The free press., 1895-08-29

1t was bright noontide and they
walked through the woods; and pres
entity they came to the wishing-tree,
with It's two trunks growing from one
root.
eff we pass through the wishing
tree, she said, 'and wish as we go,
tho fairies will give us the wish of our
hearts.
SO they went through, hand in
hand, because the way was rough. AS
she passed out of it, 8 bramble caught
her dress and h9 stopped to olsen
tangle it, but the folds of her gown
were electric, and his hands trem-
bled.
GLOW tiresomo it is !" she said: 81
believe that bramble will never let me
go"
'Can you blame it?" he asked look
ing up at her, and she turned her face
away. They walked on. ga whole
month, he said, and seeing you
every day! When did such good
fortune ever before come to poor
secretary?"'
cor to a humble companion? No,
| / don't mean that. But it has been
pleasant.
They walked in silence to the little
gate that divided the woods from the
grounds. Here they stopped, and she
SAID, looking at him moment, half
shyly, half proudly, "Come in; /
should like to show you tho garden.
All the smart people are coming to-
morrow, to keep the heiress's BIRTH
day.
He hesitated, and she laughed. "Oh,
we needn't go in sight of tho house.
The grounds are big enough"
He flushed, and stammered, in word
less denial of the thought she had
read in him that his being seen with
the companion might compromise her,
and together they walked under the
arching trees to tho old lawn where
the sun dial stands.
"This is where the tenants dance, l
believe" she said; land all the grand
people dance with the cottager folks,
which seems to mo rather silly, for L
am sure each set would rather dance
with themselves. Lord Hallbut is com-
ing. Will you be here?"
II shall certainly como II Lord
Halibut does. May l dance with
you?"
She laughed, 81 don't think you
know what dancing on the turf Is
like. Besides, probably, our steps
don't suit D."
Let us try now," he said.
He laid his arm on her waist. Tho
next moment her hand was on his
arm and they We're whirlinS down the
lawn toward uue sunuiuI.
''What foolish people we arc, " she
said breathlessly, and half moved to
pause. But his arm held her closer,
and they waltzed to the end OF the
lawn, past the sundial, and into the
shade of the great copper beech; and'
there, before she had time to move her
hand from his arm, both his arms
were around her, and he was raining
kisses on her soft, flushed cheek. She
shrank IA little, and then laid her face
softly against his, and put her hand
up to his neck.
"Ah!" he said, ''the wish is granted.
have my hearts desire. You DO
love me don't you?"
She clasped her hands behind his
neck, aud hung back looking nm AT
arm s length, with half-ashamed, half
laughing eyes.
"Ob, yes, love you, Lord Hall
but, she SAID.
He put his arms up and laid them
on hers. "Then you know"
She laughed again. "Your manu-
kerchief, at least, was not ashamed Oh
your name.
Not one thought that was traitor to
his love for her stirred in him at her
confession. Lord Halibut knew true
love when he saw it,
"Why did you deceive me? she
asked.
"Oh! the landscape painter idea |
snunose." he said "lhe Lord OF
Burleigh, and that sort of thing
She laughed once more. "Ihe