Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-06-19
knees in the marsh You will be safer

L
find the path in no time
l started off, carefully exploring the
ground before me with my stick as
went. There was no sign of path, ant
began to be seriously alarmed for Mis-
Pascoe's comfort. On consideration
came to the conclusion that | had mad(
rather an ass of myself. Another hun
dred yards, and still no path. l paused
and looked back. I could see a slight
dark figure moving toward me very
carefully and slowly.
SIS that you!' I said.
Miss Pascoe's voice answered: eyes.
I'd rather come with you if you don
mind. When you left me, felt so lone
ly that was almost afraid
II am more sorry than / can tell
you," I said, "to have got you into
such an awkward fix. Pick your way
very carefully. Ah!' She had stepped
with one foot into patch of wet moss.
"Take my hand" I said. "It is
quite firm where l am standing. Will
you ever forgive me for this?'' She tool,
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, I said, II 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.
I'VE 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.
II suppose" l said, striking a 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 u.s." 1 was sorry for this a
moment later, because in order to strike
my match / 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.
I possessed myself of her hand again.
well" she said, shall we go ONT"
eff you like" l said.
L 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 us, 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
realized that there was only one thing
| could do at that precise moment i'll my
life. stopped down and kissed her.
Forgive me for that as well, if you
can" said. 1t means that l love
you. I suppose now have trespassed
beyond all hope?'
For 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 tC
this inevitable result.
"You think" she said, after this
pause. that you may as we'll pile up
all your offenses at once and be forgiven
or condemned on all counts at one
timer"
Precisely" said II am entirely
in your hands.
Il will forgive you," she said very
sweetly, when you have found the
path.
Its bargain, then, said. took
step forward and brought my foot
sharply against something white that
stood 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
close observer your brother is! This is
the path that leads straight for home. +"
+" You knew it all the time, she said
reproachfully
NO" said. II assure you that |
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. II claim your forgiveness"
said.
And she forgave me.-Black and