Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-09-05
A0 TRESPASSING
BY Emily T. Wheeler.

BY Emily r. Wheeler.
1t was painted in very black letters
on very white board. He who ran
could reaa, and Ruth Bennett was only
walking very fast when she came on it.
But she knew it by heart already. For :
The last month she had read it every
day, and every day meekly turned into
the dusty road and made the long de-
tonr needed to get past Mr.. Hale's
grounds and into his next neigh
bors A fivem inutes walk through that
beautiful park would have brought her
to Mrs. Alexander's hedge, and saved a
modic11m of strength and temper sorely
needed for her trials as day governess to
the three little A1exanders. Butshe had
never ventured on the liberty, though
she wanted to every day, and the I'M
pulse had grown greater since she had
asked Mrs. Alexander if it was quite i'm
possible. Ill.
"Theres never soul about, and it's
An eighth of mile certainly to the
house. I don't believe any one would
ever see me, and if they did I could tell
them I was your goyerness. For it
seemed to the young girl. sufficient
distinction to be that to Mrs. Rufus
Alexander, leading lady Of the pretty
town where her summer home was
located. -
IT would not venture it if were you,
Mrs. Alexander answered kindly. She
was always kind to her governess, de-
spite her wealth and her Mayhower
blood, and she had a special liking
for this bright faced eager girl. Mr..
Hale is very particular. He is a ne"
conner here and disposed to make every
one respect his rights" Tt had been
on the lady's lips to call him parvenu,
but she would not throw scorn at her
neighbor before her governess.
"Why, Miss Bennett" Harry Alex
ander had added as she turned away,
edo you know that last summer his
gardener ordered my mother off the
grounds? OF course MIR. Hale excused
it afterward said the man had bis
orders to make no discrimination; but
fancy-my mother" And Harry's &C
cent was more than the words.
Little Miss Bennett bowed her head
and before the rights of a good demo-
GRAFT who had made all bis money in the
last twenty years, and was therefore
more aristocratic and exclusive than an
English nobleman would have been
with respect to his possessions. Halt
the village would have been grateful
had Mr.. Hale allowed a foot-path to
traverse his splendid park, but Of course
an American can not make concessions
to the lower classes, and he stood on his
rights and dignities. But to-day Ruth
paused. She was late for her lessons J;
she had lin gered to put the last touches
to the pretty new dress she wore, and
there was thunder storm coming
Should she run the risk of offending Mrs.
Alexander and spelling her dress, or
should she Jrespass? No one was in
sight as she looked about, and Nearer
roll OF thunder helped her to a decision
She stepped through the little gate
which all these days had Knocked her
with it's invitation to forbidden ground,
and hurried across the lawn. In the
distance she could see the stately house,
the leaping fountains and bright flowers.
She kept her eye on that, fearing some
servant on the watch. She never looked
the other way, and so, when step sud-
denly came beside her, she started in
conscience -smitten guilt.
care You aware, madam" clear
cut voice said, that you are on private
grounds?"
She looked up. A stout, bald man
stood beside her, @ man whom her pro-
phetlc soul assured her was Mr.. Hale.
He had deigned to touch his hat, but
not out Of respect for her, she was sure.
He saluted rather his own dignity and
sense of the proprieties. He had a
pompor,s air, as OF one who feared his
simple personality was not impressive
enough, and the neat perfection of his
costume made more prominent his COM
monpiace features.
Eyes, sir" she answered meekly;
''b,,t J. I'M doing my best to get out of
them"
"You came in by the lower gate.
You saw the sign, Of co1lrse?" he went
on i'll the Same magisterial tones.
+. eyes; but was in hurry, and II
was afraid it was going to rain. I'm
Mrs. Alexander's goyerness." She ven.
tured a glance at linn as she said this,
but it evidently made no impression.
I'll beg your pardon; and I can go
back, r suppose. / thought that for
.once--and I didn't want to spoil my
dress" she finished impetuously, AS a
great drop of rain fellson her hand.
She looked up with eyes whose ap-
peal might have softened him. 1t seemed
toher very ample excuse, but there was
no relenting il his face. In his own
mind, indeed, he was making conces-
sion. AS she was his neighbours COVER
ness, he would not carry the matter
further, and SO he stifiy said, as he
stood back to let her Fetraee her steps.
Il am sure Tor Mrs Alexander
will be much obliged for yo1lr--yo1l
unexpected consideration, Miss Ben
nett answered, as she took up her skirts
and prepared 10 beat dignihed retreat.
There was no use Of hurrying; she
was sure TO be caught in the storm now,