The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-07-11
Continued. J
CHAPTER VIII.
THE HOP-DANCE,

THE HOP-DANCE.
That Miss Merton should regard
her cousin and n0ssiter with amaze
ment W s but natural, On both their
aces anme thing unusual was writ
ten, on Miss Densmore's exhaustion
and the lingering traces Of dread
full fear, on Rossiter's mingled
sternness and solicitudc.
what has happcned?' Miss Mer-
ton cried.
Your cousin has had terrible
fright" 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 CRATE
full look as she sank upon the seat
before the spring. For 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 PAGES away
If the ghost of a longing that il
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 witt
any endearing or assuring words
Though he had no fear that the mo
tionless form in the woods woul'
recover to modest them, he fell t.
watching every bough-sway an'
every leaf-stir intently.
"Mr. Rossiter!' called Miss Mer
ton, presently.
eyes" he replied, swinging abou
and facing her.
"Will you walk back with us?"
certainly, if you wish it."
at would be so good of you" sal
Miss Densmore, who looked a
, though the least jar might snatc
her from consciousness. u am nc
quite sure of myself"
Miss Merton upon one side {
Miss Densmore and Rossiter upo
the other, they slowly climbed IN
slope towards the orchard. For som
moments nothing was said. Grad
ally, however, Miss Densmore r
gained her self-control, and at lengt
;. she turned TO Rossiter.
"Will you tell me how you chance
to be in the wood?" she asked.
81 had strolled down from tt
house with newspaper and mag
y zine which Mr.. Parmelee lent me
i he replied, land was sitting in a i
tle glade a short distance down II
J. logging-road when | heard you cry
: 81 must explain to you- 81
began.
Don't Sylvia, don't now! Inte
rupted Miss Merton, and Koss't
added gentle remonstrance.
eyes" said Miss Densmore'
must. then wen not refer to it agar
was watching the water ripp
away into the wood when l 1ancf
T heard a footstep. | was so starti
that sprang up, and there was III
man. He could not have been mo
than 80 feet from me, he had ere
up so noiselessly. l have no III
n from which direction he approache
hut when | first saw him he "
standing behind me in the pain
n which we came. He began to mo
= towards me. and | cried out to n
+o 90 on about his business.
cave no heed 10 this. so ! ran TO !,
other side of the spring, putting I
le depression and the water Derive
Is ms He was grinning at me, ana
'r his FACET am afraid I shall 'dref
re about it. and if l do shall go mac
:, She seemed about losing her pc"
IN Of restraining her feelings, ana %
e. Miss Merton and Rossiter aga
al l,eroed her to say no more, but 8
&c would not heed them
no" she exclaimed, "let me :
Won and have it done with! lie
o oo gan maneuvering now SO ihat
should not run lON"iN :.
and he succeeded, for my foot silpp
as | was leaping the outlet 10
Surfing. and he would have selzeo
had | not fled down the loSgii
road"
She paused. and Rossiter caught
fine opportunity to end all tax
- so distressing theme.
Il CHANGED to be in the logg,l
r road. as you have heard me say,
y nut in quickly. addressing Miss "
ton; there was some scufhing
tween myself and Miss Densmor
ID nursuer. who finally stumbled a
struck his head against tree VINE
we left him unconscious"
81 They had reached the orchard
or this time. and paused brief spa
20 let Miss Densmore rest. a I
bop-pickers were Longing benea
the trees, munching the neil
y fruit They stared at Rossiter Gu
ously, seeing him with the TWO gu
and exchanged idly speculative co