The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-04
hat she were to hide warm and sympa

tnetlc nature, coat OF mail to protect
herself from the attacks of those who she
belived were attracted to her merely by
her beauty or by her wealth, or by the po-
tent combination | could see that she
endured me largely because of profound
pity for my painful bashfulness and for
the financial misfortune that she believed,
on Billy's report, had befallen me.
81 now began to lay siege to her heart
in real earnest, searching, with a lover $
keen perception, for the chinks in her
armor, only to find that, through my awk :
ward aim, my shafts were glancing harm
lessly off from its polished surface.
The last day of our stay had come,
and [ could not see that I had made the
least progress in overcoming either my diff
hdence or her reserve. Since long walk
was the program for the day, we set out,
as in duty bound, and wandered on for
hours, scarcely speaking a word. At last
VIC stood on the bank of narrow stream
1t was covered with thin coating of ice
Z" What are you waiting for?' asked
Regina. aren't you going to cross the
river, now you We come to it?'
{" m afraid it won't bear us, | re-
Piled
"'Afraid ! | might have known what
your answer would be 7 cried Regina.
How do you ever expect to get anywhere OF
anything unless you overcome your infan-
tile timidity Follow me, chicken heart.
IN not afraid of anything in the world :
and she stepped down on the treacherous
ice
"Oh, yes, you are 7 l retorted, stung
into boldness by her disdainful words.
You are afraid somebody will marry you
for your money
I'm not 7 she exclaimed, with an
indignant stamp of her foot. 1t was the
first and only time ever saw Regina lose
her temper, and the result was disastrous
There was crash, and the ice gave way.
Regina uttered characteristically femi.
nine scream and made an instructive femi
nine grab for her skirts. The stream was
not deep; and there she stood, up to hel
knees in the icy water, holding on to he1
dress with beth hands.
low give me your hand and hell
me out; L m freezing to death 7 she cried
Her indignation went out of her mind al
the water came into her boots.
i" DOM move = | ordered. [ saw my
opportunity and took it. Don't turn
round, and don't let go your clothes
We're miles from the house, and you car
never walk back if you drop your petticoati
in the water just let me manage it, anc
I'll get you out with nothing worse thar
wet feet. knelt on the bank and, reach
ing down, caught her round the waist, a.
she stood facing away from me. Nov
lean back way back, [ directed; ano
with powerful effort, for she is no feath
erweight, | pulled her out of the watel
and set her down on the bank beside me-
| was not dancing man, and had nevel
been so close to her before; did not know
when I might be so close to her again, sc
before I released her | gave her nice,
big, round kiss on the cheek.
II had no idea how she would take it
| but felt it was then or never. Nothing
could have surprised me more than wha
she said. She sat up straight, with he
wet feet sticking out over the water, anG
gave me one searching, penetrating look.
s'sW WeU.' she exclaimed, Il guess you'
do
ssAnd the general verdict seems to be,
concluded Bodley, ''that I've done prett.
well. !"