Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-22

to walk; SO that little Maud de Lara
was not singular in electing to do the
same.
The pedestrian party, consisting of
ten, started together, but, curious to re-
late, got separated before they had
walked quarter of mile; which was
somewhat unfortunate, as neither Maud
nor Mr.. Dunstan knew the way to the
placeof meeting, nor were they at all
posted up as to its locality. Each thought
that of course the other knew all about
it, whereas they had both been under the
hedgerow gathering flowers when the
Swan had been sent away and arrange
ments made for meeting her again.
But two happy young folks walking
close together under an umbrella were
not very likely to think of the difficult
ties until they actually arose, and the
umbrella had to be held low to keep off
the rain and the wind; so they did not
even notice that their, companions were
out of sight, and they were totally alone.
So when they came to a stile, over
which Mr.. Dunstan had helped his COM
panion, he suddenly exclaimed, ''By
Jove!' and began to look about him
somewhat anxiously.
''Why, where are the others?'' said
Maud. care they in front or behind?''
II have not an idea. I have never
thought of them since we started.''
''Perhaps they are hiding,'' suggest
ed she.
But there seemed to be nowhere for
them to hide; the field in which they
found themselves was large, and bare
rff %~ns~o I'll
around it.
eve must have walked either very
fast or very Slow" he remarked du-
! biously-''I don't know which. l was
thinking of something else. Miss de
Lara, your feet must be wet through;
| you said your shoes were thick, and
they are nothing but brown paper.'
"Oh, they are not very wet, thank
you, !" replied Maud, raising her sweet
eyes to his.
"You will catch your death of cold;
and it will be my fault" he continued
"Don't think about that, please. I
do not get cold easily at all. But I
wish knew where the others are. I
don't think Beatrice would approve of
my having left them; but, indeed, I
didn't notice that they were gone"
lit is no fault of yours, whoever else
may be to blame," he said firmly; "but
I will try and find them. There, sit on
this stile against the hedge, and hold
the umbrella we'll over you. 1 won't
be gone long,
1t was evident that she had conf
dence in him, for she asked no ques-
tions, but simply obeyed him; and, re-
CARELESS of the rain, he ran swiftly
round the four sides of the field, look
ing over the hedges and calling aloud;
but all in vain. He merely returne d
to the patient waiter at the stile, decid-
eddy wetter, but that was the only re-
suit of his endeavors.
II am afraid we are left all alone,
like the Babes in the wood,' he said,
with smile, as he reioined her. 'I'm
sorry, since you think Mrs. Roley will
be vexed with you; but we could not
possibly have helped it,
II suppose we could if we had tried, -
she replied, shaking her golden head
half archfully, half regretfully; "but it
can't be cured now, and we must make
the best of our way to the boat.
| Is, VI COuloC we uuSC, HC ICOul
ed cheerfully. II wish we could find
someone to direct us; I don't know
this part of the world at all. Where
are we to meet the shallop?''
"What, don'tyou know?' questioned
Miss de Lara, an alarmed look coming
into the blue eyes.
II must confess don't. supposed
you would be sure to know, and the
others; or perhaps l never thought
about it at all.''
"Oh, dear, this is unfortunate!
What are we to do? l was not there
when the arrangements e, were made.
What can we do?''
IF you are not too tired, think we
had better walk on; we must try and
strike down the river.''
So they tried; but they did not appar-
emily succeed, for no river came within
view, and poor Maud, who was never
a very good walker, began to stumble
over the long grass from fatigue.
! Then Mr.. Dunstan insisted upon her
taking his arm, and they grew more
cheerful under this close contact; the
girl feeling that awkward as was their
position, she had still a strong arm to
protect her. At length they came to a
cottage. and went at once to the door,
and were told that they had come quite
away from the river, which was now
about mile and half distant; then,
seeing their plight, the good-natured
country-woman invited them in, and,
noticing how tired and pale poor Maud
looked, she made her some tea and in
sisted on taking off her shoes, and do
ing her best to dry them by the fire.
| Mr.. Dunstan inquired whether aAy
conveyance could be found to take
them to the riverside, but there was
none to be had within a getable dis
. lance.
Refreshed with that beverage which
cheers but does not inebriate, Maud
started off once more with her compan.
ion, leaving a glad heart behind in the
humble cottage; for Edwin Dunstan
was a generous fellow, and seeing evi.
dence of the pinch of poverty around,
had left golden piece in the woman's
palm. When they reached the river
they could gain no information respect.
ing the Swan, and they walked along
the water-side, hoping that the boa1
/
grew so tired that Edwin Dunstan per.
suaded her to rest under tree with q
fallen limb for her seat. But no shall
lop arrived, and the pretty face became
anxious and worried.
By and by barge came up against
the stream. Mr.. Dunstan hailed it.
and found that the Swan was long
way down the river-the barges had
especially noticed her; and upon fur
Their inquiry, he was still more annoyed
to learn that they were not more thar
half a mile from the point from which
they had started, so it was evident thai
they had doubled, like hares; and thu
only thing left for them to do was tt
return to the creek where they haC
landed, and hire boat to convey then
to Radleigh distance often miles.
Tears rose in the girls eyes when she
| ~ bo l;1orono che in onC