The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12
him IN J bath-tub at once. And you,

Miss Bennett"
Il 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 If she had
been drowned and come to life again;
but it 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 aud his
disguised sense of her dripping condi-
ton. And then. woman-like, as she
tried to pick up her dress with some
light remark on its state, she cried in
IL hope you haven't hurt your
SELF" Mr. Hale said. evidently not
knowing what to say. 'I-I am deeply
grateful. Miss Bennett-more than can
express-and I should be very sorry
for any consequences to yourself"
"Oh, it's nothing" Ruth answered,
as soon as she could speak. 1.-The only
consequences to myself are ruined
dress, and that's a proper revenge of
fate. 1t was to save this dress-it was
SO new then. and so pretty" she added,
pathetically, that l trespassed on your
grounds SIX weeks ago. hope you ap-
preciate 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, ''if l tell you that i
thought more of this than anything else
when L went into the river. l knew
there was no real danger if 1 kept a
steady head. But hope the little boy
won't take cold; and as that is my own
danger just now And before Mr..
Hale could recover himself to find
speech, she bad swept him mockiug
courtesy. and was flying toward the
Alexander House much as he had seen
her speed six weeks before.
"Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander
said. few days later. coming into the
library alter the children had gore. al
have a commission to discharge. It's
rather peculiar one, but hope you
won't mind such thing com ng
through third person. OF course the
situation is peculiar, and rather delicate
for Mr.. Hale. He thought he would
rather put it into my hands; that is.
rather let me find out first yorr-your
feeling about it,
Miss Bennett looked up bewildered.
Il don't understand, Mrs. Alexander
Is it about the little boyp Does Mr..
Hale want to reward me'-a deep flush
suifused her fairness-..for what l did?
couldn't take his money. of course. '
81 don't know that he would look at
it quite in that light" Mrs. Alexander
answered. 1T probably helped to
bring matters to climax with him.
Indeed. he intimated as much. And
perhaps it is reward of virtue. Ger
tainly it is quite alter the story-book
style; but you are pretty enough and
bright enough, as l told him, for al
most any position. He is a self-made
man himself: it isn't such wonder ul
condescension when one remembers
that He couldn't expect to marry in
TO the .Nay3oOer, for all his wealth.
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses
were playing her false. You don't
mean-you cant mean" she cried.
THAT he wants to marry me?'
Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soothirgly. 81 suppose it is rather
overwhelming, my dear. 1t was to me
at first. But, after all. why should he
not? There are the three children, of
course, and he's twenty years older,
and he hasn't much besides his money
to recommend him; but it would be q
splendid home for you, dear. 1t seems
he has watched you ever since that time
you trespassed. And he has made i'll
quiries OF me. He began making them
some time ago, but didn't notice. l
thought perhaps he wanted COVER
ness. Or course 1 gave you the highest
recommendations she added, laugh
ing. Thought didn't know the posi-
ton he wanted you to fill. He seems
quite sure of his own feeling and it is
certainly great triumph for you, my
dear"
Miss Bennett sank back into the chair
from which she had half risen. Her
mind plainly could not take in the new
situation; but she came to herself when
Mrs. Alexander went on: ''Of course
you may want time to think it over. but
he would like to see you this evening,
and-he hopes for an answer then"
.'Oh! OH" Miss Bennett cried, spring.
ing to her feet. There's no use. |
couldn't if my life depended on it, for
L
never knew-indeed, l never knew, Mrs.
Alexander. until few days ago, that
Philip was his nephew. You see," she
went on. breathlessly, '.his sister was
with me at school. and that was the way
l learned to know him. And Mr. Hale
was very angry at his engaging himself.
to a 'down-East school-ma am, as he
ca led me. He had promised to help
him before, but-but they 9uarreled
over me, and Phil went West, and
came here. And it was only fortnight
ago that wrote him-because hadn't
much else 10 write--all about NV tres
passing, and what had come of it. And
he answered. had his letter last week:
That's my old dragon of an uncle, and
If you've won one concession from him
perhaps YOU could do more. If he
learned to know You he might think
differently about our engagement, and
though | don't need any of his help
now, still he's my nearest relative, and
l should like to be on good terms with
him. And l had been hoping-but
now-now you see how impossible it is.
And if Phil has his own way to make,
and we may have to wait long time.
and perhaps always be poor, love him
too much to mind"
The soul of young love and trust was
in her eyes as she looked up at Mrs.
Alexander, and the woman's heart in
her was touched. 1t was the philoso-
phy of the Babes in the Wood, indeed;
she could have overturned it with
touch of worldly common-sense; but
she only bent nearer ner, and then sud-
~ Ruth felt kiss on her forehead, a
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