Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-07-26

must pass. She could not go back, fol
It was probably near evening, Tho
aui fhreatened to break through tho
clouds near the horizon The rain had
entirely ceased. She felt tired. hut
happier and quiet after the relief Of
tears. N ns9ilt =
Then she remembered a way through
Rlchard's fields that they had often
taken. She would have to pass a 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
tag and that she was covered with
Md Her hair was flying Wildly,
though the dampneak. always made II
the curlier, She turned into the pas
tuis after dismounting TO open a heavy
gate goand as she rode along she re-
NICE q. her cap aud, transferring her
hal / to her mouth. let the reins fall
on sr'a neck while ahe shook out
her iunss hair and pfepared to coli II
more closely But Ginger gave sud
den jerk, and In calling 'WhoaF 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 tho plough she felt
very warm and unfasteped her habit
at the throat. Ginger was plunging
and snorting through the mud and
stopped once with jerk that almost
threw the girl from her saddle. The
wind caught at her dress, and before
she realized 1t the two luckless letters
were spread out In the mud. It was
no laughing matter, for Richard would
be 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 80 attentively
that she did not SEQ Richard till no
rode up almost against her.
Her eyes met his, defiantly conscious
OF her floating hair and her soiled face
and above all the telltalo letters. She
wished her writing was finer she
could see that hateful II love you"
from where she now vast He lifted
his hat and was getting down to hand
her the letters when she stopped him.
Richard Copeland, you 20 right
away. Don't touch them. will get
them myself"
"You can't. You'd get stuck in tho
mud. Let me-"
"If you do, Pll-hate you"
"You do anyway, and, besides, won't
look at whatever 1t is you seem to
value So" He coolly dismounted, but
ah4 sprang down ahead of him and
snatched at them, sinking to her knees
in the slush. Ginger started and Rich
ard called "Whoar' but gave the poor
beast a 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. Come-dear."
"T'il die hero Arstw TIe 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, II couldn't help
seeing the 4 love you on the letter
you were 80 anxious about Was 1t
written for me" Suddenly she felt
that she could bear 1t 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 a fright generally. She felt that
It was positively u miracle that no
could still love her. Ho kissed the
only available place, which happened
to be her left ear Then he asked her
again about tho letter.
II meant 1t for YOU" she owned, but
l couldn't send It, and | was mlsera-
ble."
He laughed softly and bade her look
up, and Colonel somehow understood
that he was expected to go very, very
slow.