Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-08-29

lOI lilo OhNS'
"Oh, | shall not do it again." Ruth
cried; I'D sooner go through wilder
ness
but that is not the shortest way"
he went on; sit is much nearer to my
coach house. Here - let me show
you.
ooh, couldn't think of troubling
you" Thank you, but you'll get wet
yourself"
sSince | have undertaken it, " an
sweYe5 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--I shall not trespass
again"
"a pretty girl" Mr. Hale SAID to
himself as he watched her flying to-
ward the shelter of the porch. Mrs.
Alexander's goyerness? HUM But
what the last word meant in his
thought he could hardly have told.
Perhaps 1t 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.. Hale2 He seems to know
YOU; and last night at the garden
party he designed TO say that If 1t
would save you time and fatigue you
might go through the park. lie has
noticed GU, perhaps, coming up from
the village" And when Ruth had
told her story she lifted up her eye
brows little. cts concession a
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 humlil-
ated me. | felt as though I'd commit
ted the objectionable sin.
Mrs. Alcxadner smiled at her
vehenlence, but she had her own
reasons for not encouraging it. ITS
quite on other footing now, since he
permits it, " she said, and really l
wish you would. Since the hot
weather came | notice you are some
times very tired with the walk. Any
thing 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 her
self, and it was certainly pleasanter
than the dusty road. At first She
hurried through as if a dragon haunt
cd every bush; but gradually She
moderated her pace, and at last She
made 1t 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 woods be
yond. 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
stiiIIy, and stood aside to let her pass.
She wondered afterwards if he expect
ed her to thank him for his great con
cession. But the burden 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 a very frank
smile and greeting. She felt like
smiling all over the world that day,
this poor little governess who had
youth and hope as her portion, and
was content Herewith. Perhaps a
letter which she had thrust into her
pocket ut sight of him-a letter she
had herself taken from the Office and
| fingered under tho trees TO read-had
something to do with her radiant face
Just then.
You find this way much pleasant
en- than the road, Miss BenneL:" Mr..
Hale said made aIiable by that smile.
Every much plcasanter, thank
you Ruth answered, demureiy.
Il 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 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 faintcst touch of irony in her
limitation, Mr. Hale did net see it.
Certainly | ana III the right" he
declared, III his most mag lsterlal man
ncr; but having thus, so to speak, as
serted his dignity, h c sought TO un
| bend and be properly gracious to SO
discreet person us she had proved
| herself. Ruth answered all his re-
marks with proper modesty, deepen
ing the good impression she had al
ready made, and forgot all about
him when she had crossed the hedge.
But the next day us she had
sauntcrcd along the path, sudden
sharp cry startled her a child's cry
for help. 1t came from the river
bank, and rs she ran towards it she
understood its meaning. The young
est 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 screaming
for help. The water was not deep,
but child can drown in very little,
and when she reached the baHk he
had gone under for the second time.
Run to the house for help she
cried to the children; Tut even as she
spoke she had herself seized the readi-
est means of aid. and was climbing
down the bank. 1t would ruin her
dress even then she thought of that
but she waded in bravely, half sup
, porting herself by clinging 20 a vine
that curtained the slope. 1t might
give away it certainly would if the
boy struggled and she lost her bal
ance, but Ii was the best she could do
She was not conscious of any special
heroiSm. Other people would douot-
less come to pull them both out later,
but the moments were precious, and
the child.-aud here ne 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 conscious
of her ruined dress and mud bespat-
tered face when minute later, She
climbed up the bank with her burden.
The gardener and coachmanSwere
there; Mr.. Hale was there too; but
he let the others help her up, and his
paternal raptures did not extend to
taking his dropping son and heir in
his arms.
Garry him up to the house, Bates,