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

and so she turned and swept MIR. Hale a
profound reverence, whose disdaln he
could not understand. But there was a
dimness in her eyes as she raised them
to his.
After all, she was only a child, and
so far the world had smiled into her
pretty face ana treated her indulgently.
That was not Mr.. Hale's attitude; but
as she walked away, something-per-
haps the pride of self-assertion over
this intruding governess, perhaps the
thought of those eyes-msde him re-
lent. In five minutes it would be pour
ing and he was not quite a brute. He
stepped forward and called, Madam y
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 go back till
she was told.
Mr.. Hale had to take q half dozen
more steps before he was near enough
to say, "As it is raining, miss, if it will
shorten your walk, l have no objection
for this once"
80 I shall not do it again." Ruth
cried; I'D sooner go through a wilder
ness"
But that is not the shortest way" he
went on; ut is much nearer by the
coach house. Here-let me show you. ="
"Oh, I couldn't think of troubling
you. Thank you, but you'll get wet
yourself,
"Since I 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 min
utes. 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 hasti-
ly: II am very much obliged-and-I
shall not trespass again"
"a pretty little girl" Mr.. Hale said,
to himself as he watched her flying
toward the shelter of the porch. Mrs.
Alexander's governess! Humi" But
wha: this last word meant in his
thought he could hardly have told.
Peraps it only reminded him that his
three motherless 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
deigned to say that if it would save you
time and fatigue, you might go through
the park. He has noticed you, per-
haps coming up from the village"
And when Ruth had told her story, she
lifted her eyebrows a little. Its a
CONCESSIONS great concession from
him." she said.
But / don't want it," cried Ruth,
I'D rather go miles around now. You
can't think how his manner Inundated
me. / felt as though I'd committed the
objectionable SIM"
Mrs alexander smiled at her vehe.
mence, but she had her own reasons for
not encouraging it."
Its quite on another footing now,
since he permits it," she said, "and
really / wish you would. Since the
hot weather came / notice you are
sometimes very tired with the walk.
Anytningt that viii 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 q
week. She had the park all to herself,
and it was certainly pleasanter than the
dusty road. Atfrst she hurried through
as if a dragon haunted every bush, but
gradually she moderated her pace, and
at last she made it a 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
distance, once Mr.. Hale himself met
her, touched his hat stifiY. and stood
aside to let her pass. She wondered
afterward If he expected her to thank
him for his great concession. But the
burden of gratitude was not overwhelm-
ing to her proud little heart.
But q few days later she met him
again and this time she repentedBnough
to give him q very frank smile and greet
ing. She felt like smiling on all the
world that day, this poor little govern
ess who had youth and hope as her por-
tion, and was content Herewith. Per-
haps q letter which she had thrust into
her pocket at sight of hIm-a 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 p~leasanter
than the road, Miss Bennett?n Mr..
| Hale said. made affabla bv That sns;la-
very much pleasanter, thank you,n
Ruth answered, demurely.
Il might perhaps allow others to 90
through, he went on, aif I could be
sure they would not abuse the liberty.
But it is always dangerous to give peo-
pie an inch they take in all instead
ooh, I've no doubt you are quite in
the right-from your side Of the mat
ter, " Ruth answered, and il there was