Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08

then we talk about Indifferent things until my
mother comes out to Us and greets James
her.
Although the day is fine. the river is full for
the Time OF year, running past the garden with
strong stream towards the weir hundred
yards below. group Of children on the other
soe, whose laughter floats pleasantly over, are
sending in retriever after sticks. Near them q
wall bounds the stream but they are standing
where an opening made for watering horses
breaks the line Of the little embankment. Lazily
1 watched the dog enjoying the sport as much
as any one, until the biggest of the children
throws one farther from the bank than before
Neptune springs in merrly and swims quickly
towards the mOrsel. which, on our side of the
river, is invisible. Has it sunk? No, the cur
rent has caught it. and the dog following 1t
boldly. is carried down full 40 yards before he
SEXES it. He turns and breasts the stream, but.
tired by his previous eXertions, soon makes
for the bank. The sheer wall rising six feet
from the water. gives him no chance of land
ing. Again and again he tries and each time
failing. falls heavily back under water Then
the poor fellow loses his presence of mind. and
instead of steadily swimming back to the open-
ing IN the wall he paddles to and fro. irving to
Chamber up, and wasting all his strength in
these useless efforts. Even ut this distance
l can fancy his big patient eyes looking up pit
eously. and jump up, but without an idea what
to do. "A'
oh, Ainslie. he will be drowned"
Yes, Amber, think that dog has had his
day, says my cousin, without rising Oh if he
could know how 1 hate him! Audibly. I'm
afraid, mutter s. Brute!' and turn to Ainslie.
VINO is leaning with one hand on the grass and
the other shading his eyes, which are fixed upon
the struggle.
I'm afraid there is nothing else for It," saws
he quickly. and hear the gate clash to behind
him, and [ see his tall. straight figure speeding
over the bridge And We can only stand there
and look on. cannot see how the dog is far
inc how n,lx-,n,
rescue. He reaches the spot filings off his coat
and shoes and punges in. A moments strur-
gle and with one hand on the dogs collar. he
Is swimming slowly towards the opening in the
wall. Very slowly it seems to two of us; but
his touch gives new courage to the dog. the
steady strokes conquer, and both are helped
out by the dozen hands ready to receive them
ana to attend to the poor dog. l have no
Thought of him now; l can only watch the
drenched figure that so quickly tears itself from
the cheering crowd and comes running back,
looking little ashamed of his enthusiasm. as
nave noticed men will look when they have done
anything to be proud of.
do not wait for him. but have fed into the
house. And am so proud. O, so proud of him.
that | CRY little Bit and have to wash nv face
before go down stairs; and if came down n
woman and wiser. with knowledge of myself and
OF others gained from those tears which had
not possessed before. that knowledge is very
lar from making me sadder. But it does in
l.
clumsy and awkward and ill at ease and it is
not my cousins superabundance OF blandness
winch makes me 80 now. Yet, through nv own
reserve and consciousness i gain glorious
glimpse that makes me sing as later 90 to bed
into the feelings that may lie behind those signs
i'm another.
1t was unlucky that the episode of the dog
which l have set down at length should have
occurred on that paEtcular day. This is an
after thought. for at the time had no idea of
conceallng my feelings towards James or the
opinion Of him which this unlucky incident had
led me to form. As things were to be it was
unlucky fOrit made me reject the suit which it
appeared he came to proffer in way should
not otherwise have adopted. 1t was i'm the gar
den that he spoke; after dinner when the lights
in the town were beginning to sparkle in the
dusk. He spoke well-James never failed to do
that-out the earnestness was not all feigned-
my w0man's vanity, angry as 1 was forbade me
to believe that; and now have better means Of
Knowing what mind lay behind that pale face
and those shifting hands, that seemed in the
moment of pleading to have cast aside disguise.
NO. James. it cannot be!' said at last, tired
OF his prOtestatiOns. ''My answer would have
been Just the same yesterday; but could never
IKE IN that way man who could let dog die
with cynical sneer"
You will think better Of this. Amber" he
sald with pale smile.
Il shall never think better of you." / an
swered savagely. crushing down the pity felt
Tor his disappointment by working myself into
a rage.
He had pressed me sore before we parted
thus; yet when. on leaving. he offered me his
hand. he smiled 80 blandly that coald fancy it
a cream And seeing him smile so, and Ainslie
crossing the bridge with his hands on the
horses neck, l was somehow uneasy without
rhyme or reason.