The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-15


she could not 60 back till she was told.
Mr.. Hale had to take a balf dozen more
steps before he was near enough To say, las
1t is raining, miss. il it will shorten your
walk, have no objection for this once"
''Oh, shall not do IL again. Ruth cried;
"I'd sooner go through q wilderness"
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, rs II 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, II am very much obliged-and =
shall not trespass again."
"a pretty girl" Mr.. Hale said to himself,
as he watched her flying toward the shelter
Of the porch. Mrs. Alexsnder's governess.
HUM" But what the last word meant in
his thought he could hardly have told. Per.
haps 1t only reminded him that his three
motherle.s children would soon be nee ding
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 IL IL
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, che lifted
q great concession from him" she said.
But L don't want it, cried Ruth
I'D rather go miles around now. You can't
| think how his manner humiliated me- l
felt as though I'd committed the uppardon-
able sim"
Mrs. Alexander smiled at her vehemence,
but she had her own reaso ms for not encour.
aging it. Its quite another footing now.
| since he permits ii, she said, land really l
wish YOU would. Since the hot weather
came / notice you are sometimes very tired
With the walk. Anything that will save
your strength for your work, you know"
And to that Ruth yielded.
She need not have been so fierce about IL
she said to herfelf. after week. she mad the
park all to herself, and it was certainly pleas.
anter than the dusty road. At first she hur-
RED through as IL q dragon haunted every
bush but gradually she moderated her pace,
and at last she made it gentle saunter, and
even stopped on the brink OF the little
stream which crossed one end of the park
tn cool her no. head in Its breath of fresh
o ess, and soothe her eyes in the soft green
depths of the wood beyond. once or twice
she raw Mr.. Hale's children with their
French nurse in the distance: once Mr.. Hale
himself met her, touched his hat stiffiy, and
stood aside to let her pass. She wondered
afterward IL he expected her to thank him
for his great concession. But the burden oil
gratitude was not overwhelming to her
pro Id little heart.
But few days later she met him again. and
this time she repented enough to give him a
very frank smile and gfeeting. She felt he
smiling on all the world that day, this poor
little governess who had youth and hope as
| har 4,
Perhaps a letter which she had thrust into
her pocket at sight ofhim-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 ind this way much plea anter than
} the road, Miss Bennett2' Mr.. Hale said
made affable by that smile.
Very much pIeasanter, thank you," Ruth
answered, demurely.
III might perhaps allow others to &c
through" he went on, iii could be sure
they would not abuse the liberty. Bat 1T is
they take an Ill instead"
"Oh, I've no doubt you are quite in the
righi-from your side OF the NATTER Ruth
answered, aud IL there was the iaintest touch
of irony in her limitation, Mr.. Hale did not
see il.
Certainly 1 am in the right" he
declared, In his most magisterial
speak. asserted bis dignity, he sought
to unbsnd and be properly gracious to so
discreet person rs she had proved herself.
Ruth answered all his remarks with proper
modesty deepening the good impression she
had already made. and forgot all about him
when she had crossed the hedge.
But the next day, she ,auntered along
the path, sudden sharp cry startled hsr-a
child's cry for help. 1t came from the river
bank, and as she ran toward il she under
stood its meaning. The you gest OF the
children, the little heir of the house, had
slipped and fallen into the stream The
nurse was running up and down wringing
ner hands and the two children were scream.
ing for help The water was not deep, but a
/ child can drown in very little, ar d when she
reached the bank he had gone under for the
second time
run to the house for help" she cried to
the children but even as she spoke she had
herself seized the readiest means of aid, and
~as biDg 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 to vine that
curtained the slope. 1t might give way-It
certainly would IL the boy struggled and
she lost her balance; but Ii was the best she
could do. She was not conscious of any
special heroism. Other people would doubt.
less come to pull them both out later, but
the moments were precious, and the 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 conscious OF her
ruined dress and mud. despatched face
| when, q minute later, she climbed up the
bank with her burden. The gardener and
coachman we're there, Mr.. Hale was there
too; but he let the others help her up, and
his paternal raptures did not extend to tax
| ing his dripping son and heir in his arms
| Garry him up to the house, Bates" he
said. after o glance had assured him that the
child was unhurt. land put him in Q cath
tub at once. And you. Miss Bennett"
II need to 60 into one too" she gaspsd,
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 sgain; 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 mis- dis
gusted sense OF her dripping condition. And
| then, woman-like. as she tried to pick up
| her dress with some light remark on its state,
she cried instead.
ell hope you haven't hurt yourself"
Mr. Hale said, evidently not knowing what
to say. Ell am deeply grateful. Miss Ben
nett-more than / can express-and should
be very sorry-for any consequences to your
self"
"Oh, it's nothing" Ruth answered, as soon