Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-13

minutes it would be pouring, 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 10 be proud TO the bitter end, and
anyway she could not go back till she
was told.
Mr.. Hale had to take a 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 If again, Ruth
cried; I'D sooner go through wilder
ness.
But that is not the shortest way, he
went on; it 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"
"Since / have undertaken it. .
answered 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 him
self, as he watched her flying toward
the shelter of the porch. Mrs. Alex
der's governess Humw But what the
last word meant in his thought he could
hardly have told Perhaps it only re-
minded him that his three motherless
children would soon be needing one.
Miss Bennett" Mrs Alexander said
week later, "where did you meet Mr..
Hale2 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, perhaps, coming up
from the village And when Ruth
had told her story, she lifted her eye
brows a little. Its a confessional
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 vehem-
ence, but she had her own reasons for
not encouraging it. ''It's quito on an
other footing now, since he permits it, ;
she said, land really | wish you would.
Since the hot weather came | notice you
are sometimes very tired with the walk.
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 drag
on haunted every bush; but gradually she
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 children with their French nurse
in the distance: once Mr.. Hale himself
met her, touched his hat stiffly, and stood
aside to let her pass She wondered af-
terward if he expected her to thank him
~
of gratitude was not overwhelming to
her proud little heart.
But a few DAYS later she met him again,
and this time she repented enough to
give him g very frank smile and greet
ing. She felt like smiling on all the
world that day, this poor little govern
ness who had youth and hope as her por-
ton, and was content Herewith. Per
haps 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
to do with her radiant face
just then.
''You find this way much pleasanter
said, made affable by that smile.
very much pleasanter, thank you"
Ruth answered, demurely.
81 might perhaps allow others to go
through he went on, IF | could be
sure they would not abuse the liberty.
But it is always dangerous to give peo-
pie an inch; they take an ell instead y
.'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,
Mr. Hale did not see it.
Certainly | 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
properly gracious to so discreet person
as she had proved herself. Ruth an
swered all his remarks with proper mod
esty, deepening the good impression
che bod alraodxv made apd forrot a II