Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-08
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HoP-DANCE.

CHAPTER VIII.@ THE TIOP-DANCE
 That Miss Merton. should regard her cousin and Rossiter with amaze ment was but natural. On both their faces something unusual was writ ten, on Miss Densmore's exhaustion and the lingering traces of a dread- full fear, on Rossiter's mingled sternness and solicitude.
 What has happened?" Miss Mer- ton cried.
 .'Your cousin has had terrible eright,'' said Rossiter, quickly.
 He paused and glanced at Miss Densmore. He had spoken thus that she might be saved an explanation if she did not feel that she could make one just then. She gave him grate- full look as she sank upon the seat before the spring. For a moment she gazed at the yelling water, then she put her hands to her face and be- gan to sob softly. In an instant Miss Merton'S arms were about her cousin, and Rossiter, turning his back upon them, moved a few paces away. If the ghost of 8 longing that it might be his right to comfort the distraught girl came into his heart, he put it quickly from him. She was not for such as he to soothe with any endearing or assuring words. Though he had no fear that the mo- tionless form in the woods would recover to molest them, he fell to watching every bough-sway and H every sleaf-stir intently.
 ssMr. Rossiter!" called Miss Mer- q ton, presently.
 "Yes." he replied, swinging about a and facing her.
 S sWill you walk back with us?"
 Certainly, if you wish it."
 Tt would be so good of you," said Miss Densmore, who looked as though the least jar might snatch ! her from consciousness. 'I am not quite sure of myself"
 Miss Merton upon one side of M Miss Densmore and Rossiter upon x the other, they slowly climbed the slope towards the orchard. For some moments nothing was said. Gradu-. ally, however, Miss Densmore re- A gained her self-control, and at length she turned to Rossiter.
 twill you tell me how you chanced to be in the wood?' she asked.
 "T had strolled down from the house with newspaper and maga- zine which MT. Parmelee lent me-" he replied, 'and was sitting in a lit tIg glade short distance down the 1qgging-read when I heard you cry"
 1T must explain to you" she began.
 sDon't Sylvia, don't now!" inter fupted Miss Merton, and Rossiter added gentle remonstrance.
 s'Yes," said Miss Densmore, 'I must, then we'll not refer to it again. I wasSawatching the water ripple away into the wood when I fancied Iaheard a footstep. was so startled that sprang up, and there was that Aman. He could not have been moro than 30 feet from me, he had crepc up so noiselessly. I have no idea from which direction he approached, but when I first saw him, he was standing behind me in the path by which we came. He began to move towards me; and I cried out to him to go on about his business. He gave no heed to this, so ran to the other side of the spring, putting the depression and the water between us He was grinning at me, and oh, his facei-I am afraid shall dream about it, and if | do I shall go mad" :"
 She seemed about losing her power of restraining her feelings, and bota Miss Merton and Rossiter aga1n begged her to say no more, but slre would not heed them.
 eNo,v she exclaimed, ''let me tell Wou and have it done with! He be- gan maneuvering now so that l should not run towards the. house, and he succeeded, for my foot slipped as I was leaping the outlet to the spring, and he would have seized nc had I not fled down the logging Eroad"
 She paused, and aRossiter caught at the opportunity to end all talk on 90 distressing theme.
 1T chanced to be in the logging road. as you have heard me say" he mt in quickly, addressing Miss Mer- ton: sthere was some scufHing be- # tween myself and Miss Densmore's pursuer, who finally stumbled and struck his head against tree, where sve left him unconscious"
 They had reached the orchard by this time, and paused brief space Ito let Miss Densmore rest. few hop-pickers were lounging beneath the trees, munching the mellow