The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-15

ooh, shall not do it again." Ruth
cried; "rd sooner go through a wilder
ness"
Z" But that is not the shortest way, " he
went on; cit is much nearer by the
coach house. IIcre-lct me show you.
"Oh, | couldn't think of troubling
you. Thank you, but you'll get wet
yourself"
"Since 1 have undertaken it,"
rswered Mr. Hale as if apologizing to
himself for his concession; and with the
words he spread his neat umbrella, and
walked with her. 1t was only two
minutes. The path he took was shorter,
and Miss Bennett hurried all she could.
She spoke no word till she reached the
Alexander hedge; then she said, as
hastily, 81 am very much obliged-and
| | shall not trespass again"
" a pretty girl, Mr.. Hale said to him
self, as he watched her flying toward
the shelter of the porch. "Mrs. Alex
der's governcss! Hum" But what the
last word meant in his thought he could
hardly have told. Perhaps it only re-
minded him that his three mothcrless
children would soon be needing one
Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said
week later, where did you meet Mr..
Halel He seems to know you; and last
night at the garden party he deigned to
say that if it would save you time and
fatigue, you might 90 through the park
He has noticed you. perhaps, coming up
from the village" And when Ruth
had told her story, she lifted her eye
| brows little. {" It's confessional
] '.l,o i
'But l don't want it, cried Ruth.
I'd rather 90 miles around now. You
can't think how his manner Inundated
me. felt as though Id committed the
objectionable sim"
Mrs. Alexander smiled at her vehem-
encc, but she had her own reasons for
not encouraging it. cts quite on an
other footing now, since he permits it,,
she said, "and really l wish you would.
Since the hot weather came notice you
are sometimes very tired with the walk.
Anything that will save your strength
for your work, you know" And to that
Ruth yielded.
She need not have been so fierce about
it, she said to herself, after week She
had the park all to herself and it was
certainly plcasanter than the dusty road
At first she hurried through as if drag
on haunted every bush; but gradually she
moderated her pace and at last SHE made it
gentle saunter, and even stopped on the
brink of the little stream which crossed
one end of the PARK to cool her hot head
in its breath of freshness and soothe her
eyes in the soft green depths of the wood
/ beyond. Once or twice she saw Mr..
llalcs children with their French nurse
in the distance: once Mr.. Hale himself
met her, touched his hat stitily, and stood
aside TO let her pass. She wondered af-
terward if he expected her to thank him
for his great concession. But the burden
of gratitude was not overwhelming to
her proud little heart.
But few days later she met him again,
and this time she repentcd enough to
| give him very frank smile and greet
ing. She felt like smiling on all the
world that day, this poor little govern
ness who had youth and hope as her por-
/ ton, and was content Herewith. Per-
haps letter which she had thrust into
her pocket at sight of nina letter she
had herself taken from the office and
/ fingered under the trees to read-had
something to do with her radiant face
just then.
'You find this way much pleasanter
than the road, Miss Bennett" Mr.. Hale
said, made aiTable by that smile
Very much pleasanter, thank you,
Ruth answered, demurely
Il might perhaps allow others to go
through he went on, IF | could be
sure they would not abuse the liberty.
But it is always dangerous to give peo-
pie an inch they take an ell instead"
'Oh, I've no doubt you are quite in
the right-irom your side of the matter, -
Ruth answered, and if there was the
faintest touch of irony in her limitation,
Mr. Hale did not see it,
Certainly am in the right" he de
clared, in his most magisterial manner
but having thus, so to speak, asserted
his dignity, he sought to unbend and be
properly gracious to so discreet person
as she had proved herself. Ruth an
swered all his remarks with proper mod
esty, deepening the good impression
she had already made, and forgot all
about him when she had crossed the
hedge.
But the next day, as she sauntered
led her-a child's cry for help. 1t came
from the river bank and as She ran to-
ward it she understood its meaning The
youngest of the children, the little heil
of the house, had slipped and fallen into
the stream. The nurse was running NJ
and down wringing her hands, and the
two children were screaming for help
The water was not deep, but child car
drown in very little, and when she
reached the bank he had gone under fol
the second time.
"Run to the house for help, she cried
to the children; but even as she SPOKE
she had herself seized the readiest means
of aid, and was climbing down the bank
1t would ruin her dress-even then sh,
thought of that-but she wa led il
bravely, half supporting herself by cling
, ing to to Il vine that curtaincd the slope
1t might give way-it certainly would i
the boy struggled and she lost her bal
ance; but it was the best she could do
/ She was not conscious of any special he
l.,