Smyrna times., 1880-10-20
bread.cake, and without stopping to think,

bread cake, and without stopping to think,
l drew in old Pomp's rein.
care you going towards Lennox Cross
Roads?" said L. ayes" "Then jump in
Pm going in that direction, too, and I'll
give you lift"
He thanked me in silent, dropping sort
of way, and seated himself on the board at
the back of the wagon, towards which
pointed with the handle of my whip.
"You look ILL.," said l.
81 am not ill.," he said with smothered
cough. "Only tired with my long walk,
didn't know it was so far to Lennox."
g. suppose you are going for work?'
said l. deacon Briefly has a good many
hands just now in his tobacco factory.
"No," said he, am not going to work"
| asked no more question. | did not
like the idea of a mans shrouding himself
in mystery in that sort of way and, so
glanced around once more, sudden revela-
ton came across me like blaze of light.
II was the same man who had eyed ME
80 keenly on the steps of the Park Hotel.
Then | remembered my mothers words
of caution, Leeman's reiterated exhorta-
tons, and the landlords friendly words of
warning.
And in spite of it all, had deliberately
thrust my silly head into the jaws of
danger. There was only one thing for ME
to do-to get out of the scrape as well as
could.
cast about in my mind how to do this !;
and presently, with beating heart l drop
ped little parcel of blue ribbon into the
road.
"Ohr' cried, checking up Pomp, +" I've
dropped my parcel. Would-would you
mind getting out after it?'
"Not in the least" said the stranger !;
and he climbed laboriously out Of the
| wagon.
He had scarcely set his feet upon the
ground before laid the whip on old Pomp
with n will, and ratified away over the long,
straight road at a pace that seemed positive.
ly marvellous to me and POmp BOTH
So we left our passenger behind in the
middle of the Red swamp. could see
him standing there, blank and astOnished,
the sole picture in the long prospective, as
| ventured to look back; but | only whip
ped Pomp the harder, and never let him
bate his pace till we were well out of Red
swamp.
give out generated him." said I tc
myself, "and I've saved Leeman's $24
Pm sorry about the blue ribbon; but it was
, only yard and quarter after all, and
can trim Lil's hat with something else"
! They were delighted at my proves wher
related my adventures at home. Leemar
/ declared l was a capital little market
woman; mother shuddered at the desper
ate tramp alone with me in the swamp
} Lii declared that | was a hero.
4 Wasn't it good idea for Kate to drol
the blue ribbon and send him after it?
said she.
t "Kate was goose ever to let him &c
> into the wagon" said Leeman, knitting hi
e brow. "Kate mustn't go by herself such
d long distance again" said my mother.
And l drank my cup of tea and resteC
myself, and went out afterward to see tn
new brood of darling little yellow chick
y nest during my absence.
was on my knees in the hen house
J, feeding them with scalded meal from tn
b palm of my hand, when l heard mothe
y calling me from the house.
d "Kate! Katel come up at once! Co
- Hay has arrived.
"Col. Hay?"
u started up, looking with blank disma
If at my calico dress, and the meal stains o
g my hands.
However, there was nothing for it but I
;, obey the summons; so | went up to tn
house. sort of blur seemed to cora
}, before my eyes as l entered the sittin
r, room and heard mother saying:
It "Col. Hay, this is my eldest daughte
Kate"
10 And then the blur cleared away, and
d knew the man had twice before seen thu
Of day-the pale, tired traveller whom had 6
st recklessly abandoned in the middle of th
er Red swamp.
Is oil beg your pardon, Col. Hay"
| 4 I Al. l.
thief"
g. The burst of laughter that followed frol
is every inmate of the room effectually sea
I'd tered all embarrassment.
IS, "That was my adventure. And CO
to Hay has long since forgiven me that unkin
deserton of him. In fact, this is qui
I'd private and confidential, mind, we are to
a. marriedIsoon, and am going with him
he Florida, to try the effects of a southel
be climate on his health. That is all. Isr
it enough?"