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

she cried instead
Il hope you haven't hurt yourself"
Mr.. Hale said, evidently not knowing
what to stay. "I-I 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.
and that's n proper revenge of fate. 1t
was to save this dress-it was so new
then, and so pretty" she added, pathet
ically--'that l trespassed on your
grounds six weeks ago. l hope you APP
preciate the fact of the Nemesis" And
Herewith she held up the torn and
streaming silk to his astonished eyes
"You won't cXaggeratc my herosm.n
she went on, ''if tell you that l 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 own danger Just now"
And before Mr.. Hale could recover him
self to find speech, she had swept him
hooking 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 the library
after the children had gone. 81 have a
commission to discharge. It's rather
/ peculiar one, but hope you won't mind
such thing coming through a third
person. OF coure 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 boy? Does Mr.. Hale
want to reward me'-a deep flush suf-
fused her fairness for what | did,
couldn't take his money, of course"
81 don't know that he would look at
it quite in that light" Mrs. Alexander
answered. at probably helped to bring
matters to a climax with him. Indeed
he intimated as much. And perhaps it
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 lie couldn't expect to
marry into the Maytlower, for all his
wealth.
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were
playing her false. "You don't mean
you can't mean she cried, chat he
wants to marry me-
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soothingly. Il suppose it is rather over
whelmng, 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 he
hasn't much beside his money to recon
mend him. but it would be splendid
home for you, dear. 1t seems he has
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. thought
perhaps he wanted Il governess. OF course
| gave you the highest recommends
TONS" she added laughing, "though
didn't know the position he wanted you
to fill. He seems quite sure of his own
feeling, and it is certainly great tri-
umph for you, my dear"
Miss Bennett sank back into the chad
from which she had half risen. Her minr
D
ton; but she came to herself when Mrs.
Alexander went on: "Of course you may
want time to think it over, but he would
like to see you tins evening, and he hopes
for an answer then"
"Oh! OH" Miss Bennett cried spring
ing to her feet. There's no use. |
couldn't if my life depended on it, for
I'm engaged to some one else. And
never knew-indeed, never knew, Mrs.
Alexander, until few days ago, that
Philip was his nephew. You see, - she
went on, breathlessly, Ibis sister was
with me at school, and that was the way
| learned to know him. And Mr.. Hale
was very angry at his engaging himself
to a 'Down-East school ma am, as he
called me. He had promised to help him
before, but-but they quarreled over me,
and Phil went West and | came here.
And 1t was only fortnight ago that
wrote him-because | hadn't much else
to write-all about my trespassing, and
what had come of it. And he answered
i had his letter last week: That,
my old dragoon of an uncle. and if you've
won one concession from him, perhaps
YOU could do more. If he learned
~ NM" yOA, iiS iShh tiiihn
differently about our engagement
and though | don't need any o
his help now, still he's my nearest rcla
tive, and | should like to be on gooC
terms with him.. And had been hop
ing-but now-now you see how impos
sible it is. And if Phil has his own wa,
to make, and we may have to wait ions
time, and perhaps always be poor, low
) him too much to mind
The soul of young love and trust wa
; in her eyes as she looked up at Mrs
| Alexander, and the womans heart in he
was touched. 1t was the philosophy o
the babes in the wood, indeed she coulC
have overturned it with a touch o
worldly common-sense but she only ben
nearer her, and then suddenly Ruth fel
IA kiss on her forehead, a kiss of moth
er's mprehending love.
: But when she had cooled little iron
= this unexpected touch of enthusiasm
Mrs. Alexander had her plans. She me
, Mr.. Hale herself that evening; she con