Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-07-04
sivc hold upon his coat Presently an

sivc hold upon his coat. Presently an
idea struck him.
Can you stand on your other footT
he asked. "Nill il bear your weight?'
For answer she put out her hands,
and he helped her to rise. She WINGED
rs the lame foot struck the ice, but she
smiled bravely.
II think can," she said.
Tom dropped on one knee and start
ed to unfasten the skate ON the injured
foot. The ankle was so swollen that
he had TO cut the strap through, but
presently he rose and grasped her
hands.
''Now keep the foot up" he COM
manded, land let me tow you"
1t was a little awkward at first. They
skated together nicely, but now she
could not take stroke, merely sliding
along upon the single runner and lean
ing heavily against him for support
Under his coaching she soon caught
the idea, and presently they were
swinging along at a good pace.
The injured foot ached with the mo-
ton and weight of the boot, but it was
comforting to feel Toms strong hand
clasp and to lean against his Shoulder
as they sped along.
Somehow she had never realized
what a strong man he was until she
felt herself being carried along almost
without an effort. 1t was less than ten
minutes before they came in sight Of
the town as they turned the last curve.
"Looks kind of good, doesn't it?' he
laughed as she gave n cry of delight.
81 thought / never should see it
again. she confessed. Il had almost
given UP hope"
'Tucky thing I had to go to River
dale" he commented. 81 had given up
the idea, but Johnson took me up in
his rig to look ut a horse he wants to
sell me- and | took my skates along"
"I'm glad it was you" she murmured.
"Are your" he asked in surprise 81
thought you would have had almost
any one else rescue you"
II did feel that way for a moment"
she confessed, when l first saw it
was you. l wonder why you turned
around"
Something seemed to stop me-" he
explained. at was funny sort of
feeling. / just seemed to see you be
hind me. and l had to turn around to
make certain. 1t seemed almost as If
a great hand made me stop"
81 think It was fate" she said softly.
maybe l sort of half saw you and
was not conscious of it until had
passed YOU" he suggested.
81 would rather believe it was fate"
she persisted.
so would 1, !" he said soberly. Here's
the landing"
The crowd had left the ice and had
gone home to supper There were no
sleds around, so he slipped off his
skates and caught her up in his arms.
Its only a couple of blocks" he
said. Wen get home more quickly
this way"
She did not make any comment until
he had carried her into the house and
had bestowed her comfortably upon
the sofa. AS he turned to go she spoke
his name softly. He turned back.
"Will you be over after tea?" she
asked
Surely" he answered. 81 shall want
to know how you are getting along"
"Will you bring the ring" she whs-
pered
81 have it right here.' he cried out
eagerly.
For answer she stretched out her
hand, and he slipped it on.
'"This makes me think OF the only
Browning l know" he laughed. "Re-
member:
There's a time in the lives of most
women and men
When all would go smooth and even
II only the dead knew when
To come back and be forgiven
~ forgave you long before that" she
whispered. Il care more for you than
/ do for Browning"