The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-06-25
EBENSBURG, PA, FRIDAY, JUNE %, 1897.
me very carefully and slowly.


is that you?" | said.
Miss Pascoe's voice answered: "Yes;
I'd rather come with you if You don't
mind. When you left me | felt so lone
IL that | was almost afraid"
Il am more sorry than | can tell you"
I said. Ito have got you into such an
awkward fix. Pick your way very care
fully. All" She had stepped with one
foot into a patch of wet moss.
Take my hand" | said: lit 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
he renewed at any moment. | 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. Ny fingers
frightened upon hers instinctiveIy. part
ly because it was so pleasant to have
them resting so unrcservedly in my
hand, and partly because her voice was
very low and without any hint of dis
approval in it.
For myself" I said. Il cannot pre-
tend to be sorry for this adventure.
For your sake. of course | am; but il
has been so pleasant to have you to
myself for so long that when we hit
upon the path l shall be almost in
despair!''
we haven't hit upon il yet" she said.
The ground under our feet seemed
quite firm by this time. The moon was
Just rising. swimming upwards through
the Iow-lying vapor in wide luminous
circle of misty silver. Right above us
star or two hlinked.
Il suppose" | said, striking a match
TO look at my watch, THAT che second
dinner bell has ruTr by this tine. In
another hour there viii be Il hue and
cry after US" / was sorry for this 4
moment later, because in order To strike
my match had to relinQuish her hand.
w" had both paused and read the face
of the watch together in the flickCrin~
light. Then it was blown out by 4
gust of wind and blank darkness sue
coeded. | possessed myself of her hand
again.
Well" she said, shall we go on?"
IF you like" l said.
Il suppose we ought to- she said.
1T would he rather fun to let them
find us here, wouldn't it?" | said.
Think how pretty the lanterns would
look, coming glinting over the
marshes"
But they might miss rs" she said,
turning her face quickly towards me
| saw the CLEAN of her eyes and the
oval shadow of her face, and all at once
| 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 well, if You
can" | said. 1t means that | love you.
! | suppose now l have trespassed beyond
! all hope?"
For a moment she was quite still. and
| / cursed myself for such blind precip-
tation; but the circumstances and the
! time aud place had all forced me to this
| Inevitable result.
You think" she said, after this
| pause, that you may as well pile up ali
your ofTen.es at once and be forgiven
| az condemned on all counts at one
! time?"
Precisely" 1 said; Il am entirely in
! your hands,
| Il will forgive you" she said. very
| sweetly, when you have found the
| path"
It's n bargain, then" | said. | 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 is, This is
the path that leads straight for home"
''Nou knew II all the time" she said.
rePrOachfully.
| No." ] said, Il assure yOu that | had
| no idea of it. We shall be IN Just
| the reSche party Is preparing to set
| out" 1 turned to her and held out my
hands. Il claim your forgiveness"
! said.
And she forgave me. - Black ard
| White.