Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-05-26
are you in a hurry?"

are you in hurry?"
Now was Kate's chance to wish this
shabbily-dressed young man with a
bad character good-morning; but she
did not take it. Instead, after a
slight hesitation, she sat down.
you do not know where you are go
ing, Mr. Raven?" said Kate; you
speak as if you had no home"
We'll, haven't he admitted.
"Or friends?"
COR friends" he echoed, with a smile
that was not particularly mirthful.
You see," he added, quickly as if de-
precating her pity, when a man comes
back to England after spending ten
years in Amer-in Australia, he is apt
to find that his friends have disap-
peared, or forgotten him.
You found my father last night"
she said, almost unwittingly; then, as
she saw a singular expression cross
his face he crimsoned, and would have
given worlds to recall her words
well. yes, but" He paused.
Major Meddon and l are mere ac-
quaintances."
my father said you were an old
friend" she said, quickly. HE told
me" Then she stopped.
What was it? Don't be afraid!
You won't"-with smile-"offend me.
What was it? Did he?"-with a sud-
den inspiration, and suppressing a
smile-"did he tell you that l was an
altogether bad lot, Miss Meddon?"
Don't ask me-" she faltered in a
low voice, her face still turned away. g.
Il thought as much. 1t was like
the major" he murmured to himself,
with a half-amused. half-bitter smile.
Then he said aloud:
I'm sorry your father should have
shown me up, Miss Meddon."
ooh what shall say!" murmured
Kate, almost crying. ''Mr. Raven, I
I ought not to have said so much, but
it slipped out. Will you forgive
me?"
Eyes, and with all my heart" he
said in his deep voice, and, with a
smile that moved Kate more than an
angry word would have done. But
don't think the. worst of me, please"
mo, no, will not" she said. with
his deep voice, and, with smile that
moved Kate more than an angry word
would have done But don't think
the worst of me, please"
NO, no, will not" she said, with
piteous eagerness. 81 am sure that
that-whatever it was is all past and
done with. | am sure Oh, if you
knew how sorry | am that I should
have said a word to wound you!"
Il know, I know" he said, gently,
with the gentleness of a strong man.
But don't pity me too much, Miss
Meddon; don't deserve it."
But | do pity you; l cannot help
it," she said, gently. Whatever you
may have done, you are homeless
and friendless now" she stopped,
and forced the tears back.
ut is worth being homeless and
friendless now" she stopped, and
forced the tears back.
sit is worth being homeless and
friendless to have your sympathy" he
said.
There was silence for a moment
The du,l roar of the sea smote upon
heir ears; a gull .,kimm,d past them
and floated against the blue sky. A
wild longing possessed him to turn and
tell her that it was he who had been
sinned against and wronged; but he
beat it down. Whatever lie the
major had told her must remain I'M
challenged. He could not tear the
mask from her own father
Can I-can my father do nothing
for your" she said, after this pause.
will you not come back and see him?
He has kind heart, and will-oh, ]
know he will-prove your friend"
mo, l will not come back and
trouble your father, but thank you,
all the same"
do you thank me-" she said, al
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