The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-22
to her most inouportunelv.

She had charged him with being In
love with Miss Basoom. He had ad-
mitted it and added, "while she enter
tains natural and Wholesale contempt
for me''
And yet here she was in the hour Of
his helpless need about to fling him
upon tho tender mercies of that same
incorporating young woman. If only
she had never let Miss Melapie brighten
her into such precipitate action Miss
Melanie had told her that the Bascom
place was the only safe place for Reggie,
Jessica stared at her visitor in surprise.
miss Belknap Oh foot and alone!
Why, my dear girl, what does it mean?"
Jessica' g voice, full of kindly concern,
reached her in advance of Jessica her.
self. There was cordial ring in it that
gave the child fresh courage. She lifted
the latch with lightened heart and
walked quickly to meet Jessica.
"Yes, on foot and alone, although, of
course, I did not start that way. But
never mind about me. I am all right.
Oh, Miss Bascom, I've come OH such
strange errand don't know what you
will say to it,
II say in advance that nothing is
strange for these disjointed times. +"
The smile that accompanied these
words, Marianne declared to herself,
quite warranted Reggie's infatuation.
ut is lovely of You to put it that
way. You know, Miss Melanie Potts
says that while we are all in the same
boat, pulling for the shore through such
troubled waters, we ought not to be
afraid Of each other. I expect I am
terrible coward. I was casting about
for some way to get back home without
troubling you when you saw me-"
She was consciously talking to gain
time. Jessica looked at her very gravely.
Miss Potts is quite right. am sorry
you have found me SO repellent.
"Oh, no, please don't say that was
only not quite sure, you know, whether
we were in the same boat or not. l
mean-I mean
"You mean, suppose my Union
sentiments? That does not alter the fact
that l have suffered bitter and an IT.
reparable loss for the cause"
There were Tears in her beautiful eyes
and tremulous culver in the corners
Of her firm mouth. Marianne impulsive-
ly lifted the hand she still held to her
lips.
"Oh, l am such bungler, such
stupid creature! Please forgive me-"
II have nothing to forgive dear child.
OF course l am to have the pleasure of
your company to dinner. If you have
not walked too far already, would you
mind walking with me as far as that
old sycamore tree you see standing
where tho roads fork? I am expecting
IN old man to pass, to whom wish to
deliver this" touching the bag OH her
arm. "He has been preaching in my
quarters.
II would love dearly to walk with
you. I haven't walked at all. When
those men told NE they must have my
horses and made Uncle Toby go with
them, I just sat still and cried like
lost child. didn't seem to have a bit
Ct Judgment left. And, then, to think
of being picked up by Mr.. Whitney's
sister of all people in the world"
"Do Joa mean that very pronounced
lady who is staying with the man who
',cfrauded your brother? That was
strange trick of chance.
Wasn't it? But there is an old prov
CRIB that says one must speak well Of
the bridge that carries us safely, and I
did SO want to get to you"
They were walking side by side along
the shady road that led from tina pri-
vate grounds of the Bascom place out to
the public road to Cloverdell.
II am quite ready to speak we'll of
the bridge that has brought you to me-"
she said. smiling down on Marianne
from her superior height, but all this
time am consumed with an unsatisfied
curiosity about that strange Grand"
ooh, have come to ask very, very
great favor at your hands"
II think I would be safe in saying
you could think of nothing too great