Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-06-27

must pass. She could not go back, fae
il was probably near evening. The
sun threatened to break through tho
clouds near the horizon. The rain had
entirely ceased. She felt tired, but
happier and quiet after the relief of
tears.
Then she remembered way through
Richards fields that they had often
taken. She would have to pass bad
slough. but that could not be helped.
He must not see her in her present
plight. She realized that her face was
swollen and her eyes red with weep
ing and that she was covered with
mud. Her hair vas flying wildly,
though the dampn> J always made ii
the curlier She turned into the pas
ture after dlsmounting TO open heavy
gate, and as she rode along she re-
moved her cap and transferring her
hairpins to her mouth, let the reins fall
on Ginger's neck while she shook out
her long hair and prepared to coil 1t
more closely. But Ginger gave sud
den jerk, and in calling "Whoat' the
pins fell from her mouth into the mud
and water. Then she laughed long and
heartily and gave the wind its will
with her hair No one would see her
anyway.
AS she neared the slough she felt
very warm and unfastcned her habit
at the throat. Ginger was plunging
and snorting through the mud and
stopped once with n jerk tina. almost
threw the girl from her saddle. The
wind caught at her dress, and before
she realized it the two luckless letters
were spread out in the mud. 1t was
no laughing matter, for Richard would
he sure to find them. and the mud was
so deep she could not possibly dis
mount. She drove Ginger as close to
them as possible and was leaning
over reaching for them so attentive,y
that she did not see Richard till he
rode up almost against her.
Her eyes met his, defiantly conscious
of her floating hair and her soiled face
and above all the tclltale letters. She
wished her writing was finer-she
could see that hateful II love your
from where she now was! He lifted
his hat and was getting down to hand
her the letters when she stopped him.
Richard Copeland. you go right
away. Don't touch them. l will get
them myself"
you can't. You'd get stuck In the
mud. Let me"
IF you do. Tll-hate YOU"
You do anyway. anG besides, won't
look at whatever it is you seem to
value So" He coolly dismounted, but |
she spranG down ahccd of him and
snatched at them, sinking to her knees |
ard called 'Whoar' but gave the poor |
beast sly cut with his whip that sent |
her ON mad gallop FOR home. He
held Colonel by the bride. Edith |
faced him.
"Now. Edith" he said. hate me or
not. You will have to get on Colonel |
and be taken home. Corle-dear.'
"I'll die here firstr He mounted |
and riding close to her, suddenly caught |
her in his arms and drew her strug- |
Cling and angry to the saddle in front |
Of him.
Edith" he said, Il couldn't help |
seeing the 4 love YOU on the letter |
you were so anxious about. Was it |
written for me?' Suddenly she felt |
that she could bear it no longer. She |
turned her face against his shoulder
and cried, while he smoothed back her
long hair and held her very close. Her
pride was quite gone. She was In tears
and fright generally. She felt that |
it was positively miracle that he
could still love her. He kissed the
only available place, which happened
to he her left ear. Then he asked her
again about the letter.
IL meant it for YOU" she owned, but
l couldn't send it, and l was misera-
ble.'
He laughed softly and babe her look
up, and Colonel somehow understood
that he was expected to go very, very |
slow.