting backward and for
ward, but the party above had not got
ropes.
"Send back for them mt once" Hugh
shouted, land be sure and tell the lady
that no damage il done here"
elbow do you feel now ?-I was going
to say cousin Amy" he laughed; "but l
really haven't the pleasure of knowing
your name"
"Amy Herbert"
Glow do you feel now, Miss Herbert?"
81 feel weak, and rather headachy."
she said; "but there il nothing really
the matter with me. What an escape /
have had"
eyes, you had a narrow squeak of it, "
Hugh said frankly; "just another pound
or two of impetus and you would have
gone over the ledge"
She was silent, and he went on:
"Do You object to smoke? Because
If you don't should really like to light
my pipe"
"NOt at all, Amy said.
"There's something comfortable about
pipe" Hugh said, when it was fairly
II. k.,Ii
gets pipe alight."
81 think men can talk ut all times.
Amy said, with flash of her usual srir.
its.
"Some men can," Hugh SAID. 81
can talk with men; but, do you know,
somehow / can't talk with women.
can talk with you now because l don't
see you, and because am smoking; bu.
1 should feel horribly uncomfortable il
/ met you in the morning."
az did not know any men were shy
with women, nowadays" Amy said.
"Shyw Hugh replied. "Well, yes,
1 suppose it is sort Of shyness with me.
l never had any sisters, and 80, you see,
1 never got in the way of talking To
girls. 1t is very annoying sometimes,
and makes people think me bear.
suppose you Thought so. You must
have done 3d."
EYES," Amy said. 81 did think you
rather bear. / am not accustomed to
shy yonng men, and simply fancied you
did not want to speak to strangers. And
now, please tell me exactly what hap.
pened, because shall have to tell aunt,
and have only confused idea of what
has taken place"
Again Hugh told her the facts.
"Then owe my life to you, the CIR
said, when he had finished.
81 really don't think you do" Hugh
said, in matter-of-fact way. Il ques
ton very much if you would have come
round out Of your faint before L could
have brought help from yarmouth
However, of course, / acted for the best
and it avoided all risk. There was NJ
danger in getting down to you; the littl,
one and slipped down as easy as posi-
bic. If thought you were going to tel
me tomorrow that you were very CRATE
full, or anything of that sort, l give you
my honor should go right away by TIT
coach to Carnarvon."
The girl felt by the tone Of Hugh
voice that there was no affection abou
him, that he really meant what he said
81 may just say thank you, now?'
she asked quietly.
| eyes, just thank you,'" he sait
lightly. -
"lf were a man would shake hand
over it?" the girl asked.
eyes," Hugh said.
"Please give me your hand"