, 1897-11-02

Backward a step and was very glad to
drop ipto the old rustic seat. at is
very generous of you. Sidney, to agree
to everything and particularly about
baby"
at is all l can do now-to trv to
please you," he answered weakly. and
the perspiration was like dew on his
brow. He took off his hat and stammer-
ed something about its being lawfully
hot"
"Yes, perhaps you have walked fast.
1t Is very warm, and you look tired.
Won't you sit DOWN. She moved a lit
tie farther away to make room for him,
and he dropped into the place beside her.
"We used to say there was just room
enough for two," he added, with q
mile, aud she turned her head away,
perhaps to pluck a rose, for she snapped
one off short and then threw it away.
"Am l to see baby today" he asked
after a few minutes Of awkward silence.
"Ihaven t seen him, you know, since
"Oh, yes," she answered hurriedly
and looking about. There they are, he
and Annette, yonder in the woods They
are coming this way. Oh, Sidney" she
cried suddenly turning toward him,
show could you? l can never. never
forgive you'll"
Il could never dare to ask you"
They were almost the very words Of
Pauline and Claud. She remembered in
a moment that it had been the first play
Sidney had taken her to see after they
had married and how often they had
laughed at that pair of lovers, each
dying to forgive and be forgiven and
neither daring to say the right word.
She used to think she could never be SO
foolish as that. and now-it was get
ting very awkward. for this was a far
more serious matter, and she knew that
she could never. never forgive. VIVA;
woman could?
And then she heard the laughter and
shouts of little Sidney, who had just
caught sight of his father and was now
running wildly to welcome him. 1t was
a fortunate interruption to a scene that
was nearing a painful climax. and she
wal very glad to take a step or two to-
ward the laughing boy. who was al
ready flying across the bridge, followed
by his nurse; then there was a crash,
shrek. The side of the bridge was gar
ing outward. The maid stood wringin2
her hands. The golden curls, that had
floated a M above the rushing
water, were gone.
1t was SO sudden. so inexplicable,
that the frantic mother could not real
ize at first what had happened. When
she did, the air resounded with her ag-
onized cries, and it was the nursegirl
who was the first to see hat Selden had
already reached his child just in time.
Courage, ma'am, courage!' the girl
whispered, while she supported her
mistress. "See-he is safe! His father
has him. Look, look! The darling has
his arms about the masters neck, and
he's hugging and kissing Of him just as
if nothing had happened at ALI"
The girl assisted her mistress back to
the little rustic seat, and when the
father and child had reached the young
mother little Sidney was already laugh
ing with delight, and us he put one
dripping arm about her neck he drew
her close till her face touched her hus-
band s face.
Kate" whispered Selden. kate.
may l beg forgiveness now?"
"Oh, Sidney. l have been SO proud
and heartless! | was jealous and vain
and-and-so selfish and unfairi
wouldn't listen to you, and all the time
l knew you never cared for that womanl
Can you forgive me too?'
Just give me a chance; that's all.
And then two pairs of arms met and
clasped each other close about the con.
quering hero, who seemed to find him
self quite suddenly AL object of second
airy Importance.
1t then occurred to Annette that Mae.
ter Sidney would have a dreadful cold
unless his dripping garments were
changed Immediately, so she carried
him off in pursuit Of dry clothing
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