Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-11-22

The creek was q foaming tor
rent, and she could not see the
bridge.
Suddenly she heard mans voice
shouting to her, and in a few min
utes Joe on his tough little mus
tang was beside her. He wore q
buffalo coat and threw large cloak
of her own about her shoulders.
She did net wait to ask how he hap
pened to come for her. She forgot
that he was angry and that she had
hurt him. She reached out her
firm, white hand and caught Joe's
extended fingers, and side by side
the horses were urged across the
bridge.
They galloped home in silence,
and when they reached there and
Helen stepped into the friendly
shelter Of the broad veranda, she
noted the fact that Joe led both
horses to the stable and put them
up.
Half an hour later, Joe, arrayed
in Sheriff Blacks dressing gown
and slippers (articfes Brought BY
Miss Helen from the East, was ex-
planning to the rosy, demure young
mistress of the house that her faith
er had been suddenly called to the
next town, and might not return
before early morning. He asked
me to keep sort of a lookout over
the place, and when / rode over to
ask you to invite me to take tea and
found you gone, l fastened after
you
This speech over, an embarrassed
silence followed. 1t was broken by
Joe, who looked straight at his hos
tess and said:
IF am intruding, Miss Nellie,
why give the word and I'll go.
Helen assured him, in constrain-
ed sort Of way, that she was glad of
company, and went to prepare the
little supper herself, for in those
days, as now, servants were rare and
inefficient in the West.
After supper in an awarkard
pause of the conversation, Joe took
up little case from the table and
began examining its contents-a
bright new pair of handouts.
They were of a new kind just
from the East, and Helen began
explaining the spring lock, which
opened with skeleton key.
Somehow one of the bands was
on Joe's wrist as she slipped the
other bright circlet over her firm,
white hand, when 10! the lock snap
ped and they were locked together.
Helen blushed crimson and COM
menced searching for the key in
nervous haste.
But no key was to be found.
Suddenly the truth dawned upon
her. The key was in her fathers
pocket, and he was on the other
side Of Grow creek, which was now
a foaming torrent and dangerous to
cross in the storm and darkness.
She tried to smile aud treat the
matter lightly, but it was just the
ghost of smile, and it was a very
doleful voice that said: 81 am
afraid Mr.. Gordon, that. we must
break the lock. Father has the
key
Joe felt tempted to indulge in a
hearty laugh over their queer situa-
ton. but glance at the distressed
face across the table sobered his
mirth. A great throb of sorrow
came over him. If she loved him
she would not care so much.
He gazed at the shining fetter on
her wrist so long and so earnestly
that Helen lifted her eyes wonder
ingly, but dropped them again.
What woman ever failed to read
the story that she saw in the honest
blue depth of her humble young
giants eyes?
Her confusion encouraged Joe,
but there was almost a tremor in
his voice as he laid his great brown
hand over her fettered one and said
softly: Nellie if you only loved
me ! would believe it was fate that
bound US together. l would take
it as an omen that fate would grant
me my dearest wish. But, Nellie,
l dare not hope"
The girl looked up slowly into
her lovers eyes, looked steadily,
though she still saw the look in
them. "Joe," she said, "It is
fate.