The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-03-31

water far b heath when somebody be
hind her whiatled il well known strain.
She answered before she thought and
then started, almost losing her balance
and clutchod al ~:ie bank to save her
self Her face was hot. and she felt
some one seize her from behind, for it
had all happened too quickly for her to
be frightened Jack dragged her back
and then lifted her to sitting posture.
She scrambled to her feet and faced
him.
What do you mean by sitting on the
very edge Of Il place like that?" Jack
questioned angrily. Suppose the bank
crumbled?''
She looked at him, wistfully at first,
and then her glance turned wrathful as
she saw nothing but anger in his face.
Il was all right until you came and
frightened me-
Il whistled to let you know / was
coming and you answered. he retort-
ed.
Il presume your coming to this espe-
cial place was purely accidental. like
your advent in this town." she re-
marked sarcastically.
Not Iuite," he confessed II fol-
lowed you because l wanted to talk to
you. Sit down and cool off. -
She reflected that this was her first
opportunity to make him sorry, and she
sat down gracefully, while he arranged
himself at her feet and searched a plot
of clover for a lucky omen. She took
off her white duck hat and let the wind
ruffle her thick, fair hair. He looked
up at her meditatively
You have more freckles this year
than you had last he announced
Yes she agreed, land more sense"
i imagine your experience has
taught you something" he remarked
She sat up. This was not teaching
him to be sorry.
Ethel he asked suddenly. you
burned all my letters, didn't you?"
"Of course did" But her heart beat
furiously as she thought of the night
before
Il supposed you bad" he said Il
hand absently to the pocket Of bis blue
serge coat. You see, love letters after
there isn't any more love are such ASST
nine things he explained; lust twad-
de-
Yours were rather twaddly." she aid
mitted: cat least the ones | had But
they're burned"
Again he felt in his pocket. She saw
the gesture and misinterpreted it.
Light it if you like she said
Light it? All, yes" said he, drawing
the pipe from quite another pocket.
She watched him fill it, frowning a lit
tie at the tobacco pouch, which was
one she had given him. He leaned over
to strike a match.
Your bald spot is certainly much
larger than it was last year. she re
marked critically.
"How observing you are!' he drawled-
Then he turned suddenly.
Twill you love me. when I'm bald?'
he sang.
LAS much as / do now she an
swered meaningly
"Not as much as you did last nightY'
he queried
Last nightv' she echoed. the blood
rising to her face. what are you talk
ing about?" He turned again and took
a letter from his coat pocket, holding
1t up where she could see the address
in his writing, Miss Ethel Herriot.''
Her heart beat wildly. The envelope
was worn and old looking He drew
out the sheets Of thin paper There
were hlisters = fresh blisters = upon
them
Ethel sat paralyzed. The tears rolled
down her cheeks, and she did not try
to wipe them away. Her fingers dug
into the grass on either side
poor old letter. he said pityingly.
How did you escape the fames?''
Then he heard a sob from Ethel. He
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself a cad. He had
never seen Ethel cry before.
Ethel" he said, I'm brute, but
don't mean to be. | came out here to
tell you that l love you better than
ever and to own up that was wrong
and 10 ask you to take me back to your
favor Ethel,'' he had her in his arms
now, Ethel, dear, you do love me,
don't your
Take it out on Tim, dear, for it was
his fault. He brought the letter and
dropped it at nay feet. And then
knew that you had been doing just
what I've done nearly every night for
year, reading over the old letters
Ethel, aren't you glad--a little-that
Tim found the letter."
And Ethers answer, though muffied.
seemed te satisfy him. They went
slowly home.