Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-13

/ roism. Other people would doubtless
come to pull them both out later, but the
moments were precious, and the child
/ And here he came up again, just out OF
her reach. She dropped the vine, took
/ the step needed to catch him, and fell
! with him to the muddy bottom.
Ruth Bennett was chiefly conscious o!
! her ruined dress and mud despatched
! face when. a minute later she climbed up
/ the'bank with her burden. The garden
/ or and coachman were there; Mr.. Hale
was there, too; but he let the Others help
1 her up. and his paternal raptures did not
/ extend to taking his dripping son ana
| heir in his arms.
Garry him up to the house. Bates, he
said, after glance had assured him that
! the child was unhurt, ''and put him In a
bath-tub at once. Ard you, Miss Ben
nett
"Ineed to 90 into one too, " she gasped,
/ trying to wiring the water from her skirts
Her ears were roaring with the water IN
| them she felt as if she had been drowned
and come to life again; but it was the
comedy of the situation which chiefly oc-
cupied her even then, and Mr.. Hale's di-
vided mind between his wish to be prop
erly grateful and his disguised sense of
her dripping condition. And then,
woman-like, as she tried to pick up her
dress with some light remark on its state,
she cried instead.
IL hope you haven't hurt yourself,
Mr.. Hale said, evidently not knowing
what to stay ''I-I am deeply grateful,
Miss Bennett than can express
and | should be very sorry-for any con-
sequences to yourself"
''Oh, it's nothing Ruth answered. as
soon as she could speak. "The only con-
sequences to myself are a ruined dress,
AID that's a proper revenge of fate 1t
was to save this dress-it was so new
then, and so pretty she added pathet
ically--''that | trespassed on your
grounds six weeks ago. | hope you APP
prcciate the fact of the Nemesis - And
Herewith she held up the torn and
streaming silk to his astonished eyes.
"You won't eXaggerate my heroism,n
she went on, elf | tell you that / thought
more of this than anything else when
went into the river. | knew there was
no real danger if kept steady head.
But hope the little boy won't take cold;
and as that is my own danger just now"
And before Mr.. Hale could recover him
self to find speech, she had swept him
hooking courtesy. and was flying toward
the Alexander house much as he had
seen her speed six weeks before.
''Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said,
a few days later. coming into the library
after the children had gone, 81 have
commission to discharge. It's rather
peculiar one, but hope you won't mind
such thing coming through a third
person OF course the situation is pc
cuIiar and rather delicate for Mr.. Hale.
He thought he would rather put it into
my hands that is, rather let me find out
first your-your feeling about it.
Miss Bennett looked up bewildered
Il don't understand, Mrs. Alexander Is
it about the little boy2 Does Mr. Hale
want to reward me''-a deep flush suf-
fused her fairness-"for what | did?
couldn't take his money, Of course"
II don't know that he would look at
it quite in that light, Mrs Alexander
answered. cit probably helped to bring
matters to climax with him. Indeed,
he intimated as much. And perhaps it
is reward of virtue Certainly it is
quite after the story book style; but YOU
are pretty enough and bright enough as
l told him. for almost any position. He
is seIf-made man himself; it isn't such
a wonderful condescension when one re-
members that. He couldn't expect to
marry into the Mayhowcr, for all his
wealth.
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses we're
playing her false. ''You don't mean
you can't mean" she cried, ethat he
wants to marry me?"
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soOthingIy. Il suppose it is rather over
whelming, my dear. 1t was to, me at
first. But, after all, why should he not
There are the three children, of course.
and he's twenty years older, and he
hasn't much beside his money to recon-
mend him; but it would .be a splendid
home for you, dear 1t seems he mas
watched you ever since that time You
trespassed. And he has made INQUIRIES
of me. He began making them some
time ago, but didn't notice. / thought
perhaps he wanted a governess. Of course
l gave you the highest recommends
tions, " she added, laughing, Though
didn't know the position he wanted YOU
to fill. He seems quite sure Of his own
feeling, and 1t Is certainly a great tri
umph for you, my dearsn
Miss Bennett sank back into the chad
from which she had half risen. Her minr
plainly could not take in the new situa-
ton; but she came to herself when Mrs
Alexander went on: sOf course Won may
want time to think it over. but he wouId
like To see YOU this evening and no ho,,o,