The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-13

AO"u, DO you nave uedIu lie say, ne
put in quickly, addressing Miss Mer-
ton; there was some scufiing be-
tween myself and Miss Densmore's
pursuer, who finally stumbled and
struck his head against a tree, where
we left him unconscious"
They had reached the orchard by
this time, and paused brief space
to let Miss Densmore rest. A few
hop-pickers were lounging beneath
the trees, munching the mellow
fruit. They stared at Rossiter curl
ously, seeing him with the two girls,
and exchanged idly speculative COM
ments.
''Well, if that chap amt a slick
one!" one remarked. 81 wonder how
he worked it?"
GIVE it up" said another. 81 wish
he'd tell u.s."
''He won't, never you fear. It's too
good thing"
Suppose you ask him how it's
DONE"
"An' git smash in the 'mug?' Not
much!"
The three were now walking on,
and the observant pickers noted that
they paused as they came to the hop
kiln.
you'll hardly need me farther"
Rossiter was saying, with a smile,
for all had been making an attempt
at gayety.
Miss Densmore extended her hand.
Don't thank mel" he exclaimed,
fearing she might try to frame some
expression of gratitude.
Her lips quivered, and though she
did not speak, he read in her eyes
her unuttered feeling
Father and mother will have to
know, but it will be better, 1 think,
that no one else should" said Miss
Merton.
II should not dream of mentioning
the matter unless you wished it,"
Rossiter said, and with grave
salutation he left them.
AS he had walked by Miss Dens-
more's side he had determined that
as soon as he saw the girls in safe
ty to the house he would tell Jack
, Parmelee what had happened, and
with him, and perhaps Joe Becraft
or some other, return to the wood
and secure Dawson, if he were still
unconscious, or give pursuit in case
the vagrant had recovered and taken
himself off. But he now recognized
Miss Merton's wisdom in desiring
that the affair be kept quiet The
publicity which would, of necessity.
be given to it all in case Dawson
were caught and hailed back to the
farm would only serve to keep what
had occurred fresh in Miss Dens-
more's mind, and that she might
speedily recover from the shock it
was best that nothing in connection
with the scene in the wood be re-
verted to.
Towards evening Mr.. Merton
sought him out, and poured upon
him stream of grateful and, to Ros-
sitter, embarrassing praise for his
conduct. 1t was only when he
launched upon a perhaps excusably
profane denunciation of Dawson that
the late wanderer began to feel COM
Portable in his presence. Gratitude
in any form, as has been previously
indicated, Rossiter was very far from
being accustomed to. Whenever he
was able to render a service it was
his nature to do SO free-heartedly,
and neither to ask nor to desire a
recompense of any sort. He knew,
generally speaking, that he had little
to give, but to that little anyone in
need was wholly welcome. This was
one of the mans most attractive
characteristics. Yet in time gone by
it was this very quixotic open-hand-
edness that was in a measure respon-
sible for his downfall.
During the next two days neither
Miss Merton nor her cousin appeared
in the hop-yard. On Tuesday, as he
was coming from dinner, Rossiter
CHANGED to see the former standing
alone upon the porch, and ventured
to inquire for Miss Densmore.
"She's feeling much better to-
day." Miss Merton said. Sunday
night we were very anxious about
her, fearing a return of the fever
from which she recently recovered,
but I'm sure there's no danger now.
We shall be out shouting 'Hop-pole!'
to you again very soon."
Miss Merton's prediction proved to
be true, for on the following after
noon Rossiter saw the two girls COM
ing towards the yard.
"Your holidays over now," said Joe
Becraft, near whom he CHANGED to
be standing, with little grin, "but
l don't s'pose you mind"
Rossiter laughed good-humoredly,
and fastened away to have a pole
in readiness for the returning pick
ers. Indeed, he did not mind. Quite
the contrary. Though he would
hardly admit it to himself, the hours
had many of them dragged sadly
since Miss Merton and her cousin
had been absent from the hop-field,
and he felt a thrill of pleasure at
their approach which it was useless
to attempt to repress. Whittier was
he drifting? he asked himself.
Both girls greeted him with frank
friendliness, and though he endeav-
ored to maintain his former reserve,
neither of them would have it so.
Miss Densmore seemed quite herself,
and as for Miss Merton, she was in
the gayest of gay moods.
"Of course you've heard about the
hop-dance!" she exclaimed. "It's to