Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-05-09
CHAPTER discontinued.

1T. But N aIrdlu, SIT
"Of course you're afraid" shouted
mraged anew By his hating speech.
You have every reason in the world
be afraid. You've probably heard
hat I'm a bad lot and worthless adj
renturer; but you can tell Sister The
esa or Pickering or anybody you
lease that I'm ten times as bad as
we ever been painted. Now clear out
here!"
knocked about the library all morn
ne without easing my spirit, and
!fter luncheon I went off for tramp.
Winter had indeed come and pos
essed the earth, and it had given me
new landscape. The snow continued
fall in great, heavy flakes, and the
round was whitening fast.
A rabbits track caught my eye and
followed it, hardly conscious that
lid so. Then the clear print of two
mall shoes mingled with the rabbits
rail. A few moments later / picked
Up an overshoe, probably lost IN the
lhase by one of Sister Theresa's girls,
! u. L
It Tech I had collected a diversity of
memorabilia from school girl acquaint-
.nces, and here | was beginning
lew series with string of beads and
N overshoe!
A rabbit Is always an attractive
quarry. Few things besides riches are
10 elusive, and the little fellows have,
am sure, a shrewd humor peculiar to
themselves. | rather envied the school
girl who had ventured forth for walk
the first snow storm of the season,
md recalled Aldrich's turn on eau
ier's lines as / followed the double
rail;
'Howe'er you tread, tiny mould
Betrays that light foot all the same:
Upon this GlisteninS, snowy fold
At every step it signs your name"
A pretty autograph, indeed! The
NOW fell steadily and l tramped on
over the joint signature of the girl and
he rabbit. Near the lake they parted
company, the rabbit leading off at a
angent! on line parallel with the
AXE, while his pursuer's steps pointed
coward the boat house.
There was. so far as I knew, only
,ne student of adventurous blood at
st. Agatha's, and was not in the least
surprised to see, on the little sheltered
Balcony of the boat house, the red tam
r-shanter. She wore, too the covert
:oat remembered from the day saw
aer first from the wall. Her back was
we're thrust into her pockets. She
was evidently enjoying the soft ming
ing of the Snow with me still, blue
waters of the lake, and girl and a
snow storm are, if you ask my opin-
ION. pretty combination. The fact of
girls facing winter storm argues
nightly in her favor,-testifies, if you
will allow me, to a serene and daHnt-
less spirit for one thing, and sound
constitution for another.
ran up the steps, my cap in one
hand, her overshoe in the other. She
irew back triAe, just enough to bring
my conscience to its knees.
81 didn't mean to listen that day. /
Just happened to be on the wall, and
It was thoroughly underbred trick
my INVITING you about it-and l should
have told you before if I'd known how
TO see you"
May l trouble you for that shoe?"
the said with tremendous dignity.
They taught that cold disdain of
pan, suppose, as required study at
It. Agatha's.
ooh, certainly! Won't you allow
ae?"
Thank you, no."
She took the damp bit of rubber--a
get oyershoe, even if small and hal
owed by associations, isn't pretty-as
Venus might have received a soft
she'll crab from the hand of a fresh
Toung norman. was between her
and the steps to which her eyes turned
Ongingly.
"Of course. If you won't accept my
apology l can't do anything about it,;
sut / hope you understand that I'm
sincere and humble, and anxious to be
forgiven"
'You seem to be making good deal
IF q small matter"
81 wasn't referring to the oyershoe!"
| said
She did not relent.
eff you'll only go away"
She rested one hand against the
.orner of the boat house, while she
affixed the overshoe to her foot. She
wore. / noticed, brown gloves with
cuffs.
How can go away! You children
are always leaving things about for
me to pick up, I'm perfectly worn out
carrying some girls beads about witt
nes and | spoiled good glove OF
your oyershoe"
'ITl relieve you of the beads. if yol
please"
She thrust her hands into the pool
shanter slightly, to establish it in
more comfortable spot on her head
The beads had been in my corduro
coat since found them. I drew then
,ut and gave them to her.
THANK you; thank you very much.
"Of course they are yours, Miss
She thrust them into her pocket.
"Of course they're nine" she sal
Indignantly, and turned to go.
wen waive proof of property an
hat sort of thing. I'm sorry not I
establish a more neighborly feelin
With st. Agatha's. The stone wa
nay seem formidable, but it's not {
ny building. must open the gat
That wallis trifie steep for climbing
was amusing myself with the ide
hat my identity was a dark myster
% her | had read English novels
xhieh the yoilng lord of the manor