Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-03

4 Y
step nearer to the bench, put out his
hand towards the young woman and
move as if he would sit down beside her
He saw the young woman rise hastily
and try to walk away, but the man laid
| his hand upon her shoulder. A second
| later and Drane had seized the fellows
wrist with a grip that made the joint
| crack. Then he doubled the arm he
held across the others chest so suddenly
1 that he was flung back pace or two
'You internal tramp cried the fellow,
and he was following it up with Ian
guage much stronger when Mr.. Drane
interrupted him.
Z ''Speak a single word that fails in re-
spect to this woman, said he, ''or raise
your finger to do her an injury, and I'll
break every bone in your body"
"Well, take the chippie and"
Mr. Drane lost patience and knocked
the fellow down. 1t was straight,
quick blow and it closed the disturb
ance as well as the right eye of the
man who received il. He staggered to
his feet, growled something about the
police and walked rapidly away.
Mr.. Drane turned to the lady's maid,
who, very pale, was leaning heavily
against tree.
Il trust that did not brighten YOU"
he said. Perhaps / should have been
| less violent
The maid did not reply at once. She
| looked at Mr. Drane in a daze of sur
prise until a faint color crept into her
cheek and a suspicion of a smile crossed
her lips Then Mr. Drane remembered.
He glanced at his remnant of q hat
which he held in his hand. and his eyes
| Immediately fell, but he found no COM
fort in his boots, whore they rested. All
his gentility departed on the instant,
! nd he shifted awkwardly, trying to
| speak and merely mumbling. With the
same irresistible gaucherie he passed
/ his hand over his chin, and the rough
stubble there gave further evidence OF
| his absurdly miserable situation. The
| young woman seemed to realize some
what of his emotions, for her face in
stantly became serious and she said,
softly:
Il am sure l owe very much to your
| kindness, your courage, your muscle.
Truly am very grateful"
Mr.. Drane knew that he was blushing,
and he wondered whether his face were
clean enough to show il. He looked up
and saw the young woman's blue eyes
regarding him compassionately.
II feel as if | must apologize for adj
dressing you at al, miss" he half stam-
mered. Il forgot my-well, my loath-
some appearance. 1t isn't mine, it
isn't my fault; in fact, am not exactly
the thing you see"
''0h, forgive me il have appeared to
notice any thing but your goodness,
SIR" exclaimed the young woman, APP
preaching him impulsively as she spoke;
you have doubtless been unfortunate,
perhaps seen better days l am sure
you are a gentleman at heart and am
grateful, indeed am, believe me, )" and
without further ado she took his hand
and pressed it warmly in both of hers.
Mr. Drane WINGED. There was the most
delicate condescension in her manner
and tone; her action said what words
would have rendered offensive: "See.
recognize your nobility of character, no
matter how ugly is your disguise, and !
am not ashamed to acknowledge it, To
be thus treated by a servant
Yesterday this interesting young per-
son would have stammered in his pres
ence, hung her head, and would have
been overwhelmed at receiving a serv-
ice at his hands. Now, forsooth, she
speaks grandly, airs her superiority,
condescends to grasp Mr. Lawrence
Dranes hand The unhappy man began
! to experience profound resentment at
this conceited ladys maid when a sur
prising change in her manner aroused
his curious interest. She let fall his
hand as impulsively as she had seized
it, blushed painfully and looked at her
white little hands which she folded be-
fore her.
"Alas! I forgot" she said, and her
lips trembled. You can not under
stand, Of course. Oh. dear! Oh, dearl
You see, /, too. am not at all what you
see me, or what you think | am.
Mr. Drane fastened 10 give the lie to
his recent emotions.
II am sure, miss, ne declared, gal
lantly, = have seen You and thought Of
you only as a lady in distress TO whom
it has been my analloyed pleasure to
render some small assistance"
The young woman looked up again.
Her eyes were trimming with tears,
nevertheless She laughed softly.
81 can not helm n. miserable az am. -
she said; 'for your words do sound so
homogeneous" and she glanced as if in
spite of herself at Mr.. Drane's tattered
clothing.
"Yes, miss, responded Mr.. Drane.
humbly. Then gathering courage from
the remnants of his pride he added:
And do you know. miss. have thought