The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-16

Steve's relatives at the questions as GO
his movements from the flushed pur-
suer. little more than a stranger 70
them, overwhelmed her with an agony
! of embarrassment It was plain that
they had heard nothing Of the short en-
gagement and its violent rupture, ana
she was not In position to explain, Tor
only humiliating defeat might meet her
attempt at reconciliation. She was
obliged to leave them with an obviously
unflattering opinion of girl who was
confessedly chasing young man and
who only blushed painfully and looked
distressed instead of giving satisfactory
reasons.
"That was big piece of humble pie.
It almost choked mey' she gasped when
once more pedaling for dear life. But.
anyhow, l know he's going to stop
twice more and intends taking the early
train at Lynchburg. 1t was worth it to
learn 50 much. can-I will-make
itw
Noon came and passed. The weary
miles seemed to stretch interminably,
but she pushed on. feeling that the only
impossibility in existence was failure.
A friendly boy assured her Of the route
and gave her directions for saving a
couple Of miles.
This maneuver came near being her
Waterloo, for on the crosscut she met
young Lawson, one time sutton, whom
she had rejected in favor of Steve.
"Why, Miss Dorav He stopped,
blocking her way. "Are you lost or
merely working of injured feelingsT,
"Neitherv' she replied CURLY, at
tempting to pass.
He ungallantly wheeled his horse,
preventing her, saying slyly: "Your
face answers as to your feelings. l
might ask you how you like the sack
yourself, but I'm generous. Oh" he
laughed at her look Of surprise, 'it's
no secret that Steve shook you and put
out this morning."
"You are very wiser she retorted,
endeavoring to pass.
''Oh, it's common WISDOM" he grin
ned, still preventing her. ut wasn't
gentlemanly Of Steve to jilt girl so
publicly. Come, now; let me make you
Mrs. Lawson at once, and you'll turn
the laugh on him good and hard"
Steve did not jilt me! I was to
blame myselfv' Dora fared. "Let me
pass, please. must go on"
"Why, you don't mean that you're
tagging the fellow to try to coax him
back?" he jeered insolently.
Scarlet, but disdaining denial, Dora
evaded him and fed, murmuring with
a long breath: THAT was a horrible
piece Of humble pie! But it's better
than eating bitter bread the rest of
my lifev'
With d sickening fear that she was
already too late, she scorched desper
ately over the remaining miles and
dashed, painting and disheveled, into
Lynchburg, coming almost Immediate
ly upon Steve, with Don and the bug
gy, at sale stable. With pang she
noted that Steve was pale and bag
gard. He, too, had suffered, and yet
he looked SO stern and grave. Her
courage faltered. He might nOt-but
she must take it, this last and biggest
piece Of humble pie, and If Steve were
implacable she was so exhausted she
was sure she would die and there
would be no Miss Prissy's fate for her.
AS she timidly approached Steve
turned, saw her and with an exclama-
ton darted to her, and at the sudden
light in his eyes Miss Dora Topped
over in his arms, half fainting, MUIR
muring heartbrokenly: "Oh, Steve!
Steve!
That was all, but enough.
''The humble pie I've eaten! GER
tainly deserve entire absolutionw Dora
cried self righteously when the high
stepping Don was prancing home with
them.
Humble pie" Steve exclaimed.
your little piece is nothing to the
hunk I've got to swallow-going back
after all the fuss-and how I'm to
do it l don't see unless we're mar
ried at once and run away on a long
trip"
Dora blushed, but said nothing, and
silence gives consent!