The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1905-09-08

renewed her rambles again. Ono day.
when crossing . marshy Geld. she
suddenly found herself sinking into
the mud. instead Of turning hack. shs
went on. hoping to get through what
proved TO be O trcacicrous slough.
but. sinking up to her knees. she be-
gan TO feel frightened. 60 she stood
perfectly stiii. and began to scream
as loudly as she could. which vas
pretty loud. After awhile she heard the
sound Of . horses feet. Presently. gal
hoping along the road. appeared the In.
evi,abie stranger. but Maude wal too
much frightened TO care who II Vas that
came to Assist her.
"ob. won't you please help me out?"
she meekiy asked.
s%pringing quickly from his horse. the
gentleman vaulted over the fence, and.
as he approached her. looked very much
AS u p~olItenoss alone restrained him
from a hearty laugh. for Maude certainly
presented q droll picture stuck fast In
the mud. annoyance. fear and humilia.
ton all expressed In her face. Yes. for
once In her life. Maude felt completely
huniiia,ed. for. o that she Was sure
Of relief. fear soon ave place 10 morti-
fca,lon. and she did not enjoy being In
m absurd position.
Withou, saying n word the stranger
lifted her out Of the mud. and carried hes
In his arms TO firm. reliable ground.
seeming rather to enjoy this part OF the
programme. There. raising one Of her
tiny feet. which was now q shapelcss
mass " black mud. she examined u
with such a lcok Of comical consterna-
tlon that her companion. no longer able
TO control his amusement burst Into =
/ peal OF hearty laughter. In which she
oon Joined.
Il will pu, you on my horse aud lead
him 10 your abiding place" he said, as
ne assisted her over the fence.
Maude mad. a gesture Of dissent; but
pointing to her feet, he asked her. with /,
smile:
Would you not find II somowha,
aiGcult to walk DO no, refuse to lei
,ae aid you"
So she allowed him 20 do a. he wished.
and. taking the Birdie. he walked by her
side. Jus, before they parted. he said
Now. when YOU n, down to write IL
your Journal tonight. ! can imagine
Just what you will put there"
'oh. you an. eh' Well. ~hat'" she
asked.
"you will say: 'Me, that everlasting
man again to-day. and he looked ny
In her face with al expression hat made
her blush.
Il do not keep a journal" she replied.
Il am not sentimental or romantic"
only mischlcvous ami n little cruel
Il acknowledge the nrst. but not ID"
last. would not hurt a ny"
Nor break a heart7
But | could rot help hat. you know
she said. so demurc!y tina; he lookcl
very much amused
As he lifted her from the horse y
strangely embarrassed feeling stole over
Maude. for. a. she said to herself after.
ward. he certainly looked a kiss II be
did not bestow it, but she gave him .
very cordial invitation 10 call, which he
accepted with unmisiakable eagerness.
Il will 20 on and stay all day" sne
said. but she did not do It. on the con.
trary. she dressed herself IN the most
becoming manner fastening i've little
rosebuds In her hair. tina, made her look
more bewi,chlng than ever. and re-
malned In the house all day. hut she
was very restless. and not seeming al all
like her own merry sell.
The day passed, and. trans 10 re.
late. the expected visitor did not come.
The becoming dress. the lovely rose.
buds were worn 10 no purpose, and that
nisht poor Maude felt as she had never
felt before. So depressed and low .spir-
itcd. she thought that Il must be home.
sickness. but still aid not dream o, go.
ing home. The next day passed. aud
then another. aud the young girls home
sickness began 10 assume quite a dan
gerous character. Finally, on the frnrth
day. when Maudc was sitting deiociedly
IN her chamber, a sudden ring Of the bell
So, her heart beating desperately.
why. what Is the matter with mef"
she exclaimed. Mother told me that
one OF her hunts died with palpitation
Of the heart. I hope | am not going to
have that dreadful disease"
She was soon summoned to the Varlor
TO sec MIR. Gregory, a. the card indi.
Gated. ana. with the dreadful nalpi,atlon
increasing every moment. she descended
the stalrs and entered the room, looking
like 9 shy. 'lmid schoolgirl Awkward
II was absolutely impossible for Maude
to be, but her usual self possession was
entirely gone. Tho stately stranger
seemed similarly affected. 30 that for
some time they talked only In embar.
raised mcnosyllahles. Finally she
dropped a fan that she was toying with.
and. both stopping at the same time to
pick It mp. they knocked their heads to-
gether with stunning effect, so that,
when they again raised them. each one
looked so lneypressibly silly that both
burst into a merry laugh. This restored
their self-possession at once. and seat.
Ing himself beside her. he suddenly
auLaNH