DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-09-04

1, NF ~ w puo cuBc VI Jne lake, O
inc tortoises' clumsy walking until the
would reach the brink and then plunr
10 inc bottom, whore their bright back
would look as though they were finel
vanished. She laughed at her ow,
happy reflection in the clear water, an,
told herself that she had really spckeI
the truth when she assured her grand
mother OF the pleasant prospect befor
her. The babbling brook seemed NOR
inclined to be friendly than ever before
the birds sang their sweetest songs, tn,
molly berries were of brighter hue
than last year, and the flowers, the glo
rles OF the sunny south, which decked
the wood here and there like the finest
OF embroidery on green plush, looked tc
Grace as though they had put forth
their greatest efforts to look their CAV.
est and, in fact, all nature seemed tc
wake anew in honor of her coming.
Upon my soul if that isn't too pro-
voking What could have possessed me
to forget that chocolate?"
The sun was just about an hour high.
and Grace, having made her purchases
was about half mile on her homeward
journey, when, as we saw, she had for
gotten the chocolate. 1t must be had,
so our heroine retraces her footsteps.
makes her purchase, and was about
mile from the village, when she is
| aIa IL
startled by horses hoofs on the road.
She turned, and saw horse coming at
lively rate, followed by an empty
buggy. She took in the situation at
once. The hitching strap was dangling
along, and evidently he had, upon find
ing himself loose, started for home
without waiting for his master. BY a
strange coincidence the pony was the
same shade of her own and about the
same size of poor Gypsie. Tho girls
only thought was to stop the horse. The
road was just about fifty feet from the
railroad, and without hesitatng she set
down her basket, sprang across a small
rivulet and just reached the road in
time to grasp the dangling roins of the
Independent animal. She soon sue
ceeded in soothing her with gentle
words and kind pats, and stood meditat-
ing. What should she do with her?
The sun was already near the horizon
she was beginning to think of the
tramps, and what could she do? She
would not have time to take her back
to town; should she tie her to tree and
fasten note to the reins? No, indeed
that would never do, for tramp would
come along and steal the horse and
buggy. However, something must be
done, for it was getting late-it would !
soon be dark hen what would she do?
"What shall do? Oh, you impudent
rascal for placing me in such a predica-
ment!" she said, throwing ono arm
across the pretty animals neck and
leaning her face against it, while with
the other hand she held the reins, look
ing the very picture of despair.
While thus standing she was startled
by hand being laid upon her arm,
Had her fears been realized? Was it
the tramp who was going to kill her and
then run away with the buggy? She
dare not raise her head
Excuse me-" he began.
Surely this didn't sound like tramp's
voice, and she raised her miserable
ittlo face, expecting to see a ragged,
mud -besmeared object before her. She
lad quite an air of martyrdom depicted
IN her face, which, however, changed
instantly as she saw fne-looking,
specimen of humanity be-
ore her. She could not conceal her as
enlistment, so he at once introduced
himself as DR.. Green, adding:
"Yon have stopped my horse, and
hereby dDne me a great favor, as |
hould have had to walk six miles to
each home Is there any thing | can
o for you in return? should be only
90 glad to servo you"
She told him there was nothing, but
er face vailed her words. He saw that
he was too proud to place herself
nder obligations to any one, so he
add.
81 think ! heard you speak of my I
ony having placed you in a predica-
lent. Can not I make up for it and {
elp you out of it? Are you alone?" {
Eyes, I'm alone, and, what's more, am {
wo miles from home"
poor child Get right in and I'll I
ike YOU home, if you'll show me the S
ay." {
She hesitated; would it be prudent? c
[e read her thoughts and said; q
"Or, if you prefer, you may get in d
nd drive and I'll walk" t
This was too much for her. She was t
lst in the state one gets when they t
ust either laugh or cry, and as she did a
ot wish to make All exhibition Of her f
If by the latter, she made tho woods v
ng with her merry laughter, saying at l.
le time: o
"All right, Dr. Green; you hold the d
orse while I run over to the railroad o
Ter nv basket, then basket and will +
1t in and run away with your buggy Il
ID horse. That would be capital; I'm s
glad you men toned it" b
Then it was arranged, but all three 81
race, DR.. Green, and the baskot--woro "
cupants Of the buggy. Grace found II
,r companion splendid conversation "
ist, and was surprised at herself when o
"a found how short had been their
ouaintanco | ore she told him her
hole history; how they Cher grand
rents and HERSELF had come south s.