The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-12

4AAVAAAoAt0 W0Eo pE0c&Ou6, 3UU CO0 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-bespattefed
face when, . minute later. she climbed
up the bank with her burden. The
gardener and coachmsn were there; Mr..
Hale was there too; but he let the
others help her up, and his paternal
raptures did not extend to taking his
dripping 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, land put
him in . bath-tub at once. And you,
Miss Bennett"
II need to go 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 il she had
been drowned and come to life again
but il 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.
I'll hope you haven't hurt your
self, Mr.. Hale said, evidently not know
ing what say. Clam deeply CRATE
full, Miss Bennett-more than I can ex-
press-and I should be very sorry-for
any consequences to yourself"
"Oh, it's nothing" Ruth answered,
as soon as she sould speak. ''The only
consequences to myself are Q ruined
dress, and that's proper revenge Of
fate. Il was to save this dress-it was 80
;new then, and 20 pretty" she added,
pethetically-"thst I trepsssed ON your
Lsreunds SIX weeks ago. hope you ap.
fsecSs the fact Of the Nemesis" And
herewith she held up the torn and
streaming silk TO his astonished eyes.
"You won't exaggerate my heroism, .
she went on, IL 1 tell you that thought
more of this than anything else when
went into the river. ] knew there was
no real danger il I kept steady head.
But hope the little boy won't take
cold; and g that 10 my only danger just
now-"And before Mr.. Hale could re-
cover himself 10 find speech, she had
swept him mocking courtesy, and was
flying toward the Alexander house much
Is he had seen her speed six weeks be-
fore.
miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said,
few days later, ccming into the library
after the children had gone, II have o
commission to discharge. It's rather q
peculiar one, but I hope you won't mind
such . 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 hsnds; that is, rather let me find
out first your-you feeling about it."
Miss Bennett looked up bcwildered.
u don't understand, Mrs. Alexander.
q il abont the little boy? Does Mr..
Hale want to reward me"-s deep flush
suhused her fairness for what I did
I couldn't take his money, Of course
Il don't know that he would look at
it quite in that light" Mrs Alexander
answered. ut probably helped to
bring matters TO . climaxiWith him. In.
deed, he intimsted Is much. And per.
haps i il 2 reward Of virtue. Certain-
y il Is quite after the story book style.
but you are pretty enough and bright
enough, % I told him, for almost any
position. He Is . self-made man him
self; it isntsuch wonderful condescea-
sion when one remembers that. He
couldn't expect to marry into the May
flower, for all his wealth.
Miss Bennett felt as II her senses were
playing her false. "Yon don't mean
you can't mean" she cried, 'sthat he
wants 10 marry me 2"
+ Mrs Alexander put her arm about
her socthingly I suppose il is rath-
er overwhelming, my dear. Il Was to
me st Arst. But, after III, Why should
he mott There are three children, Of
coaesegan1 hes twenty ysars older, and