Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-07-19


dangled from her belt when she start
ed ont some hours earlier was now
gone and with it all her money. her
watch. the key of her trunk and vari-
Gus little odds and ends dear to her
heart
Stranded on the exhibition ounGs,
miles from her hotel and her chaperon!
This was her punishment for flying in
the face of conventionaity rs persona
fed by Aunt Crania. She did not at
tempt to retrace her steps in search Of
it. She knew it would be useless.
\ 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 Il man who had
been watching her intcnt!y from tn"
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 impulSively with outstrctchcd
hand. but almost Immediately her hand
fell to her side as with Il cold half
bow she turned away.
But the man was not to be so easily
repulsed.
Good morning" he said pleasantly.
"Surely even mere acquantanccS may
exchange Il few words when they hap
pen to meet by chance in Il place like
this. Is Miss Carson with yOu?" And
he fell into step beside her. apparently
unconscious of hcr fri=id bearing.
A direct question cannot be ignored
by any one with the least prctrnSions
to good breeding; therefore Mildred,
after II seconds hesitation. was con-
strained to answer coldly:
Aunt Urana is at tn" falls. But |
must ask You to excuse me. Good
morning."
She half turned. but the man laid Il
dctaining hand upon her arm and.
dropping his half bantering tone. said
seriously:
"Look here. M:lly-yes. | may call
you that by right of old friendship. so
don't blaze. | am here by myself. and
am dcuced 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 fcl-
lowship of year ago Let us 20 back
to where we were last .Ianuary-jOlly
good chums--:nd let's put in our day
together"
Mildred hesitnted. She. too, If she
would but confess it, was "deuccd
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 rcmem-
brancc by word.
81 think that would be impossible"
she said freeZingly. 81 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 pcnnilcss condition, flushed
scarlet If he insisted upon putting
her on the car. the conductor would
just rs 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
pcncG to be passing.
I'm tired" she said. digging little
holes with her umbrella in the gravel
Mt her feet. 81 must take Il rest first.
] don't want to be rude. Mr.. Gavcston,
but think | wished you good morning
some time ago"
The man. undaunted, seated himself
beside her with smile.
Look here. Milly." he said decidedly.
"You are too tired to start on that long
journey. AS your brothers closest
friend | cannot permit it. | am eX-
ccedingly hungry. May ! have the
pleasure of your company to luncheon?
| would greatly enjoy it, and if you
find it so dstastcful TO eat ut my en-
pcnsc-why, you may liquidate your
share. Only let us have il together"
Mildred's face was burning, She was
Icized with strong desire to shake
The aggravating smile from the teasing
face beside her.
IL don't care for anything to eat"
she fbbed defantly. "The only thing
desire at present is solitude"
IL am really not asking much, MIL
dred. You lunch without thought
with dozens of other fellows. Why not
with meT'
al must draw the line somewhere"
Ebe answered coldly.
$50 you draw 1t just in front of your
brothers chum. Poor old Tom! He'll be
rut up when | tell him, for he asked
ne particularly to have an eye on you.
DO you remember when he first
brought me home with him AT the end
Of our freshman yearf You had short
skirts and curls then. and | called you
Milly as a matter of course. You rath-
er liked to lunch with me in those days,
Mildred"
Mildred flushed uncOmfortably.
"Well. If you insist upon my leaving
you"-he rose as he spoke-"Of course
must. but I'll be writing TO Tom to
night. and I'm afraid he'll take It hard
when he hears that you have shaken
me this way. | never told of that
other business. hut he may as we'll
know now"
Mildred arose.
"Then if youll promise not to do
you. and-yOu may pay for it." She
finished miserably. gulping down her
pride with an effort.