The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-23

spicuous than ever in it's furry surround.
ings, while her manifest desire to conceal Il
gave certain guilty look to her innocent
burden.
Why riH not young people look where
they are going? Never was step more FEAR
less and free, and therefore more safe than
Rosamond Vane's: but the one moment Of ~.
cident or awkwardness comes to all In its ali-
pointed time. She was still bending her head,
and twisting her seal skin, when suddenly
everything flew out Of her hands, her bas-
ket went of on tanget, her muf landed in
| the gutter and she found herself fiat on tho
pavement. realizing for the first time that
one does not have to 60 down into wei to
SEQ stars by daylight. y
| She tried to struggle up, when, ddenly
u strong hand raised and held her, aud q
voice, not very we'll known. but we'll re-
membered, exclaimed. at IL my turn to
help you now"
With flush of annoyance Rosamopd
| shook out her skirts, staightened her hat,
and put the hair out Of her eyes; then, look
ing up, met Philip Blount's quizzical glance,
and burst into peal Of laughter.
1T Is too funny" she gasped, as they
| hook hands, and he rescued her mutt, and
picked up the basket. But its contents
Jelly, wine, aud flowers mingled their
sweetness; and Westward, Ho! pSlstered
with snow and sickness, looked as though
It were flowing with milk and honey. Tho
street Was rs deserted as on the former oc-
casion; but Philip felt as he ruefully gath
cred together tho broken glass and the drip
ping rosebuds, that the man who could
walk up any New York street carrying that
wretched basket. could storm q breach OF
lead a forlorn hope. Balaklava was moth
| ing to it-nothing!
However every man can be q hero IL he
chooses. At arms lengh he held his drip
ding burden; then turned gayly to Rosa
mond, and said will you take my arm once
moreI"
Rosamond Vas not hurt not even very
much shaken, after the first moments but
she took his arm and turned homeward.
Mary must wait till another day; there was
no use in going to the hospital now.
when did you return" she asked.
"Only yesterday. This Ia my first walk
in New York. was just thinking Of my
last one, and Of you, when you precipitated
matters so unexpectedly. Are you sureyou
are not hurt?" ~
Not Bit" she said merlily. "T know
better than to sprain my ankle. 'Dontthink,
though, that undervalue your succor: it
requires great strength Of mind, If not Of
body, to carry that basket"
That day." he answered, n little incOher-
emily, did we not get each other mutually
into u scrape, l wonder? wonder, too,
whether you have heard tho last pieco of
news from England: AT St. Georges, Han
over Square, Mabel, only daughter of Henry
Braithwaite, Esq, of New York, to- Miss
Rosamond, do you really not know that Fred
Boone is married.
%, ,.,t. l,,t
start Of relief and joy as much az surprise.
II am very glad" she exclaimed. "But
do you really msan-is II possible he has
married Mabels" ~ ,fl .
Even so. I was at tho church, Ind
shook hands with the happy pair. Every
thing was strictly elegant, and properly ar
ranged, and they are likely to live in En-
gland for the present" ~.-s......~
Their eyes met once more, and neither
could resist q comical smile, although Rosa
mond's color had deepened, and Philip
thought how pretty she looked in her
amused embarrassment. Even now no was
nearly unconscious Of what 1t was that had
pulled at his heart strings as he congratulated
the well-matched pair ut st. Georges, and
suddenly resolved, US he passed out Of the
church, that it was no time for a man to-
dawdle away his life in another country whom
work, if not happiness, awaited him athonae.
Need We go farther2 Is it neccessaryto
state in plain words that this was by no
means the last walk which this young cou-
Pile took together? Their intimacy grew rap
idly, and the thread Of sympathy which ran
through their fates only bfoadened and
strengthened with time. And thus it came
to pass That when one day Philip asked,
"Rosamond. will you 60 through life with
me2" she could neither feel nor feign sur.
prise, but said, demurely, though with a
happy glow Of emotion In her bright face.
IF do, we had better take for our mot
to, United we stand, divided we fallr"