The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-27
was bending with look which he
many, many times afterward ques-
toned himself, wondering If he had
seen it in a dream.
CHAPTER XII.
AN ARRIVAL.

In the light wagon, propped up be-
tween Jack Parmelee and Dick Whit
tlesey, Rossiter rode back to the Mer-
ton farm. At first everything was
daze to him, but soon the air revived
rim somewhat, and before the house
was reached, save for giddiness and
dull throbbing in his head, he fancied
he was quite himself. He was glad
of the aid of Parmelee's stout arm,
however, when he came to descend
to the ground.
'T'll be all right after a Bit" he
said, as he steadied himself, '1f you'll
help me down to my cot"
Mr.. Merton and Miss Densmore had
fastened on in advance, and they,
with Miss Merton and her mother,
gathered about the injured man.
"You're to come right in here"
Mrs. Merton declared, and, though
Rossiter protested, he was led into
the family living-room, where,
stretched upon a couch, he was made
as comfortable as might be with cool
congresses that after time allayed
the painful feeling in his head. The
blow from the bludgeon had been
glancing one, but above his ear
lump had formed that was exceeding
ly tender to the touch.
By and by Jack Parmelee looked in
from an outer door, and, noting the
improvement in Rossiter's appear
ance, exclaimed:
Tbo* r,roffxy 11o1xy 1ftf1a o1ir,
you got! 1t keeled you half way
down the embankment, an if it had
been a couple o. inches the other
way your head an squashed puff
BALD have passed for twins"
GLOW can you, Jack?" cried Miss
Merton, who, with her mother,
CHANGED to be in the room.
whats the use O. gloomin' about
it? He'll be fit enough in the mornin'.
A trifie sore in the upper story
mebbe, but that won't last long"
"You were just in time" said Ros-
sitter, smiling. II was about done
| for"
"You put up a great fight, Sylvia
| says, and Merton allows you've got
the darndest grit he ever saw, They'd
all skeedaddled by the time I got
down into the dip. They must have
thought had an army behind me by
the way they lit out. Well, Dick
| Whittlesey was close by, and he's
whole regiment in scrap"
Rossiter had brief nap late in the
afternoon, and woke to find himself
alone and much refreshed. The rat
Ting of dishes indicated the nearness
of the supper-hour, and outside there
was suggestion of approaching
dusk. He rose to his feet without
difficulty, and was walking towards
the outer door, which opened upon
| the porch, with no definite intention,
when Miss Densmore appeared from
the adjoining room bearing daintily
arranged tray, upon which was
steaming cup of tea, some toast, and
a few other tempting edibles.
She exclaimed in protest on seeing
Rossiter.
you're to sit down at once, sir!"
she said. ''We're not going to have
you running off in that fashion"
He succumbed very willingly, and
she hustled about making him COM
Portable.
Miriam and my aunt are busy"
she exclaimed, $50 I said I'd look
after you"
"You needn't have been to all this
trouble" he answered. I'm fully re-
covered now" But he was glad to
eat with her sitting by chatting
cheerily to him.
"I'm afraid" he remarked present.
ly, "that you will find it difficult to
keep to yourself your promise of the
other night"
"What was that?"
| "Don't you recall? You were 60
ing to hold in recollection from your
hop-picking life only it's pleasant
phases. Aren't the disagreeables, so
to speak, likely far to outweigh the
happy experiences?"
"oh, mol" she replied, with a little
shake of her head. Its like a play.
Unless the end is tragic, however
much the actors pass through, the
effect is not darksome, quite the con-
trary. The bright scenes stand out
and the gloomy ones recede."
''The end!" thought Rossiter. Yes,
the end of this small episode in life's
drama was certainly near at hand.
1t was delicate ground these two
were treading upon-the girl more
and more conscious of something in
her heart which she would not adj
init to herself was there, fearful of
all it might involve, her sensitive ma
ture shrinking from the speech of
family, of friends, and of the world;
the man now wholly mastered by the
love he had so sternly struggled
against, realizing its apparent folly
and hopelessness, and yet grasping
at straws, and buoyed up by the
Trailer fabric of dreams.
Though you would not let me try
to tell you, Mr.. Rossiter," Miss Dens-
more broke out suddenly, "of my
gratitude to you for all you did for
me, I must, 1 will speak of your no
bleness, your generosity, your BRAY
cry in coming to uncle's aid. Why, if
it hadn't been for you"
Her words were as spark to pow
der. All the pent-up emotion within
him rushed to his lips. She should
know, whatever might be the conse-
quences, that it was her presence
with Mr.. Merton that had moved him
to strive so nightly, that there was
nothing he would not do, aye, to
4 E.