Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-09-13

q GIRL and there was really nothing else
tht would do justice To- the occasion. '
III was the least YOU could do ! should
think Mrs Gordon declared, with
feeling.
Oh. l promised to do more than that
he added, laughing a little, apparently
ashamed OF his feeling 81 assured her
that some day. when was man. |
would come back and repay her for what
she had done | promised never TO for.
Get her And l never have forgotten
| her. for that matter; though, Of course,
] never went back there and never even
knew her name"
"You really ought to have gone back
| You ought TO have gone back and mar
ricd her said Mrs Gordon, laughine+y
That's the way they do in books"
oh / spoke eNtravagantly he admit
ted a little hurt by her tone "A man
viii when he, just escaped with his
| life Bat ! meant il all al the time | am
not ashamed Of it, She saved my life,
and if could have repaid her | should
/ have done it, And even now, though
she is a woman by this time and has
| probably forgotten all about it. | should
like TO meet her, il only TO acknowledge
my Indebtedness Oh, no A man
doesn't forget a thing like that"
The retirement OF the ladies inter
rupted their conversation.
As Mrs. Gordon left him. she paused
to remark: "Oh, / am sure ! appreciate
your feeling. It does YOU credit And
i am very glad you told me this
A startling thought had come TO Mrs
| Gordon as she was leaving the table and
she was engroSScd with the possibilities
il suggested. When the men struggled
in from the dining-room she was sitting
in 4 window seat quite alone She looked
up at Downs with a smile. and as he
approached she rose and with an impul-
sive movement held out her hand. He
looked puzzled
Il don't know but it was wrong not
10 tell you AZ the table she commenced
hurredly. TO let you tell me that story
without knowing. But ] could not speak
somehow. there before them all. And !
may have seemed not 10 appreciate your
noble remembrance Of me But ! am
sure you will understand my feeling.
did not realize it at first And then it
all came over mc-the rush Of old memo
rleS--'
Downs dropped her hand and gazed
At her a momcn. in sheer amazement.
Why" he stammered why. l.
Good heavens, ~ he exclaimed DO you
mean TO say that you"
Yes she said Il think | was the
one. feel sure | must have been
though, OF course, was so young that
! can't really be certain. | remember
such an incident-of a Northern soldiers
stopping there and the horsemen riding
mp. But ! never should have guessed
it was YOU
And you-you were the little girl
found there at the spring house" Downs
exclaimed. why. it's simply astonish-
ing 20 He looked at her critically
Black hair and eyes" he muttered. DO
you know, | believe-there's no mistake
You're not as ! thought that girl--you
mean-Would look And yet ne gazed
at her again, there is something about
you that seems familiar, too-an expires
sion about the eyes, a look that ! seem
to have seen before This is certainly
wonderful coincidence"
Yes, isn't it," She motioned him 20
a seat beside her own. Il wish ! could
remember IL better she added, but |
was so young then, and so many things
happened in those war days ! used
often to watch the soldiers march past
the house And when the stragglers
would come along | would sometimes
slip of down to the spring house, where
they stopped
"Wen, Pm glad ! happened to tell IT,
said Downs And, do you know | felt
/ from the first that there was something
strangely attractive about you. must
| tell Fenwick and the others"
No, please don't mention it" she
said hurriedly 1t would be most EN-
barrassing for me"
! of course, whatever you wish But
| feel as though | owed YOU the public
acknowledgment. | don't see Why
call it a woman's vanity she an
swered, with a laugh.
Vanity"
why yes. Don't you see, II I wa
eight years old in war times, must b,
oh, ever so old b now"
En- Oh, yes, | see ] understand
But I'm sure you don't look it, Upor
my word, YOU don't. But I'm very glaC
10 have discovered You again, for ] hayt
often wondered whatever became Of you
But at all events, | can thank you now
after the years that have passed, with
out fear OF being misunderstood. An,
il there was anything ! could do to re
pay you'll don't mean that OF course
l never could repay y1u-but 10 show m,
. | appreciation--if there was anything
could do 10 prove that, l would do
|. gladly
| Would you" said Mrs Gordon low
ering her voice and gazing earnestly int
his face. There Is something you coul
do-something that is Of great import
auce 70 me. But | fear-Im afraid
. ought not 10 ask you"
Downs gasped If il had come in an
other way he could have met IT,
, Anything l can do--anything that
/ is in my power TO do he began.
1T may seem a very little matter q
/ YOU" Mrs Gordon observed. 1t is onl
some shares Of stock i'm the Manhatta
Z Consolidated Improvement Company
think Manhattan Consolidated is III
| name of r.