The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1897-06-03

"Lon't be long, will your" she said.
"Oh, no!'' said cheerfully. II shall
find the path in no time.''
/ started off, carefully exploring the
ground before me with my stick as !
went. There was no sign of path, and
began to be seriously alarmed for Miss
Pascoe's comfort. On consideration
came to the conclusion that had made
rather an ass of myself. Another hun
dred yards, and still no path. paused
and looked back. I could see slight,
dark figure moving toward me very
carefully and slowly.
Is that you?' said.
Miss Pascoe's voice answered.: eyes.
I'd rather come with you if you don't
mind. When you left me, felt SO lone
~ that I was almost afraid''
II am more sorry than I can tell
you," I said, "to have got you into
such an awkward fix Pick your way
very carefully. Ahp' She had stepped
with one foot into patch of wet moss.
"Take my hand" said. 1T is
quite firm where I am standing. Will
you ever forgive me for this?" She took
my outstretched hand, and guided her
to safety. But because the danger might
be renewed at any moment I still re-
tanned my hold Of her slim fingers, and
we went forward together in that pleas
ant, companionable way.
"Don't talk to me about forgiveness
until you have found the path and
made restitution" she said. My fingers
frightened upon hers instinctively, part
ly because it was SO pleasant to have
them resting so unreservedly in my
hand and partly because her voice was
very low and without any hint Of dis
approval in it.
"For myself said, ST cannot pre-
tend to be sorry for this adventure. For
your sake, of course, am, but it has
been SO pleasant to have you to myself
for so long that when we hit upon the
path shall be almost in despair
''We haven't hit upon it yet," she
said. The ground under our feet SEEM
ed quite firm by this time The moon
was just rising, swimming upward
through the low lying vapor in wide
luminous circle of misty silver. Right
above us star or two blinked.
81 suppose, said, striking match
to look at my watch, "that the second
dinner bell has rung by this time. In
another hour there will be hue and
cry after us. was sorry for this a
moment later, because in order to strike
my match I had had to relinquish her
hand. We had both paused and read the
face of the watch together in the flick
ering light. Then it was blown out by
gust of wind, and darkness succeeded.
possessed myself of her hand again.
"Well," she said, "shall we go on?''
eff you like" said.
81 suppose we ought to-, she said.
1T would be rather fun to let them
find us here, wouldn't it?'' I said.
''Think how pretty the lanterns would
look, coming glinting over the marsh
es."
''But they might miss u.s." she said,
turning her face quickly toward me. I
saw the CLEAN of her eyes and the oval
shadow of her face, and all at once I
realized that there was only one thing
could do at that precise moment in my
life. stopped down and kissed her.
Forgive me for that as well, if you
can," said, "It means that I love
you. I suppose now have trespassed
beyond all hope?"
For a moment she was quite still,
and cursed myself for such blind pre-
cipitation, but the circumstances and
the time and place had all forced me to
this inevitable result.
"You think" she said, after this
pause, "that you may as we'll pile up
all your ofenses at once and be forgiven
or condemned on all counts at one
time?''
Precisely" I said. II am entirely
in your hands.
II will forgive you, she said very
sweetly, when you have found the
path"
''It's bargain, then, - said. I took
step forward and brought my foot
sharply against something white that
stood a few inches above the ground.
why" cried, bending to examine
it, "this must be the broken post that
Jim told me to look out for. What a
close observer your brother isl This is
the path that leads straight for home. +"
"You knew it all the time,' she said
reproachfully.
mo-" said. ST assure you that I
had no idea of it, We shall be in just
as the rescue party is preparing to set
out" turned to her and held out my
hands. 81 claim your forgiveness, 1
said.
And she forgave me.-Black and
White.
Innocuous Vanity.
As gold is never put into circulation