Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-20
Calls aud Skftfhes.
no rREsPAssING.
Continued from Yesterday

Confined from Yesterday
"You find this way much pleasanter
than the road, Miss Bennett" MIR. Hale
said. made affable BY that smile.
VERY much pleasanter, thank you,
Ruth answered demurely.
II 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 faint
est touch of irony in her limitation. Mr..
Hale did not see it.
Certainly l 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 discrete person
as she had proved herself. Ruth answered
all his remarks with proper modesty,
deepening the good impression she had al
ready made, and forgot all about him
when she had crossed the hedge.
But the next dav as she sauntered along
the path, q sudden sharp cry startled her
"a child's cry for help. 1t came from
the river bank. and as she ran toward 1t
she understood its meaning. The Youngest
of the children, the little heir OF the house.
had slipped and fallen into the stream.
The nurse was running up and down
wrnging her hands, and the two children
were screaming for help. The water was
not deep, but child can be drowned in
very little, and 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 as she spoke she had
herself seized the readiest means of aid.
and was climbing down the bank. 1t
would ruin her dress-even then she
thought Of that-but she waded in brave
lv, half supporting herself by clinging to
a vine that curtained the slope. 1t might
give way--it certainly would if 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 probably 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 bottom.
Ruth Bennett was chiefly conscious of
her ruined dress and mud despatched face
when, minute later, she climbed up the
bank with her burden. The gardener and
coachman were there. Mr.. Hale was there
too; but he let the others help her up, and
his paternal raptures did not extend to
taking his dripping son and heir in his
arms.
Garry him up to the house, Bates" he
said. after glance had assured him that
ttn ,h,,rt ant h,
bath tub at once. And you, Miss Ben
nett"
81 need to 90 into one, too" she gasped,
trying to ring 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 COM
edv of the situation which chiefly occu-
pied her even then, and Mr.. Hale's divid-
ed mind between his wish to be properly
grateful and his disguised 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.
IL hope yoC haven't hurt Yourself"
Mr. Hale said, evidently not knowing
what to say, IL am deeply grateful,
Miss Bennett-more than can express
and should be very sorry for any conse-
quences to yourself"
"Oh it's nothing" Ruth answered, as
soon as soon she could speak, The only
consequences to myself are ruined dress,
and that's proper revenge of fate. 1t
was to save this dress-it was so new then
and so prettv," she added pathetically-
THAT trespassed on your grounds six
weeks ago. | hope you appreciate the
fact of the Nemesis And herewith
she held up the torn and streaming silk to
his astonished eyes.
Miss Bennett" Mrs. Alexander said a
few days later coming into the library
after the children had gone 81 have a
commission to discharge. It's rather pc
culiar one, but | hope you won't mind
such a thing coming through a third per-
son. 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
your-your feeling about it."
Miss Bennett looked bewildered. 81
don't understand. Mrs. Alexander. Is 1t
about the little boy Does Mr. Hale want
to reward me"-a deep flush suffused her
tarness--'for what didp couldn't
take his money of course"
II don't know that he would look at it
quite in that light" Mrs. Alexander an
swered. at probably helped to bring
matters to climax with him. Indeed, he
intimated as much. And perhaps it is a
reward of virtue. Certainly it is quite
after the story book STYLE; but YOU are
pretty enough and bright enough, as told
him. for almost any position. He is a
self-made man himself; it isn't such a
wonderful condescension when one re-
members that. He couldn't expect to
marry into the Mayhower, for all his
wealth"
Miss Bennett felt as if her senses were
playing her false. 'Yon don't mean
you can mean" she cried THAT he wants
TO marry me -
! Mrs. Alexander put her arm about her
soothinglv. II suppose it is overwhe I'M
ing. my dear. 1t was to me at first. But
after all. why should he not? There are
the three children, of course, and he twen-
ty years older. and he hasn't much besides
his money to recommend him; but 1t
would be splendid home for you dear
1t seems he has watched you ever since
that time you trespassed And he has
made inquiries of me. He began max
ing them some time ago. but dd't no.
tee | thought perhaps he wanted