The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-10-20
Can you read the thoughts Of 9th

Can you read the thoughts OF 9TH
ers?"
81 shall not trouble myself to do SO
any further" she replied, with de-
cided pout, and, rising from her seat,
she passed quickly by him.
Twill you not allow me to help you
over the WALTZ"
"Thank you, do not require any
assistance" was the somewhat ungra-
cious response.
How pretty she is, and how ex-
quisitely graceful" he thought, as he
watched her slender figure fitting
| through the fields. 81 must have pa
thence here; 1t will be wild chase"
ooh, dear!" she said to herself,
heres another beautiful scrape l
have got myself into. wonder il
| that man is going to haunt me now
at every turn. He is certainly very
| handsome l will give him credit for
! that. 1 won't go outside the gate for
! week; and did not see the inside
of the house after all. wonder what
he is doing here. How funny it is!
I wish I had seen him tumble out of
that window; l always miss whatever
is worth seeing"
About a fortnight after this, when
Maude concluded that the stranger
must certainly have gone away, she
renewed her rambles again. One day.
when crossing a marshy field, she
suddenly found herself sinking deep
| into the mud Instead Of turning
back, she went on, hoping to get
through what proved to be treacher-
GUS slough, but, sinking up to her
knees, she began to feel frightened.
So she stood perfectly still, and be-
gan to scream as loudly as she could,
which was pretty loud. After while
she heard the sound of horses feet.
Presently, galloping along the road,
appeared the Inevitable stranger, but
Maude was too much frightened to
care who 1t was that came to assist
her.
ooh, won't you please help me out?
she meekly asked.
Springing quickly from his horse,
the gentleman vaulted over the fence.
and as he approached her, looked very
much as If politeness alone restrain
ed him from a hearty laugh, for
Maude certainly presented a droll pic
ture, stuck fast in the mud, annoy
ance, fear and humiliation all express
ed in her face. Yes, for once in her
life, Maude felt completely humiliat-
3D. for, now that she was sure of re-
lief, fear soon gave place to mortified
ton, and she did not enjoy being in
an absurd position.
Without saying word, the stranger
lifted her out of the mud, and car
ried her in his arms to firm, reliable
ground, seeming rather to enjoy this
part of the program. There, raising
one of her tiny feet, which was now
a shapeless mass of black mud, she
examined it with such look of conf
cal CONSERVATION that her companion,
no longer able to control his amuse-
ment, burst into a peal of hearty
laughter, in which she soon joined.
Il will put you on my horse and
lead him to your abiding place" he
said. as he assisted her over the
fence.
Maude made a gesture of dissent;
but, pointing to her feet, he asked
her, with a smile:
Would you not find it somewhat
difficult to walk? Do not refuse to
let me aid you"
So she allowed him to do as he
wished, and, taking the bride, he
walked by her side. Just before they
parted, he said:
Now, when you sit down to write
in your journal tonight, can imagine
just what you will put there"
"Oh. you can. Ell? Well, what?"
she asked.
you will say, Met that everlasting
man again today" and he looked up
in her face with an expression that
made her blush.
81 do not keep a Journal, she re-
piled; IT am not sentimental or ro
mantle"
"only mischievous and a little
cruel"
81 acknowledge the first, but not the
last. l would not hurt fly"
Nor break a hearth"
But could not help that, you
know" she said, SO demurely that he
looked very much amused.
AS he lifted her from the horse, a
strangely embarrassed feeling stole'
over Maude. for. as she said to her.
self afterward. 'he certainly looked
a kiss, If he did not bestow it," but
she gave him very cordial invitation
to call, which he accepted with un.
mistakable eagerness.
II will go off and stay all day." She
said, but she did not do it, On the
contrary, she dressed herself in the
most becoming manner. fastening two
little rosebuds in her hair. that made