Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-15

/ erly grateful ana 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 ell am deeply grateful,
Miss Bennett--more 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 ruined dress,
ard that's 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 ap-
preciate 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," "
she went on, 'if l tell you that l 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 a
mocking courtesy, and was flying toward
the Alexander house much as he had
seen her speed six weeks before.
"Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander sail },
few days later, coming j" } the library
after the children had gone, 81 have a
commission to discharge. It's rather a
paculiar one, but hope you won't mind
such thing coming through q third
person. OF course the situation is pc
culiar, 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
81 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 l did2 |
couldn't take his money, of course.n
II don't know that he would look at
it quite in that light" Mrs. Alexander
answered. "It probably helped to bring
matters to a 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
| told him, for almost any position. He
is a self-made man himself; it isn't such
a wonderful condescension when one re-
members that. He couldn't expect tc
marry into the Mayfower, for all hi;
wealth."
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were
playing her false. "You don't mean
you can't mean," she cried, "that he
wants to marry me?"
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about hel
soothingly. 81 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 ht
hasn't much beside his money to recon.
mend him; but it would be a splendid
home for you, dear. 1t seems he ha!
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. though
perhaps he wanted a governess. Of course
| gave you the highest recommenda
tions," she added, laughing, though
didn't know the position he wanted you
to fill. He seems quite sure of his owl
feeling, and it is certainly great tri
umph for you, my dear"
!; Miss Bennett sank back into the chaG
from which she had half risen. Her min
plainly could not take in the new situa
ton; but she came to herself when Mrs
} Alexander went on: "Of course you ma,
} want time to think it over, but he would
like to see you this evening, and he hopes
for an answer then"
"Ohl ohw Miss Bennett cried, spring
| ing to her feet. "There's no use.
couldn't if my life depended on it, for
} Pm engaged to some one else. And
never knew-indeed, never knew, Mrs
Alexander, until few days ago, tina
Philip was his nephew. You see, sh
; went on, breathle8sly, "his sister wa
with me at school, and that was the wa.
learned to know him And Mr.. Hal
was very angry at his engaging himsel
to 'Down-East school -ma'am,' as h
called me. He had promised to help hin
before, but-but they quarreled over me
and Phil went West and | came here
And it was only fortnight ago that
wrote him-because | hadn't much els
to write-all about my trespassing, ant
: what had come of it. And he answered
3 I had his letter last week: THAT
: my old dragoon of an uncle, and if you'v
won one concession from him, perhap
r you could do more. If he learne
to know you, he might thin
, differently about our engagement
e and though [ don't need any G
his help now, still he's my nearest rela
4 tive, and | should like to be on goo
G terms with him. And | had been hoE
r ing-but now-now you see how impo;
sible it is. And if Phil has his own wa
to make, and we may have to wait ion
2 time, and perhaps always be poor, l lov
s him too much to mind"
:. The soul of young love and trust wf
g in her eyes as she looked up at Mrs
n Alexander, and the woman's heart in he
: was touched 1t was the philosophy {
. the babes in the wood, indeed she coul
# have overturned it with a touch {
l. worldly common-sense; but she only ber
}. nearer her, and then suddenly Ruth fe
= kiss on her forehead, kiss of motE
IS er's &C cmprehending love.
&c But when she had cooled little fro
: this unexpected touch Of enthusiasm
# Mrs. Alexander had her plans She mt
k Mr.. Hale herself that evening; she col
Il founded him with the news that IL
school -ma'am despised for his nephe
If was his own elect; and she followed |
d her advantage till he consented to EXPIRE
p his gratitude to Miss Bennett by the gi
l. of home-of which he should not
e master. And since young Philip was d
p ing well at the West, and needed !
~ - L. ,,roln.r hnlr, thn nam hon