The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-05-13
FORGIVEN.

FORGIVEN. y
Dusk was beginning to fall, and as
marshland that surrounded us, and saw
NO sign Of our party, felt the first
thrill of not pleasant uneasiness.
glanced at my companion. She was
walking coukentedly by my side, appar-
emily secure in the assumption that
know my way. As a matter Of fact,
had THE gravest doubt about 1t, and
there seemed NO possibility Of making
sure. For miles on either hand the
mazshes stretched to the low horizon;
the dry tracks were few and Hide
fined, and already light white mist
was rising over the numerous straight
waheGways. / looked at Miss Pazscoe
again, and my unehsiness gave place to
kind Of expectant pleasure. Even sup
posing we were lost, there was no actual
danger, and the great sense OF solitude
that hung about us gave me q feeling of
possession that was keenly delightful.
full cogitations, still walked ON as though
her feet were upon familiar road; and
indeed, as far as could Judge, we were
making in the right direction. To have
stopped would have been like confess
sion OF incompetence ON my part, and
this, to an unavowed lover, was out Of
the question, at any rate until circum-
stances unquestiouably had me at
Disadvantage So we went on, and the
twilight deepemed, and the mist trailed
IN denser wisps across the shiveTtng
reed beds.
Suddenly she turned 10 me-
"What a queer place this would be to
gct lost in!" she said.
think the serious possibility of such
q think had not occurred to her at all.
She threw out the remark merely as q
contribution to a tagging conversation.
EYES," I said. "But you are not
afraid. are you?"
20, no, not at all. OF course, you
know the way, and that makes all the
difference"
"Of course it does," answered, with
q glimmering sense of shame.
"How far are we from home now?"
she asked. after pause, in which the
darkness had perceptibly increased.
''Three miles, dare say" said, at q
blind hazard.
"That's nothing" she said; IT thought
we must be quite four"
"Are you sure you're not ttred?' I
asked. Wouldn't you like to restP"
But she persisted in walking ON ct
that swinging pace Of har&
Even If I wanted TO res1 there's moth
ing to rest on" she said
"I'm sure could find q fence some
where" said.
'T 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.
1t was the sea, unmistakably; the slow
roll mingled with the rustic Of the wind
over the rushes. And then it became
quite obvious to me that had woefully
gone astray, for the sea was before us
instead of almost at our backs.
"It must be the sea-" said, after q
show of hard listening.
"But it shouldn't be there" she said
"Why notP" 1 answered, rather fsebly
in order to gain time. ut always has
been there, suppose"
"Don't be foolish" she said; "you
know what mean. We must have got
on the wrong path. Mr.. Thirlmere,'
she cried, show could you have been sc
careless?"
my dear Miss Pascoe," said, 'if
have made a mistake, I am very sorry
"And you said all along that you knew
the way" she pouted, trying to shoot
condemnation from her eyes at me IL
) the darkness.
"You see," said, II got my direction.
from your brother-from Jim-and he'i
often SO very inaccurate, isn't hep"
"Absurdly Inaccurate" she admitted
"If I'd known you were relying upor
Jim / wouldn't have come at ALL"
"And then should have missed ths
most delightful walk ever had"
She turned away from me little
with q petulant movement of the shoul
ders that pleased me nightly.
~ wish we had Jim here" she said
with petty fierceness.
81 don't!" said.
''Then perhaps you'll be good enough
to find the right path. We can't stay
here"
"There don't seem to be any convent
enoes for camping out" said. "Wil
you stay here for moment, while ex
plore to the right? may get up u
my knees in the marsh. You will b
safer here"
"Don't be long, will you" she ssid.