The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-28


out of the way the least bit!" exclaim-
ed the girl, defending herself. MY
! arm? No. sir. I'm not hurt. Dear
me. my hairs coming down. Why do
! people stare so?"
1T was enough to attract some at
tention," returned her companion gent
! ~. Now, let me call a cab. ! think
| you should go to your home and re-
! cover a little from the fright. You are
| pale and trembling, and-and-if you
/ will pardon mel stepped on your
skirt when l stumbled-and-ahem
Mercy! gasped Rhoda, looking
down. Il should say so! Yes, please
| call one. quick"
She twitched at her rent apparel
! and searched for a pin.
Here. driver" called the man. take
! this young lady to" He paused in
| quiringly
mo. 316 Beauclaire avenue, Mr. Bent
! leys. 1t isn't far Oh, do drive to the
! house with me and get brushed off,
and let mother thank you, Mr.. - Mr.
"Tabor-Ferdinand Tabor. No; I
| don't mind a bit of dust, and you
| mustn't make so much of a triling
! service. 1t was really nothing" He
smiled indulgently in the pretty, APP
pealing face.
Nothing! You saved my life, l in
sist upon your coming, Mr.. Tabor.
Three Of your vest buttons are simply
hanging by threads. and your glove is
split all down the back OF course you
must be mended and made presentable
and thanked. It's the least we can do.
I'm sure. The idea of your risking
your life for a stranger, and consid-
ering 1t nothing. Get in with me at
once"
But, my dear young lady" expostu-
lated Tabor. biting his lip. you do not
know me. l cannot intrude myself in
such a manner. You're excited and up
set and making altogether too much of
the matter. If you needed my assist
ance further, it would be different; as
1t is, you are all right. so I'll just say
goodby and seek my hotel, for repairs
I'm very glad you escaped injury" He
bowed and backed off a step, lifting his
hat and smiling.
| Opposition maddened Rhoda, and the
| independence of her eighteen spoiled
years rose overpoweringly. Her eyes
sparkled.
Il know you are a gentleman, and
that's enough. l do need your assist
ance. Mr. Tabor. I'm ready to faint
when l think of what might have been.
You must come"
"On the box, then" said the man
laughingly. 'I'll see you safely home"
NO, mo- lISlut. L can allow lldls
and Tabor yielded with a protest His
coat was very dirty where after that
quick spring and backward jump his
shoulder had plowed the dust when
his foot slipped in an effort to main
tain badly displaced equilibrium. For
Miss Bentley was no feather and had
come to him with impetus.
Rhoda glanced shyly at him in the
cab. He was surely very handsome
M of eha &c
dignity and reserve impressed her
young soul deeply. He seemed pretty
big in the cab. Anyway it was quite
romantic to be saved by so charming
person, and her impulsive spirit
warmed to the quiet presence and deep,
dreamy eyes.
She thought happily of her luxuri-
Gus home and the fact that he would
be a little surprised to be ushered into
lothian Bentley's drawing room, quite
different from the old house in Denver,
now almost forgotten in the magnif1-
cence ensuing upon Jotham's sale of his
mining interests to Eastern capitalists.
At last he had decided to live in style,
suddenly awakening to sense of what
was due his meek wife and pretty
daughter. Not that he cared to rise
above the simple habits of years, but
1t was undoubtedly the thing to do, now
that his pile had been made, and Sera-
pima and Rhoda deserved a good deal,
come to think.
This train of reasoning blossomed
rapidly, but lothian as yet did not feel
at home in his new and richly furnished
mansion, and absented himself on all
possible occasions. But Rhoda and her
mother took to their environments
like ducks to a puddle, in reading the
Bentley fortune with delicious abandon.
Let 'em go it," thought lothian.
They've scrimped long enough. Rhody
always had her own way poor-she
shall have it rich. I'll stick on just
one thing. She shan't marry a for
eigner-Ill stand pat there"
If he could have seen his sprightly
heiress as Sle ushered her protecting
escort into the reception room; have
caught the look of triumphant owner
ship accompanying her declaration,
Now, Mr.. Ferdinand Tabor, don't you
dare stir. I shall be right down with
| mamma and a brush. While she per-
| forms the part of a grateful parent,
her rescued daughter will mend that
glove of yours" The guests dark, at
tractive face and his Christian appella-
ton would have filled Mr.. Bentley's
| suspicious mind with forebodng; and
II. in addition, he could have known
the thread of romance already weaving
In Rhoda's sentimental BRAIN he would
have considered it necessary to make
immediate arrangements to stand
| pat"
For to lothian all "Ferdinands"
were barred as being distinctly con-
nected with Mexican antecedents. On
this point he was positive. having
spent years on the border and known
many unworthy characters sailing I'M
| der that pennant.
Happily ignorant, however, of the
| gentlemanly Though soiled) stranger
standing in the drawing room by the
grand piano, lothian smoked a peace
full cigar and perused the morning
paper in the solitude of his den across
the hall
Here he is mana!" cried a merry
| voice. Wasn't it splendid of him to-
| about in establishment. He's gonel"
she exclaimed disappointedly, "Oh,
dear, l might have guessed he would
slip out He was so sensitive, mama.
l fairly had to make him come with
me-"
Did you?" returned Seraphina alb
sently, moving to the piano Eyes, he
has gone" she gasped. land my purse,
! with $500 in 1t, that I left here half
an hour ago, has gone with him!"
They gazed blankly into each others
! Mortified eyes. Mama" whispered the
| girl solemnly "he saved my life, you
know. I'll make this up to you from
my allowance If you won't tell pa"
Just as we'll not to, l guess" quay
cred her parent. I'VE would never
hear the last of it, Rhoda."