The Somerset reporter., 1902-06-05

His Just o.
Reward to
By M. MacL. Eielliwell
Copyright, 1909,

fact-the little silver bag which had
dangled from her belt when she start
ed out some hours earlier was now
gone and with it all her money, her
watch, the key of her trunk and yari-
Gus little odds and ends dear to her
heart.
Stranded on the exhibition grounds,
miles from her hotel and her chaperonl
This was her punishment for flying in
the face of conventionality as personi-
fed by Aunt Urania. She did not at
tempt to retrace her steps In search Of
it. She knew 1t would be useless.
A sudden realization came to her
that she was deadly tired and horribly
hot and hungry. She rose with the
sudden, impetuous little movement so
characteristic Of her
And at that moment a man who had
been watching her intently from the
next bench rose also and approached
her, hat in hand.
AS she was thus suddenly brought
face to face with him she started for
ward impulslvely with outstretched
hand, but almost Immediately her hand
fell to her side as with a cold half
bow she turned away.
But the man was not to be so easily
repulsed.
Good morning." he said pleasantly.
Surely even mere acquaintance may
nhaY futx yhnr hap
pen to meet by chance in a place like
this. Is Miss Carson with your And
he fell into step beside her, apparently
unconscious of her frigid bearing
A direct question cannot be ignored
by any one with the least pretensions
to good breeding; therefore Mildred,
after a seconds hesitation, was con-
strained to answer coldly:
aunt Urania is at the falls. But
must ask you to excuse me. Good
morningw
She half turned, but the man laid a
OBTAINING hand upon her arm and,
dropping his half bantering tone, said
seriously:
Look here, Milly-yes, | may call
you that by right of old friendship, SO
don't blazei | am here by myself, and
I am deuced lonely. When we last
parted, you said you had wiped out all
memory of that-that other business
but you said nothing of our good fell
lowship of year ago. Let us go back
to where we were last January-jolly
good chums-and let's put in our day
together
Mildred hssitated. She, too If she
would but confess it. was "deuced
lonely" and tired and hot and hungry
into the bargain. Still, some things,
despite what one may say to the con-
trary, are not wiped out of remem-
brance by word.
81 think that would be impossible"
she said freezingly. Il am going to re-
turn to the falls now. Good morning"
"Well, you're not going to shake me
like that anyway he cried cheerfully
81 am going to put you on your car at
least"
But Mildred, in the awful conscious
ness of her penniess condition, flushed
scarlet. If he insisted upon putting
her on the car the conductor would
just as firmly insist upon putting her
off when he came to collect the fares
In her desperation and exhaustion she
dropped down upon bench they hap
pened to be passing.
I'm tired" she said. digging little
holes with her umbrella in the gravel
at her feet II must take rest first.
don't want to be rude, Mr.. Gaveston,
but | think | wished you good morning
some time ago"
The man, undaunted, seated himself
beside her with a smile.
Look here, Mily," he said decidedly.
you are too tired to start on that long
journey. As your brothers closest
friend | cannot permit 1t. | am ex-
ceedingly hungry. May have the
pleasure of your company to luncheon?
would greatly enjoy it, and If you
find it so distasteful to eat at my ex-
pense-why, you may liauidate your
share Only let us have 1t together"
Mildred's face was burning. She was
seized with a strong desire to shake
the aggrayating smile from the teasing
face beside her.
IL don't care for anything TO eat"
she fbbed defantly. 1.-The only thing /
desire at present is solitude"
II am really not asking much, Mil
dred You lunch without a thought
with dozens of other fellows. Why not
with meT'
81 must draw the line somewhere"
she answered coldly.
$50 you draw it just in front of your
brothers chum! Poor old Tom! He'll be
cut up when | tell him. for he asked
me particularly to have an eye on you.
Do you remember when he first
brought me home with him at the end
of our freshman year? You had short
skirts and curls then. and | called you
Milly as n matter of course. You rath-
err liked TO lunch with me in those days,
Mildred"
Mildred flushed uncomfortably.
"Well, II you insist upon my leaving
you"-he rose as he spoke-"of course
must, but I'll be writing to Tom to-
night, aud I'm afraid he'll take it hard
when he hears that you have shaken
me this way. ! never told Of that
other business, but he may as well
know now"
Mildred arose,
Then If you'll promise not to do
that, why, Pll-I'll take luncheon with
you, and-you may pay for it." She
finished nlserably, gulpfng down her
pride with an effort.