Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-05-20
FORGIVEN.

Dusk was beginning to fall, and as
looked around over the long level of
marshland that surrounded us, and saw
no sign of our party, 1 felt the first
thrill of not pleasant uneaSiness.
glanced at my companion. She was
walking contentedly by my side, appar-
emily secure in the assumption that
knew my way. AS matter of fact,
had the gravest doubt about it, and
there seemed NO possibility of making
sure. For miles on either hand the
marshes stretched to the low horizon;
the dry tracks were few and Hide
fined, and already light white mist
was rising over the numerous straight
waterways. l looked at Miss Pascoe
again, and my unensiness gave place to
kind of eXpectant pleasure. Even sup
posing we we've lost, there was no actual
danger, and the. great sense of solitude
that hung about us gave me feeling OF
possession that was keenly delightful.
Miss Pascoe, unconscious of my doubt
full cogitations, still walked ON as though
her feet were upon familiar road; and
indeed, as far as I could judge, we were
making in the right direction. To have
stopped would have been like a confess
sion of incompetence ON my part, and
this, to an unavowed lover, was out of
the question, at any rate until circum-
stances unquestionably had me at a
disadvantage. So we went on, and the
twilight deepened, and the mist trailed
in denser wisps across the shiveriny
reed beds.
Suddenly she turned to me-
'What queer place this would be to
get lost in!" she said.
I think the serious possibility of such
o think had not occurred to her at all.
She threw out the remark merely as a
contribution to tagging conversation.
"Yes," l said. But you are not
afraid. are your" -
20, no, not at all. OF course, you
know the way, and that makes all the
difference"
"Of course it Does" 1 answered, with
a glimmering sense of shame. !
How far are we from home now2"
she asked, after pause. in which the
darkness had perceptibly increased.
Three miles, dare say" said, at a
blind hazard.
That's nothing" she said; 81 thought
we must be quite four"
Are you sure you're not tired?"
asked. Wouldn't you like to rest?"
But she persisted in walking ON at
that swinging pace of hers.
Even if / wanted to rest there's moth
ing to rest on" she said.
I'm sure / could find fence some
where" said.
81 don't believe you could" she
said, "but I'm not going to let you try.
I'd much rather get home"
We walked on silently for another
five minutes, and then Miss Pascoe
stopped and listened. leaning forward
slightly, with her hair blowing about
her face.
is that the sea?" she asked.
TWAS the sea, Enthusiastically; the slow
roll mingled with the rustic of the wind
over the rushes. And then it became
quite obvious to me that 1 had woefully
gone astray. for the sea was before us
instead of almost at our backs.
"It must be the sea-" said, after a
show of hard listening.
But it shouldn't be there" she said.
why not ?" answered, rather feebly,
in oider to gain time. ut always has
been there, l suppose" .>..
Don't be foolish" she said; you
know what mean. We must have got
on the wrong path. Mr.. Thirlmere,"
she cried, "how could you have been so
careless?"
"My dear Miss Pascoe," I said, eff
have made mistake, am very sorry"
"And you said all along that you knew
the way" she pouted, trying to shoot
condemnation from her eyes at me in
the darkness.
"You see," said, ~ got my directions
from your brother-from Jim-and he's
often so very inaccurate, isn't hep"
"Absurdly inaccurate" she admitted.
-'If I'd known you were relying upon
Jim wouldn't have come at ALL"
"And then l should have missed the
most delightful walk ever had"
She turned away from me little,
with petulant movement of the shout
ders that pleased me nightly.
~ wish we had Jim here" she said,
with petty fierceness.
~ don't!" / said.
Then perhaps you'll be good enough
to find the right path. We can't stay
here" s
There don't seem to be any convent
ences for camping out" said. "Will
you stay here for a moment. while ex-
plore to the right? ! may get up to
my knees in the marsh. You will be
safer here"
Don't DO long, will your" she said.