Middletown transcript., 1903-10-31

creature you must think me! l never
could bear pain. l am not of the ms
terial OF which heroic women are made
Don't admire heroic women, he re-
turned, holding out his hand for the
basin. Mrs. Mcdonald, if you have any
cold cream and some strips OF linen,
think can tie up Miss Branscombe's
hand almost as well as any doctor-fellow
Twill get some, she answered hastily
and she left the room again.
Now put your hand in here, and it will
ease the pain wonderfully.
Gladys did as he bade her. He had
taken chair and held the basin upon
his knee, while she plunged her hand
beneath the water.
There, is not that better? lie asked. ]
thought SO, you plucky little grill
Plucky! she echoed. Not much pluck
about me, / think. / wonder what ]
should have done if you had not hap
pened to be within hearing. l think ]
should have gone mad.
am very thankful was SO near. he
said fervently; or perhaps this poor little
hand would have suffered too. As be
spoke he just touched her uninjured
hand with his, noticing-with the quick.
ness with which men notice trifles oil
that kind-that she did not draw it away
and the touch OF it thrilled him through
and through.
How is it now, Gladys? Mrs. Mcdonald
asked anxiously, as she returned with
the linen and cream.
Very much better, thank you, Gladys
answered. Shall take it out now? The
water is nearly cold.
If you please.
He dried the bruised hand most skill
fully and tenderly with the soft towel
Mrs. Mcdonald had brought, and BAN
daged it up with the linen strips, plenti-
fully besmeared with the cold cream.
How clever you are! the elder lady
cried admiringly. II I had done it,
should have hurt the poor child by my
bungling.
Your hands are shaking still, Gladys
laughed. Mr.. Fane's are as still as a
rock. I am afraid you must think me a
great baby, she added, turning to him,
her fair face crimsoned.
l told you, he answered in low tone,
that do not admire heroic women-not
that kind Of heroism, at least.
Come into the other room and have
some tea, Mrs. Mcdonald said hospita-
bly,. I am sure, Gladys, you must be
faint, and Mr.. Fame hungry. And tell
me, she continued, leading the way across
the passage, how you met with such
misfortune.
1t was poor Dido who first received the
attentions of the crab; and, in rescuing
her, I got my hand fast in the other
claw. Oh, wonder il poor dear Dido is
any worse!
Not at all, dear; left her in the kitchen
having her supper, Mrs. Mcdonald an
swered. What fortunate thing Mr..
Fame was SO nearl Whatever would you
have done else?
Oh, don't know! said the girl, shiver-
ing.
Is it easier now? Mr.. Fame asked.
Oh, yes-a hundred thanks to you!
Not at all. Barring its having been
painful for you, the accident was for
tunate one for me, since it has made us
/ have been week at Rud-
kirk, Mrs. Mcdonald, without having
spoken to a soul except the landlady of |
the inn; and one gets very tired Of one
self after the first day or two.
Mr.. Fame is at ''loose end," as he
,alls it, until Christmas, auntie, said
Gladys, just as we are; and he would like
70 take lodgings with US. We have
hardly got reduced to that yet, have we?
l wish you were, remarked the young
nan, with well-satisfied glance round
he room. But what about the old lady
II the village, who you said would take
ne?
Pardon me; l said there is an old lady
II the village who lets lodgings, answered
iladys demurely. made no assertion
'eyond that.
Yes, Miss Airlie has rooms to let, said
lrs. Mcdonald. She is very clean and
'leasant, and not at all expensive. We
hould have gone there instead Of taking
his house, but that she objected to the
OK. II
Perhaps she will object to your smok-
ng, laughed Gladys.
do not smoke, Mr.. Fame answered.
Really! thought everyone who had
cen in India smoked. That was what
.obert said. Did he not, auntie? II
And who is Robert? Gerard asked, with
slight frown darkening his brows. |,
Robert is my cousin, Mrs. McDonald's I
on, she answered. The Mcdonald Mac, {
call him. &
Oh yes! thought you said you were s
cotch, Miss Branscombe?
So l am.
Bransconbe is not u Scotch name. q
1t was my mothers name, said Gladys q
ravely.
Oh, l see! 1t must have been great
ruggle for your father to give up his g
,otch name for an English one. Il
At that Gladys laughed, and Mrs. Nc II
onald looked embarrassed.
You see, Mr.. Fame, Gladys said gaily, t
is sore subject with auntie. She does
ot approve of giving up old Scottish
ames for English ones.
Nor do l, he replied promptly. But it
IS to he done sometimes.
Exactly, Gladys answered, laughing
i'll more; and that was just what l said y
auntie when-when-oh, when We 81
ere talking on the subject short time Il
%! She had turned very red during n
er speech, and hurried OH to another s.
Ibiect, chiefly to prevent Gerard's no.
cling her words too closely. What do p
1u think, auntie? MIR. Fame knows a