The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-09
from above. "Why, no, 1t isn't,

Katy"
cit must be. ma'am," insisted Katy.
"The postman gave it to me not tin
minutes ago, and I put it there with
me own hands"
Katy came down stairs, and Abbott,
experiencing emotions such as he
imagined must be those of the anna
teur sneak thief, made a feint at
aiding in the search for the lost let
ter. He was intensely relieved when
Miss Hayden exclaimed:
"Well, lock for it when I am gone,
Katy. 1t will surely turn up, some
where"
After the first half hour in the
park Abbott forgot the letter, except
now and then, and he forgot the self
| consciousness that had heretofore
overwhelmed him in all his efforts
when in the company of this girl.
They were getting along famously.
She was in high spirits; the wall of
reserve seemed to have been n mere
phantom wall. They went rowing,
and were remote from the landing,
in a little inlet where the trees on
either side mingled their branches
overhead and made it seem like twi-
light.
Here was the time and place, he
felt. He would be several varieties
of a fool not to take advantage of
this opportunity. He prepared to
c,ao1- o,f orI fo1f tho rnrsJ,sr0fi0
on his brow. This rowing was rather
warm work. after all. He drew his
handkerchief from his pocket. In it's
folds it brought the letter, which
luttered down at Miss Hayden's feet.
The blood rushed to his face. He
was afraid to look at the letter or at
her.
you've dropped a letter." she said.
calmly.
Like n who takes a plunge into
icy water he glanced down. The
blank side had fallen upward. With
picked it up, and then, to give vent
to his feelings, began to row siren
uously. In a moment they were in
open water again; his mind was no
longer in condition for a declaration,
and a golden opportunity on a golden
afternoon was gone.
"Just cross that Hayden bill off
your list, Samuel, it's attended to-"
directed Abbott the next day in the
Office. He did not intend that Miss
Hayden should be bothered by any
more bills if he could help it, and
he had formed a resolution, so in
tense that it was grim, to make an
attempt to help it without further
parley or delay.
1t was about four in the afternoon
when Samuel rose with alacrity from
his typewriter, and stood grinning at
the counter. as he always did at the
approach of a feminine patron of the
company.
Il came to pay my BILL" said Miss
Hayden, opening her purse. 81 am
afraid it is a little overdue, but"
sob. that's all right" interrupted
Samuel, !" you don't owe us anything,
your bills paid"
Fad? But that can't be. l don't
understand"
"Well, our secretary knows all
about it. You had better see him.
Come right this way"
The jealous Samuel threw open
the glass door of Abbott's office
with a bow, and the young man
and the young woman stood face
to face. He was on his OWL
ground here, and was wholly at his
ease, while she was very much IN
barrassed. He took, the hand that
she almost unconsicously held out,
and led her to a chair. "You may
go now" he said to Samuel.
But Samuel did not go very far.
He has ears that stand out from his
head inquisitively, and was able to
gather a very fair idea of what
transpired on the other side of that
glass door. Samuel won't tell. It is
enough to say that in the near fu-
ture Miss Hayden will not have to
pay any more bills, nor even to teach
school. The expression of care has
given place to one of happiness in
her big blue eyes.-N. Y. Times.