Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-01-11

ladies'" he remarked in a full, deep
voice, holding up sketch book, which
Maggie recognized as her own. 1T
was lying in the road a mile or two
back, and noted as l passed that one
of you carried similar book" The
young man pulled off his tweed cap as
he spoke, and stood bareheadej.
Thank you, yes, it is mine. am
so much Obliged to you," said Maggie
heartily, stretching out her hand for
the book. Her eyes met his as she did
so, and then in a moment the white
road seemed to rise up and strike her
and the hills and trees to dance
mockingly, for here, the dark gray
eyes looking into her own. was the
face of her dreams!
The sketch book fell from the hand
which had scarcely grasped it, and,
as the young man stopped to recover
it, Maggie, conscious that Mary's curl
GUS eyes were upon her, made SUI
preme effort to pull herself together.
She had mechanically caught at her
bicycle to steady herself, but it
swayed beneath her hand.
Il fear you are not WE'LL" remarked
the stranger, as he once more extendd
the little volume towards her. ct is
warm and perhaps you have ridden
| fast up this hill"
%, no, am quite well, it was only
my awkwardness," replied Maggie, in
coherently, and without looking at
him.
May I-can I-be of any use?" he
continued, addressing himself to
Mary. Il would advise your resting
for few minutes, and when you round
the next corner you will meet the sea
breeze"
Thank you so much. Yes, think
We will take your advice and rest on
this shady bank; we have not much
farther to 60" There was brisk
finality in Mary's tone which he dared
not disregard, ami again raising his
cap he walked off reluctantly.
How well he walks, | fancy he
must be a soldier" remarked Mary,
and she noted, too, that he never once
looked back
Maggie's thoughts were in state of
chaos, but she was silent, and, after
resting few minutes, Mary proposed
that they should continue their jour
ney.
Early in the afternoon they came in
sight of their destination. What a
pair of dusty wayfarers we look"
laughed Mary, as they turned into the
open gate of the parsonage" trust
our bags have arrived, or we shall
cG5 sorry figures in my aunt's drawing
room; not that she viii mind" she
added. "And there they are at the
door to welcome us!''
AS the old canon and his wife came
forward to welcome their guests the
girls saw to their dismay flannel
clad figure run forward to take their
machines.
David! you here" exclaimed Mary.
Even SO, Mary, and not only Dayid
but his Jonathan" laughed the
youth Here, Jack, lazy fellow,
come and show yourself" and then
Maggie had another shock, for in the
tall figure that emerged from low
window near, both girls recognized the
stranger they had parted from a few
hours before. This is my chum, Jack
Wilton, Miss Monckton and Mary"
went on David; ''but say, what does
this mean, you young folks seem to
know each other already"
I'VE met on the road an hour or
two ago Mr.. Wilton did us kind
service, that's all Mr.. Acton" said
Maggie, in her stateliest manner, and
David, whose acquaintance she had
on his best behavior.
Maggie by this time had herself
well in hand, and it was only by lit
tie gravity of manner that her sur
prise and dismay showed themselves,
bat she never could aftelward recall
the hours she spent in the pretty
Sussex parsonage without wonder
ing how she had managed to get
through them, and all the ti1oe speak
and move and behave in so natural a
manner that only Mary detected that
she was not quite her blithe self
How is it you did not recognize
your cousins friend, Nary" Maggie
asked when they we're alone for a
moment.
How should l know him, my dear,
when / never have seen him before, |
only knew David had a friend, Jack
Wilton, to whom he is ahsurdly de-
voted-but at the same time seem TO
have a vague remembrance of his
face
Maggie was more successful than
she had hoped in shaking off her I'M
comfortable associations with her fell
low guest during the evening, and to
all appearances was her bright, nat
ural self. Nevertheless she never
for a moment was unconscious of Mr..
Wilton's presence, and she had
strange conviction that he, in a meas
ure, shared her feelings. She knew
that, even when talking to others,
MT a word or fnovonapt IF barc nc