The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12

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dimress in her eyes as she raised
them to his.
After all, she was only . child. and
so far the world had smiled into hel
pretty face and treated her indulgently.
That was not Mr.. Hale's attitude; but
as she walked away, something-per.
haps the pride of self-assertion ovel
this intruding governess, perhaps the
thought of those eyes-made him re.
lent. In five minutes it would be pour
ing, and he was not quite brute. He
stepped forward and called, "Madam!'
Miss Bennett heard. hurried her steps
an instant, and then stopped. She would
like to be proud to the bitter end, and
anyway she could not 60 back till she
was told.
Mr.. Hale had to take half-dozen
more steps before he was near enough
to say: 'As it is raining, miss, if it will
shorten your walk, have no objection
for this once"
.'Oh. shall not do it again." Ruth
cried: I'D sooner go through wilder
ness"
"But that is not tho shortest way"
he went on; lit is much nearer by the
coach-house. Here-let me show you. "
''Oh, couldn't think of troubling
you. Thank you, but you'll get wet
yourself"
s.Since 1 have undertaken it." an
swered 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
himself, as he watched her flying
towsrd the shelter of the porch. "Mrs.
Alexander's governess, Hum" But
what the last word meant in his thought
he could hardly have told. Perhaps it
only reminded him that his three moth
erless children would soon be needing
one.
"Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said,
a week later, ''where did you meet Mr.
Hale? He seems to know you; and last
night at the garden party he delgned to
say that if it would save you time and
fatigue, you might 60 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 a CONCESSIONS
great concession from him." she said.
But l don't want it." cried Ruth.
I'D rather go miles around now. You
can't think how his manner humiliated
me. | felt as though I'd committed the
sin"
Mrs. Alexander smiled at her vehe-
mence, but she had her own reasons for
not encouraging it. '.It's quite on an
other footing now, since he permits
it, she said. land really I wish you
would. Since the hot weather came 1
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 a
week. She had the park all to herself,
and it was certainly pleasanter than the
dusty road. At first she hurried through
as if dragon 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. Hale's chill
dren with their French nurse in the dis
lance; once Mr.. Hale himself met her,
touched his hat stitfiy, and stood aside
to let her pass. She wondered after
ward if he expected her to thank him
for his great concession. But the bur-
den Of gratitude was not overwhelming
to her proud little heart.
But few days later she met him
again. and this time she repented
enough to give him very frank smile
and greeting. She felt like smiling on
all the world that day, this poor little
governess who had youth and hope as
her portion, and was content Herewith.
Perhaps letter which she had thrust
into her pocket at sight of him-a let
ter she had herself taken from the Of
flee 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 affable by that smile.
''Very much pleasanter, thank YOU"
Ruth answered, demurely.
Il might perhaps allow others to 90
hrnnCb u ho want Ssif I 10
sure they would not abuse the liberty
But it 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 it.
Certainly l 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
gracious to so discreet per-
son as she ha'! proved herself. Ruth
ali his remarks with proper
deepening the 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, sudden sharp cry
startled her-a child's cry for help. 1t
came from the river-bank, and as she
ran toward it she understood its mean
ing. 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 were
for help. the water was not
deep, but child can drown in very
little, and when she reached the bank