The Portland daily press., 1895-04-20
A FOOL L THE FOREST.

corn down upon the little wood below.
Here shallow brook fretted over tiny
falls and ourled in eddies round large,
smooth pebbles. The morning sun struck
ashanti through the willows, and patches
OF blue sky beamed up from the depths of
the shallow water. Miranda stepped upon
the frail bridge and leaned over the hand
rail. The mirror below her was full of
waving shadows and gray light. The
stream trickled coolly in that secluded
dell, and Miranda's face was flushed and
hot with her haste. The breeze went soft
ly through the tresses of her hair. Miriam
da glanced along the shelving banks to
where a grassy knoll jutted forth upon a
corner of the brook. Sho left the bridge,
and walking to the spot locked down upon
the water. The dell was silent.
Her eyes flew swiftly this way and that
IN furtive diffidence, and then, fast as a
fash, she slipped her shoes from under
her feet and flung her hosen down, and
dropping upon the knoll dabbled her white
feet in the current. The water washed
about her ankles gently, and she watched
the curves in her high arches dissolve and
change and waver in the eddies. How
U1cdo1QCOAU was Ul0 oUI6dIu! LOW SUlll
and sweet tho air! She bent forward and
regarded her face in the deep pool. Sud
denly, and with a little gasp of terror, she
found the earth slipping from her. She
threw herself back and clutched wildly at
the grass She felt the water creeping
above her ankles A cry escaped her, and
on the next instant two hands were clasp
ed beneath her arms, and she was swiftly
i,,+< ofo%x, 1oiJ ;oI,
grass upon her back Miranda sat up
and looking round met the bashful eyes
of youth. At once his gaze dropped, and
he fumbled his hands together, shifting
from foot to foot.
Il beg your pardon" said he; ''but
you''-
sob, you are very kind" said Miranda
earnestly. II thank, you, sir. Another
moment and I had been lost.''
1T is but shallow" he mumbled, smil-
ing, and bit his nail.
Miranda laughed awkwardly. sob,
but thank you, sir!" she said. You are
very good
'''Twas but my duty, he stammered
and looked. away, frowning, at the trees.
"Any one would have done more for you"
he added blushing.
41lIudQh SdA0 W6AU- uOWu -SOWu,
andshastily she plucIsed her bare feet I'M
der her skirt. There fell long silence,
during which he fidgeted with the stalks
of the bracken, and Miranda beat her fin
gers impatiently upon her. knee.
Heavens! Will the man never speak or
go?' thought Miranda. 1.-The sun shines
bright, and the birds sing sweet says
she. s'We shall soon be in full spring.
l1..1rrl 7 h.
sweet he added, land twill rain by
nightfall," he ventured, cooking his eye at
the sky. -
@AhH' said Miranda, tanning herself
with her hat.
Again "a pause ensued The young man
shuff1ed Gu his feet. He whistled gently.
Miranda yawned and drummed her fin
gers faster On her Enee. She gave a little
cough
II fear,'' he suffered, you will grow
cold upon the moist slope. The sun has
little power upon the dews within this
shade. IT might beg
Approaching, he held out a vague hand.
Miranda shut her mouth with snap.
II thank you,'' she said, with scorn.
content save upon damp grass. %
IL crave your pardon" he besought
her,
'tEI-fancied"-
II hate a fool" quoth Miranda to her
self in anger
His eyes wandered to the stream.
why, there are your Shoes says he,
Frightening, land your hosen. Pray
de made hasty movement forward.
II beg you will be at no trouble for
- oriad
me at least, pray you, the liberty to dis
pose of my own apparel. I am no child
at nurse. y
He drew back, red and frightened. and
Miranda, breathless, ourled her feet closer
beneath her gown. He watched her face
askance She bit her lips.
He is only fool, but I hate a fool,
said she.
Miranda sighca. He glanced at her
anxiously.
And you think it will rain?'' she ask
ed.
cpl swear it WILL" he cried eagerly
and VISITED, open mouthed, upon her con
descension.
II wonder. 'said Miranda thoughtfully.
''But the sly is red, he painted.
~ have my doubts, y said Miranda sage
cAdhlhS AOI 1lbdu lu6 WOOL OBJ
scures the heaven. How is it possible to
tell?' -. - =.
Indeed he began.
May she interrupted, 'but from the
cornfeld yonder you could descry with
certainty, and I should be treasured, /
81 can see the cornfield through the
trees, he answered, "and the sun Shines
ted above the hedges. ''-----
Miranda shrugged her shoulders pctu-
1antly. '-
''What sound was that?' she said,
fSurely some animal. hate cow she
exclaimed. "Oh, sir, pray run and see!''
C IT'S NO cow" he replied stolidly.. 81
know the fields by heart, and there is new
or COW within two miles,
There Is many fool said Miranda
bitterly.
faye, to be sure" he assented gravely,
sand many sinner, moreover, he added
thoughtfully.
81 think I prefer sinner said Miriam
da yehemently.
1.-THE sinner for me, too,'' he agreed
cheerfully.
Mirandaput out her tongue at the grass.
Idly he broke the bark of a silver birch