Democratic messenger., 1899-08-19

III WAS unuOuDteulN an accl-
dent which made him choose
the wrong road and get lost.
and get more and more lost the
farther he went: until at last he
turned to her and acknowledge
ed that he couldn't find the
way. Strange how easily a
man can lose himself in a little
bit of forest no bigger than Il
back ward and become so hope
lessly tangled up that he can't
tell whether he's going east or
west. Strange, too. that he
should give up so resignedlv
and decide to stay there all the
rest of his natural life. without
SO much as a biscuit in his
pocket. That is, il would be
strange We're he with any other
girl than Margaret; but with
her the barren and waste places
of life seem to fade to nothing,
and life i'm IA cold. dark bit of
wet woods with her beside him
would seem Heaven indeed. OF
course don't want to accuse
him of getting himself wilfullv
lost and not really trying to
find the way out wouldn't
accuse him of that, for he is
my friend and three inches tall
er than but do say IL man
of his sense ought never to
have allowed himself to become
SO entangled about his heart
strings as to have that trouble
extend to his feet and thereby
get entangled in those woods.
But he did it, and AT last he
turned to her and said with a
very woe-begone expression on
his handsome face
Il fear we are lost. Miss Mar
garet.
We" said that young lady.
smoothing her horses name
down on his glossy neck. Il
hope they will miss us.
But really am in earnest. :"
said the wretched Tom.
And am. too" answered
Margaret. raising her pretty
brows and looking at him. Now
a look may mean anything.
everything or absolutely moth
ing. and that look of hers
meant IA good deal-so much in
fact that Tom slipped off his
horse and came quickly to her
side. slipping the rein of his
horses bride over his arm as
he did So. For a moment he
said nothing. only picking the
bits of milkweed off her skirt.
; Then he raised his ewes slowly
to her face and said very slow
ly:
Margaret, love YOU.
\ girl may have dozen pro
posals without SO much as en-
barrassing her for IA little bit of
IA second. and just the minute
she imagines she will never
feel embarrassed again along
comes the thirteenth. and she
Igoes To pieces and knows not
what To say. So Margaret. who
had had that dozen. suddenly
found herself without IL word
to say one way or the other.
and could only tremble and
blush and look at her horse :
listening ears. 1t was II very
trying moment, and when at
last she got her courage up and
looked down at him. she found
him silently folding and ceas-
ing the hem of her skirt. 1t
was a small thing. but it brought
back her selfpossession. and
she said:
'Do you: DO YOU think that
will help you to get us out of
here. them"
: If Tom felt hurt at her seem
ing levity, he did not show it.
1T will as soon as you give
me my answer. he replied
very gravely DO YOU love
me. Margaret"
What could she say: Here
5 was this boy trying To make
her embarrassed again. and
n rather than that -. She look
!. ed again at him. He had her
gloved hand in his and was
>. slowly and seriously kissing
each finger tip.
WHY. YOU foolish bow
What do You mean by taking
J such liberties : she demanded
But she did not draw her hand
!. away.
$ Nothing. he answered Do
y OH love me :
Ii was too much. With ON,
great unsuccessful struggle not
:, to give way, she marmurcd
softly, Yes.
Without Il word he swept hei
n from the saddle into his strong
arms, and held her to his
n heart. i thought YOU did, h,
said.
=, why. YOU wretch, she said
struggling away from him, 'put