The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-26


half-mirthful. half-puzzled expression.
do you mean one half OF what you
say. Mr.. Featherstone?" she asked.
my dear Miss Dare" he answered,
with fervent look that sent the hot
blood in flood to her face, II mean
every syllable OF IT."
"Ohl" said she.e with slight gasp.
and was silent for n moment. Then.
as a burst OF sunlight suddenly fell
upon them. she exclaimed: Why we
are out OF the wood already! This Is
the parting OF the ways. must run
away across this common. or shall be
late. Should you happen to be pass
ing my uncle's farm about to- NOR
row / might chance to be going out
myself"
She extended her hand. which he re-
squeezed. and then. with a
merry laugh, she ran away.
1t seemed to Bob Boulter that night
that Eric was in exceeding high sptr-
Its and said so. but the latter held his
peace with regard to the delightful
little episode in the woods. and put
1t all down to the glorious weather
and his Increasing appreciation OF the
beauties OF Buckinghamshire. But
Boulter had his "doots" all the same
Punctueliy at IL the following MORN
ing Eric arrived at the farm and rec
nnnoitred. He soon saw the Iiut,er,h p
OF skirts through interstices OF the
,edgerows, and then, slipping through
the farmyard gate, came the dainty
little schoolteacher herself. Iney
were together IN a moment, and ETC
said. with laugh: a,,,
"You see. did happen TO be WalR-
ing this way this morning.
ySrSy a "
she replied. Laughing IN
tnrn "but am pleased to see YOU !,
again. Mr.. Featherstone. all the same.
7"It is awfully good OF you 70 say
!, no 1ret,1rned. II have been think
Inc about this meeting ever since e, =
nnened my eyes at s this morning..
Grow silly! Where we're we're you wan-
dering?" ,.,tr.
An ta that is as Miss Dare may sus-
gest" A. raoth-
erstone."
..po II? Too much?" !.
..You would quickly find that oul -
II thought so. Frankly, YOU ao'a -
those woods we walked through yes.
terday are lovely, don't you thlnR SO
~ shall never cease thinking OF
them. To me they will always DC a
veritable Champs Elysees.
G..rhat sounds a bit flord. doesn't It!
We'll, never mind, we will go through n
them again and look at the water
crosses and the Aylesbury ducks at
chesham I will take a peep into that
dreadful chasmg on the way. Goodness
gracious! what would have happened
IL good Samarltan--yourself- had
not turned hp?
ooh, some other good Samaritan
would have come along and spoilt my
luck. Everything happened, I think.
for the best. 5
let us hope SOL said she, with
mock occurrences. ..
s They walked along for q moment \ ns
silence. Then she began to talk about
his pictures-hows a rdently she admired
them, and what a wonderful thing It
seemed to her to be actually tramping
through a country lane with the man
to whom she had looked up as a sort
of deml-god.
'And now find to be simplySa fellow
worm. beg your pardon. That was
n,aladroit didn't quite mean tt I'D
except" and he paused.
'Tn a Pickwickian sense perhaps"
she suggested. .;S FL
.'Ha! ha! Yes, that's 1t. a demi-!
god, Ell? You ought to see \ n1eSs ca t
mutton chops, my a ear Miss Dare, and
drink bottled stout You would be
disillusioned at once"
II don't think so,'' said 8 he. Mutton
chops could never shake my convic-
lions. do admire al clever man.
And 7 a charming girl" said he, as
bold *as brass. 9 .3 l5
They had entered the wood by this
time and Just for a minute or two she
was silent: y then she looked up into
his face and said: 85 Is
"Haye you met many charming girls.
Mr., Featherstone?'' II Si
"Rut one In my life.
AND who can that wonderful creature
sbe?, EN-
Cant you guess ~ lys 4
~? "a Impossibe! How can i 2" and
she felt herself to be in a delicious
ftremor. 3a II a 3
"Try," said he. 8i TX. 81
"I cannot----I cannot Again, how can
Ho stopped short and looked her full
suppose said he, that should
whom, I had quickly learnt to love ana
whom dearly wished to make my
wife--,what Win!fred, would you say?"
n. The red blood snrged into her face.
and her lips trembl ed as She answered.:
Only that should be the hp Gpiest
cir In he whole world I1r il. i,
0Then, darling said sho sit Il s8 said
and n II is answere I'D q and his arms
Quickly enf plded her,s and err red lips
met hls--and u tho bird Al In the woods
|Isent up IA chorus i#5ot sjub ila tio On, and