The Forrest City times., 1895-07-12
and vexation. Whatever shall we do


ton which almost overwhelmed me
and made me call myself everything
the reverse of complimentary. "And
1t must be at least twenty miles from
home, too; and my brother will, am
quite certain, never trouble himself to
turn back to look for me. He'll simply
keep on driving ahead. But, there,
suppose he is just like other brothers-
quite useless as escorts"
For my own part / felt decidedly
pleased at the prospect of the brothers
continued absence.
We'll, I've landed you in this scrape,
and you must allow rne to see you out
of it, that's ALL"
Secretly / began to feel rather glad,
as | perceived what very pleasant
duty had suddenly devolved upon me,
and for the time, at all events, my
chum Holmes was forgotten.
II can only suggest" added, "that
as you are so far from home, you will
allow me to see you to some hotel
while try to get a new bolt and nut.
Possibly you can tell me of likely
place to put up at for an hour or two,
L
easily manage to wheel your machine
and my own along"
Somewhat to my surpise, however.
Miss Gwynne was visibly embarrassed
by my proposition.
There's one great objection to such
a thing" she said, after pause. The
fact is, Dick-I mean my brother, Mai.
Gwynne-has left me without a penny
In my pocket" She colored up charm
iEgly at the confession, and went on:
"Of course he doesn't know that, and
it's my own fault. often go out with
out bringing my purse, but declare /
never will again"
She gave little laugh, as if to con-
ceal her vexation, and added: And SO
/ can't accept your kind suggestion"
ION the contrary returned, more
eagerly still, tits the greater reason
wyh l shouldn't desert you, especially
as your predicament is entirely due to
my carelessness. You don't know how
annoyed l am at having rendered your
machine useless, and, under the cir
cumstances, l feel in honor bound to
repair the mischief; and if you will af-
ford me the happiness of seeing you
made BILE, can, no doubt,
very soon get your mount put right"
Miss Gwynne hesitated, and l fiat
tered myself that she seemed in no way
averse to my company Certainly l
was making very favora BILE impress
sion upon her.
'Oh, but if allow you to spend any
thing upon me it must only be as
loan. No, please don't interrupt-that
must be distinctly understood. My
brother must, and will. be only too
happy to settle with you. Besides"
the girl continued, with a smile,
whatever would he say to me if al
lowed perfect stranger to spend
money upon me?"
He'd say it served me right for my
carelessness. But you will allow me,
then, to see you made comfortable
somewhere while l try to repair dam
ages?"
Really, don't see what else can
do, under the circumstances, was the
answer, with little sigh, as of regret.
Then, with a light laugh and in a
mock-menacing tone, she added: "Oh,
but won't | make it warm for Brother
Dick when we meet A deal he cares
about me. You see, he hasn't even
troubled to run back to find out
whether I've broken my neck or not
and, between you and me, he hates the
idea of lost ground But let us be
moving, Mr.-Mr.-"
little hesitation, some apparent
h baI ~l, l.
me, and my heart was no longer my
own. l knew l was, even already,
madly in love with pretty Miss
Gwynne.
Fred Brandon-quite at your
service"
We'll, Mr.. Brandon, there's a turn
ing half a mile down the road which
will take US to just the place we want.
Then you will be able to run on to St
Albans, to get what you need for my
machine. There's no place nearer, and
I'm afraid you will be very glad when
you have done with such very
troublesome companion as / am prov
ing"
ION the contrary, quite a pleasant
interruption to my journey" gallant
ly ventured, and l really thought that
Miss Gwynne was the most charming
and unconventional girl had ever met
In fact, we presently reached the inn
She had spoken of all too soon to suit
my newly awakened emotions.
l found, on inquiry. that l could
reach st. Adams quicker by taking
some short cuts across the fields than
by riding round the road, and so l de-
termined TO leave my machine at the