The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-06-13
A POINT
OF HONOR.
The Dilemma of Lover.
nv r. RECRFORD
of a Lover.
BY f. Rockford.

Framed in the oaken porch of the old
Ankerdine mansion girl stood with
thick wrap across her shoulders,
glancing to right and left with a slight
SILVER and hesitating on the threshold.
You're confoundedly anxious. mad
am," snarled her fathers voice behind
her. 81 opine an ardent lovers journey
will not be accelerated by your tramp
Ing about in the cold"
Miss Ankerdine made no reply, but
daintily collecting with one small hand
a mass of skirt that would have puz-
zled a man to grasp in two large ones,
threaded way around flower beds and
bushes to another part of the garden
where a former owner had constructed
a small and deep artificial pond, now
skinned thinly over and rejecting the
stars like a mirror. 1t was spanned by
a rustic bridge, fragile and worm bitten.
From 1t on fine day miles of open
country could be scanned across the
fields and dingles to where the Solent
smiled, blue perpendicular simmer
against the duller background Of the
Wight. The highroad was just dis
cernible in patches, where no hedge
trammeled its boundary, but only at
rare intervals before 1t plunged into n
dip and disappeared.
Two years away and his ship paid off
today! 1t would not be many hours be-
fore her lovers horse pounded along its
famous course.
For famous II was. Trafalgar was
yet to be fought and few days closed
without detachment of soldiers
swinging past, coaches flashing by
crowded in and out with men whose
trade was war, returned marines with
a cargo of prize money and intoxicants
pursuing their jovial way or a success
full press gang hurrying to the sea.
Mile Ankerdlne's eyes danced as she
leaned over the bridge in an eager as
pect of listening. There was a quick
tearing. slight thud, an arrested cry
and broken fragments of ice and wood
work floated upon the dark water over
her head.
What the DEVILS all this noise
aboutY' mutteted Mr.. Ankerdine tes-
tily az an unaccustomed clamor pene-
trated to his study and attracted him
forth to seek its import.
Before the great hall fire. the once
breezy drapery Of a dinner dress oozing
dark pools and steaming lazily. lay his
daughter. A stranger, rills of moisture
trickling from each fold of his cloth
ing, was chatting her hands and yocif-
Grating for assistance. He ceased sud
denly as her father appeared, with
servants at his heels, and stood back
beyond the play of the freight. Mr.
Ankerdine knelt down beside her as
she showed signs of recovery.
81 have to thank you for rescuing my
daughter, l suppose. sir" he said to the
stranger THE best kind of gratitude
is the practical. You must be made
comfortable first, and l can din you
with words after"
The man had no time to answer. A
post chaise dashed up to the porch with
a grooming of leather and juggling Of
harness. a broad shouldered young fell
low completely enveIoped In huge
wrap preciptated himself rather than
got out of the vehicle and gripped the
old man by both hands. exclaiming:
Flows the govt, sirf And where is
Millie-not here to welcome me-
"At the bottom of the pond but for
this gentleman" said Mr.. Ankerdine.
81 must introduce you when / Hello"
he gasped in a species of stupefactlon.
for the gallant stranger had slipped out
into the night and Lieutenant Rigden,
his daughters prospective husband,
had started in pursuit
The first man, stimulated by the slow
diffusion of warmth as his limbs
coursed with blood again, held his own
at first, but was soon captured.
you must come back with me, NJ. de
Frontignac." said the young sailor. ut
Is the fortune Of war"
again the fortune of war;" replied
the Frenchman. "a cold fortune at
present. mon ami" He fell into step
beside his companion without resist
ance.
"Millie has asked for you," Mr.. An
kerdine observed dryly as the pair
reached the house. "She appeared sur
prised that you should prefer securing
the country at midnight to greeting her.
However, each to his taste"
The sailor deferred apologies and led
the way to the drawing room at once,
locking the door and placing the key in
his pocket-a maneuver which did not
escape the young lady's notice and add
ed a spice of alarm to the shy affection
with which she returned her lovers
caress.
why did you do that Edward?" she
whispered anxiously In his ear rs
there danger outside, or is that bad
man? / fell into the pond, and he