Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1891-10-21
CHAPTER VIII.
A sEnPExr ~ ruE PAIN.

sLhPkNT IN THE PATH
Two or three weeks passed. and then
one day Louise went across the country
to n neighbours house. She spent the
greater part of the day there. and IL
was well 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,
human-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 mire 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 a minute or so a horseman
came in sight, and soon he was near
enough for Louise 10 see that he was
the stranger who had passed her and
Paul the night OF the storm She
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 IL be needed. So, refining
in his horse, he sprang 20 the ground,
and. touching his hat, said:
Pardon me, miss, can / he of any
service 20 you?'
Louise blushed and stammered a con-
fused reply, which was neither an ac-
ceptance nor refusal of his offer, and the
next instant he had extended his hand
and she took IL. 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
| ly 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 mo- reference 20 the awkward
/ accident.
There now" he said. when She was
ready TO resume her journey. There
is very little harm done. and hope you
will excuse me for intruding."
! 1T Is no intrusion. but rather good
service" Louise replied. Il don't
know how I should have ever got out II
you had not come. No one ever passes
this way-that Is, hardly ever"
Are you going wcst?"
eyes, sir. My home Is little more
than a mile in that direction"
THAT Is fortunate. since am going
that way. and II you will allow me !
can have the pleasure Of seeing you
| nearly home. Will IL be an intrusion?"
Instantly oil her fear and dread Oh
the man came back 90 Louise. and she
would have gladly spared herself Of his
company. ButShe had rendered her a
great service and she thought Il would
be ungcnerous TO deny him. So she
told him that Il would not be an intru.
sion.
lie introduced himself as Harry Pear.
son, and as they walked along he man.
aged 70 find ont great deal about
Louise and her parents. She told him
how many years they had been IN Kan
sas. and that they came out from tht
east.
$50 you arc from the east, too" he