The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-03

little heir OF the mouse, nau S1lpPeu 8hH
fallen into the stream. The nurse was
running up and down, wringingher
hands. and the two children were
screaming for help. The water was not
deep, but a child can drown in very lit
tie, and when she had reached the bank
he had gone under for 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 ruln
her dress-even then she thought OF
that-but she waded in bravely, half
supporting herself by clinging to a vine
that curtained the slope. It might give
way-it certainly would if the boy
struggled and she lost her balance; but
it was the best she could do. She was
not conscious Of any special heroism.
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 concious OF
her ruined dress and mud bespattered
face when, a minute later, she climbed
up the bank with her burden. The
gardener and coachman we're there; Mr..
Hale was there too; but he let the
others help her up, and his paternsl
raptures did not extend to taking his
dripping son and heir in his m
HTo-.- lS~o nv ~ tha hOIySn RofnG -
he said, after a glance had assured him
that the child was unhurt, ''and put
him in a bath-tub at once. And you,
Miss Bennett"
81 need to go into n 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 occupied her even then,
and Mr.. Hale's divided mind between
his wish to be properly grateful and his
Disguised sense of her dripping condi-
ton. And then, womanlike, as she
tried to pick up her dress with some
light remark on its state she cried in
stead.
IL hope you haven't hurt your
self" Mr. Hale said, evidently not know
ing what to say. liam deeply CRATE
full, Miss Bennett-more than / can ex-
press-and / should be very sorry-for
any consequences to yourself"
"Oh, it's nothing" Ruth answered,
as soon as she sould speak. 1.-THE only
consequences to myself are a ruined
dress, and that's a proper revenge of
fate. 1t was to save this dress-it was so
new then, and so pretty" she added,
pathetically-"that I trepassed on your
grounds six weeks ago. Ihope you APP
preciate the fact of the Nemesis" And
Herewith she held up the torn and
tttrGaming silk to his astonished eyes.
"You won't exaggerate my heroism,"
she went on, eff / tell you that ] thought
more of this than anything else when /
went into the river. / knew there was
no real danger if / kept a steady head.
But / hope the little boy won't take
cold; and as that is my only danger just
now-"And before Mr.. Hale could re-
cover himself to ind speech, she had
swept him o hooking courtesy, and was
flying toward the Alexander house much
as he had seen her speed six weeks be-
fore.
miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said,
a few days later, coming into the library
after the children had gone, II have q
commission to discharge. It's rather a
peculiar one, but / hope you won't mind
such a 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 re find
out irst your-your feeling about it"
Miss Bennett looked up bewildered.
Il don't understand, Mrs. Alexander.
Is 1t abont the little boy7 Does Mr..
Hale want to reward me"-a deep flush
suffused her fairness-"for what I did?
/ couldn't take his money, of course
II don't know that he would look at
it quite in rhat light" Mrs Alexander
answered. 1T helped TO
bring matters to a ~climaxIwith him. In
deed, he intimated as much. And per-
haps it is a reward of virtue. Certain
ly it is quite after the story-book style,
but you are pretty enough and brigh:
enough, as / told him, for almost any
position. He is a self-made man him
self; it isn'tsuch a wonderful condescen-
sion when one remembers that. He
couldn't expect to marry into the May
flower, for all his wealth"
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were
playing her false. "You don't mean
you can't mean,n she cried, that he
wants TO marry meY"
Mrs Alexander put her arm about
her soothingly. II suppose it is rath-
or overwhelming, my dear. It was "a
me at first. But, after all, why should
he not2 There are three children oil
course, and he's twenty years older, and
he hasn't much besides his one Il
recommend him; but it would be q
splendid home for you, dear. 1t seems
al ha has watched rnu aver sincA that ksn<