Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-11

There stood Jack, close behind me. and
how truly glad | was to see him there.
.'.Jack!" | cried. piteously. "Oh, Jack,
I'm sinking. Do help me out. II am
e frightened"
Even in that moment of horror / was
Glad to notice not so much as flicker
of smile on his face If he had laughed
I would never have forgiven him, for al
though, | confess, / must have looked
suDremelv ridiculous standing there.
wanted any onlooker to be blind to the
fact. Stepping on small bowlder of
rock which stood near. Jack stretched
forth his arm. and, clutching frantically
at it, | was hauled gasping and shaking
en- to terra firma.
"Sit down." said Jack. authoritatively.
And | obeyed, laughing and crying hys-
terically.
"My shoes!" l managed at last to
whisper, glancing from my mud bespat
tered stockings to where two little Ok
ford walking shoes stuck up aggressively
in the very middle of the bog. But to
my surprise Jack did not stir
Il wanted to talk to you, Gwennie," he
said gently. and | suddenly became CON
scious that he still held my hands in his
own.
We'll, | DON'T" | retorted, rather rude
ly, for | was seized with wild anxiety
to Jump up and run away | was angry
with myself because | felt most uneX
pected blush dyeing my cheeks and un-
lovely red ] do not blush prettily, and
was, moreover, also suddenly alive to the
fact that my struggle in the bog had
left me woefully disheveled. | was about
to rise-but alas! | remembered my
shoes with a pang.
Please, Mr. Merevale," | said coldly
will you get me my shoes? Pm-I'm
in hurry"
Certainly" he replied coolly. But
if you will allow me. | have something to
say to you first, Miss Harrison"
Tears of angry veXation stood in my
eyes. OF all the mean advantages that
ever man took
Il won't allow YOU cried. Il don't
want to hear what you've got to say.
II want my shoes at once"
He still held both my hands. | had
tried to free them, but | could not.
was furious at his mastery over me, and
trembed on the verge of retaliation by
tears-a sure method of subiugaticn
against obdurate mankind
Are you quite sure, Gwennie?" he said.
changing his tone so suddenly. and bend
Ing forward to look into my downcast
face with such strange new tenderness
on his own that | was completely taken
by surprise. SO surprised, indeed, was
that | quite forgot to reply; the shoes
were for the moment forgotten likewise
suppose Jack construed my silence as
sign of grace; at any rate, he took every
mean advantage of the situation and /
well, whether | liked it or not, | had to
listen to all he had to say. When he had
finished | managed to look up shyly into
bis face,
Il suppose | must say Yes Jack" l
whispered, "Cr you'll leave me here to
perish? II think I'll say Yes if you
promise to get me my shoes
1t was most absurd. of course. but
after this remark we both forgot the
very existence of shoes for at least half
an hour. Then Jack fished the pair in
question from their muddy resting place
and replaced them on my feet.
You aren't going to change your mind
and say No now you've got them Z" he
asked tenderly, as he looked up into my
face.
| shook my head with a gay little
laugh.
ut would serve you right if did, Just
to pay you out for your meanness," |
retorted. But perhaps this time l will
be generous. After all. it was only the
less of dignity | minded, felt so small
stranded there, but l forgave you when
you did not laugh
a matter of dignity he said lightly.
sealing my forgiveness with kiss.
What is that, darling-when it was also
a matter of love?'-May Wynne in
Madame.