The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-10-21
HHR FATHERS victim.
A STORY OF
WESTERN LIFE
BY
THOMAS P. MONFORT.
CHAPTER VII.

THOMAS P. MONFORT.
= CHAPTER VIII.
A SERPENT IN TIE PATH. -.
Two Or three weeks passed, and then
one day Louise went across the country
to neighbor's house. She spent the
greater part Of the day there, and it
was we'll on toward evening when she
started home. On the way back there
was long slough, and it was full OF
water lilies, and when Louise came to
it she decided to collect some Of them.
Accordingly she began picking them
where they grew near the bank, but,
hunan-like, not satisfied with getting
what were within reach, she began to
try for those that were further out, and
the result was that she lost her bal
ance and fell into the slough. She was
not much the worse for the fall, for
the water was shallow, but her feet
stuck IN the mlre and She found, after
making several efforts, that she could
not extricate them.
While in this situation she heard
some one approaching, and after the
lapse Of q minute or So 2 horseman
came in sight, and soon he was near
enough for Louise to see that he was
the stranger who had passed her and
Paul the night Of the storm. She
wanted help to get out Of the slough,
but she hoped the man would pass by
without seeing her, for now the aver
sion she had felt for him came back so
strongly that she dreaded to hear his
voice, much less feel his touch.
He did not pass by, however, for he
had seen her fall and rode directly to
the spot purposely to lend his assist
ance should it be needed. So, refining
in his horse, he sprang to the ground,
and, touching his hat, said:
ssPardon me, miss, can I be OF any
service to you?"
Louise blushed and stammered con-
fused reply, which was neither an &C
ceptance norrefusal Of his offer, and the
next instant he had extended his hand
and she took it. She was soon on the
bank again, and while she shook the
water from her garments he gathered
up the flowers and replaced them in her
hands. His conduct was so gentleman
" and kind, and his manner toward her
so modest, that she felt she had har-
bored unjust opinions Of him. He treat
ed her with the utmost consideration
and made no reference to the awkward
accident.
'sThere now, "he said, when she was
readyto resume her journey. There
is very little harm done, and hope you
will excuse me for intruding.'
''It is no intrusion, but rather a good
service" Louise replied. II don't
know how I should have ever got out If
you had not come. No one ever passes
this waE-that is, hardly ever"
"Are you going west?"
eyes, sir. My home is little more
than mile in that direction"
THAT is fortunate, since am going
that way, and if you win allow me- l
can have the pleasure Of seeing you
nearly home. VIII it be an intrusion'"
Instantly all her fear and dread Of
the man came back to Louise, and she
would have gladly spared herself Of his
company. But be had rendered her q
great service and she thought it would
be ungenerous to deny him. So she
told him that it would not be an intru-
sion.
he introduced himself as Harry Pear
son, and as they walked along he man
aged to find out q great deal about
Louise and her parents. She told him
show. many years they had been in Kan
sas, and that they came out from the
Seast.
$50 you are from the east, too" he
ssaid. '.What state is your old hone?"
z "ohic."
!: "Indeed! That is my home"
"Yes, we came from near Dayton"
ssGreens, and from near Dayton" the
Young man mused. THAT is rather
queer, sure, But, pshaw! there are lots
Of Greens IN the world, and there might
. be dozen families Of the name from
near, Dayton out here in Kansas" Then
aloud he said: II live in Dayton and
know great many people about there.
I suppose you have relatives and friends
in or near the town?'
eyes, the Greens and the Blatchfords
s'Blatchtords?" the young man re-
peated. Are you-is hep" Then
recolecting himself, he stopped.
Louise glanced up into her compan.
IONS face, but he turned it awsy, and