Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-13


darksome recesses of the glade.
"Where is the springp she breath.
lessly demanded. "Where are the
others ?"
"It will be all right |" said Mr.. Bel
mont, with the smooth, plausible smile
which she so disliked. "Don't hurry,
I begl There is plenty of time. Take
my arm. I know of short cut
which,"
"But I don't like short cuts |" said
Angela, angrily, as she remembered that
she was alone with this man in the
woods. "Take me back at oncer'
Mr.. Belmont laughed in sinister
fashion.
"You don't like short CUTS" said he,
"and you don't like mel But 1 like
you, my pretty princess, and Kate has
been obliging enough to play into my
hands. There they go back to the
steamer. They have hardly had time
enough to get much maiden-hair fern,
eh ?"
"Let us hasten |" cried breathless
Angela. "There the boat whistles
nowp
But Mr.. Hugo Belmont planted his
stalwart figure resolutely across the
path.
"We are not going back" said lie.
'Now don't tremble so, Angela know
some very pleasant people who live
down this road, and l am going to take
you there to spend the evening. All is
fair you know, my dear, in love and
war"
Angela burst into wild shrek.
"Helpl" she cried, spurning the
sneering villain away-"helpi help I
Oh, is there no one to hear me?'
At that self-same second tall, dark
figure seemed to glide like shadow
across their path-Hugo Belmont fell
backward like log, measuring his
length on the dewy grass, and Angela
felt her arm drawn resolutely through
that of-Dr. Frank Buddingtonl
"You here?" she cried, with little
hysteric gasp. "Oh, Frank, am 80
glad-so thankfulp
eve must walk quickly" he said, in
low voice. "The steamer has already
sounded her signal of departure-we
bova not q aecon5 IN JosaD
It was like troubled dream-the
shifting moonlight, the dewy thickets,
the glisten of the river, the conscious
ness that they were once more aAoat,
with the sweet clamor of "The Beauti-
full Blue Danube" again Ginning in her
ears, the colored lights of the boat
shedding rainbow-like glory on the
thronged deck.
Doctor Buddington led her to &C.
cluded seat, and stood in silence beside
her. She was very pale-she wrung her
hands.
"How came you on board ~ she
asked, in low tone.
Because, Angela, I felt that you
needed protector because I did not
dare to trust my treasured lamb among
wolves. Do you know, DEAR" he added,
impressively, "that you have had q
most narrow escape?"
EYES," she answered, shuddering.
"Oh, Frank, I have been so mad, SO
willful, that Ialmost deserved the worst
which fate could award me. have
been trying an experiment with my own
heart, and it has failed me. Dear Frank.
can you forgive me2 Can you credit me
when tell you that shall never defy
your better judgment againP"
He stopped down in the shadow and
tenderly kissed her brow.
"My own darling" he said, "I can
credit anything which is good and true
of you'll You are only little willful,
that is ALL"
but never will be willful again, p
she whispered, "for love you, Frank
and il my folly had estranged you.
should have been wretched for life."
And that was the end of Angela's ex.
periments; and Mrs. DR.. Buddington il
the most graceful and dignified Of young
matrons, SO that even Mrs. George says,
wonderingly:
81 never could have believed that she
could turn out such q perfect woman
Frank, you were right, after all."--
Helen Forrest GrdreS.
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