Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-15

! gBrdon party he doigned to sey that IL II
would save you time and fatigue, you might
! go through tho park. lie has noticed you,
| perhaps, coming up from the village" And
! when Ruth had told her story, sho lifted her
! eyebrows "a little "Irs a conoossion-a great
concession from him, she said.
"But don't want It," cried Ruth. "Td
rather go miles around now. You can't
| think how his manner humiliated mo. felt
Gs though had committed the objectionable
! sin"
Mrs. Alexander smiled at her vohomence,
| but she bad hor own reasons for not encour-
| aging it. ITS quite on another footing nov,
since ho permits it, " she said, "and really 1
wish you would Since the hot weather
came notice you ore sometimes very tired
with the walk. Anything that will save your
strength for your work, you know" And to
that Ruth yielded.
She noed not have boen 80 force about 1t,
she said to herself, after a week. She had
the park all to herself, and It was certainly
pleasanter than tho dusty road. At first she
hurried through az il dragon haunted ov-
cry bush but gradually she moderated her
pace, and at last she made 1t gentle sauntor,
and even stopped on the brink of the little
stream which crossed ono end Of the little
park to cool her hot head in its breath OF
| freshness, and soothe her eyes in the soft
twice she saw Mr. Hales children with their
French nurse in the distance once Mr. Hale
himself met her, touched his hat stifiiy, and
stood aside to let her pass. She wondered
| nftorward If he expected her to thank him
for his great concession. But the burden Of
gratitude was not overwhelming to hor proud
little heart.
But few days later she met him again,
and this time she repented enough to give
IL IL.
felt like smiling on all the world to-day, this
poor little governess who had youth and hopo
as her portion, and was content herewith.
Perhaps letter which she had stuck into
her pocket at sight of him-a letter which
! she had herself taken from the Office and lin
gered under the trees to read-bad some
thing to do with her radiant face just then.
you find this way much pleassnter than
the road Miss Bennett 2" Mr.. Hale said,
made affable by that smile.
''Very much pleasanter, thank you" Ruth
answered demurely.
81 might perhaps allow others to 60
through" he went on, 'ff 1 could be sure
they would not abuse the liberty. But 1t is
always dangerous to give people an inch
they take an ell instead"
"Oh, I've no doubt you are quite in the
| right-from your side Of the matter" Ruth
answered, and if there was the faintest touch
of irony in her Limitation, MIR. Hale did not
see il.
Certainly am in the right" he declared,
in his most magisterial manner but having
thus, so to speak, asserted his dignity, he
sought to unbend and be properly gracious
to 80 discreet q person as she had proved
herself. Ruth answered oil his remarks with
proper modesty, deepening tho good impress
| sion she had already made, and forgot all
about him when she had crossed the hedge.
But the next day, as she sauntered along
the path, q sudden sharp cry startled her-a
| child's cry for help. II came from the river
bank, and as she ran toward it she under
stood its meaning. The youngest Of the
children, the little heir of the house, had
| slipped and fallen into the stream. The
nurse was running up and down wringing
her hands, and the two children we're scream
ing for help. The water was not very deep,
but child can drown in very little, and when
she 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 readiost means of aid, and
was climbing down the bank. 1t would ruin
her dress-even then she thought of that
but she waded ia bravely, half supporting
herself by clinging TO vine that ourtained the
slope. 1t might give way-it certainly would
if the boy struggled and sho lost her bal
ance 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 camo
up again, just out of her reach. She drop
ped the vine, took tho step needed to catch
him, and fell with him to the muddy bottom.
Ruth Bennett was chiefly conscious of her
ruined dress and mud-bespattered face when,
a minute later, she climbed up the bank with
her burden. The gardener and coachman
were there; Mr.. Hale was there too; but he
lot the othors help her up, and his paternal
raptures did not extend to taking his drip
ping son and 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. Aud you, Miss Bennett"
Il need to 60 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 come
dy of the situation which chiefly occupied
her even them and Mr.. Hales divided mind
between his wish to be properly grateful and
his disgusted 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 say. II am deeply grateful, Miss Ben
nett-more than can express-and l should
be very sorry-for any consequences to your
self"
"Oh, it's nothing, Ruth answered, as soon
/ as she could speak. "The only conse-
| quences TO myself are a ruined dress, and
that's proper revenge of fate. 1t was to
save this dress--it was so new then, and SO
pretty" she added, athetioally-"that 1
trespassed on your grounds six weeks
of the Nemesis" And Herewith she
held up the torn and streaming silk to his as
| tonished eyes. "You won't exaggerate my
heroism," she went on, 'ff tell you that l
thought more OF this than anything else when
! went into the river. l 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 own danger just now" And be-
fore Mr.. Hale could recover himself to find
speech, she had swept him mocking court
esy, and was flying toward the Alexander
| house much as he had seen her speed six
weeks before.
"AIiss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said, a
few days later, coming into the library after
the children had gone, II have a commission
to discharge. It's rather q peculiar one, but
hope you won't mind such a thing coming
through third person. OF course the situ-
alton is peculiar and rather delicate for Mr..
Hale. He thought he would rather put it'in-
TO 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 boy? Does Mr.. Hale want
to reward me"-a deep flush suffused her
fairness-"for what 1 did? couldn't take
| his money, of course"
~ don't know that he would look at it
| quite in that iight," Mrs. Alexander answer
ed. '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 l told him, for almost any position. He
is q self man himself; it isn't such
wonderful condescension when one remem-
bers that. He couldn't expect to marry into
tho HdyttOlOer, for all his wealth"
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were play
| ing her false. "You don't mean-you can't
mean, she cried, that no wants to marry
me?"
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soothingly. ~ suppose it is rathor over
whelmihg, my dear 1t was to me at first
| Rut after all WhV should he not2 Thera