The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-21

II should have asked, anyway" he
persisted, boyish enthusiasm overriding
his wonted tact. "You should have had
his name, even if you kept it until you
met at the judgment seatr'
'sShould we meet there, he will know
my wayward spirit, SO little understood
by myself. He will know then that I
am not ungrateful-that am just"
She spoke as though to herself.
ST should like to shake hands with
him-just once!" Mckee cried, warmly.
GIN gray coat or blue, he is true knight,
without fear and without reproach."
She turned her face full toward him,
pale, solemn, but very calm. And
something in her eyes told Mckee that
theme had best be left for simpler ones.
"There's another loyal and true" he
went on, covering one error by another.
"You are blessed in your nameless
friends, Miss Clay! Though might
have had you across week since, there
| certainly is best intent and great risk
/ in that fellow whose soul you pray for. %
ST do, God lsnows!' she answered,
slowly, but with deep feeling. ''If be
| unworthy-if judge not fearing judg-
ment-my nearer will weigh my in
| tent"
''Well, he is one of us, anyway" the
youth ratified on. "Why cannot do
something like him"
you are doing-far more; doing your
whole duty" she broke in, restlessly.
''Not like him." he persisted. "He is
good, true reb, 'sholy,' as Pete says.
Some day 1 shall feel honored when 1
take his hand and tell him how he
served you"
The woman turned short on him.
What the expression on her face said.
speech off in mid-rush on his lips. Her
own quivered, as about to speak, but
she only dropped her hand istlessly at
! her side and moved on again, silent.
| After little she turned and said, with
evident effort:
| Elbow much warmer It seemsl'
tsWarmeri why, it's colder than the
North pole!" Mckee exclaimed; but he
seized the changed subject eagerly, for
his tact told him there was something
to avoid in the other, whether romance
or not. So he added:
"There is a creek just ahead. Let US
try it for Ice"
A thin skim rested on the surface Of
the little run, but it quickly gave way,
even at the banks, under the pressure
! of Mrs Clonan's Sunday ties.
| 'sThat will not Do much harm" he
said, confidently. "These flats freeze a
day, at least, before the river. But you
must get across tonight"
''I sosU. Only death shall stop me this
time!"
The girls voice was calm, but the
ring in 1t made her companion stare
| at her with open admiration.
For hours they tramped brislkly about
the crisp, cold woods, air and exer-
else bringing natural glow back to
the woman's cheeks, while her long,
easy stride tested sorely McKee's man
agement of his heavy and novel skirts.
Then they went back to the cabin, talk
ing long and earnestly of her plans af-
ter landing, of chances for the enemy's
movement in such weather, finally
drifting to the congenial subject of Bes-
sic Westchester and her brave cleverness
on prisoners Sunday. But never once
did Mckee return to the thin ice Of the
rescuer and the anonymous warning,
though his boyish enthusiasm carried
him far beyond his intent regarding his
pretty cousin by courtesy.
By degrees, as the long day wore
away, old Pete's cabin was vocal with
Bessie's praises, and ardent lover had
told his little idyl of doubt, hope, and
final delight; while the woman's SYM
pathy never limited that she had heard
Il all before; If not in quite SO gushing
| form.
'tAnd to say that the course Of true
love never runs smooth" he cried, final
". '"That is rank heresyl The course
| is sure to smooth, sooner or later, if the
love be only true!"
| Again that inscrutable expression
80 puzzling to him In the woods-swept
the girls face, and again the color faded
wholly from 1t. But she only said, with
| deep sadness in the cadence:
"Perhaps. Heaven grant that you
two may never prove the contrary!"
It may have been the sunset glow,
through the dingy little pane, that
softly touched her face back to color,
but there was glory, as of tender
memory, over it, and sadly tender
light stole into the eyes that gazed long
and absently in the Goals on Petes rude
hearth.
Hours later-when the slow-riding
moon had silvered crisp twig and soft
ened the dusk of wood glades-when
the thin-sheeted ice on little creeks re-
turned her glances, mirror-like, old
Pete came in from tending the horse,
gathered up oars and oil skins, and
said:
''Et's bout wantin' two hours ter
moonset, Mars Kee, so I'll git de boat
outen the rushes an float 'er down.
One hour by moon you bring missy ter
| de creek"
Then, watching his shadow lose itself
in gloom of woods, Carolyn Clay turned
to her companion:
''To reach home before daylight, in
that disguise" she said, quietly, '.you
must go now"
"And leave you here alone9 Not
|