The Huttig news., 1908-10-10

chivalry, the involuntary witness was moved 10 earnest protest.
 Don't" he cried, hastily. q say, don't wade,"
 Her superb cJmposure claimed his admiration. Absolutely ignorant though she had been of his proximity, the voice from out of the skies evi- dently alarmed her not at all Still bending over the lifted foot. she turned her head slowly and looked up; and "Oh," said small voice. tinged with relief And cooily knotting the laces again. she sal up. T didn't hear you, you know"
 Nor I sec you" Maitland supple mentol unblus hingly. until moment ago. I--er--can l be of assistance9"
 Cant you9"
 "Ieiot,' said Maitland. severely, both to and of himself Aloud. q think | can
 T hope doubtfully "It's very unfortunate was running rather fast. I suppose. and didn't see fhe alore until too late Now. oren. ing her hqnds in gesture ingenuouslv charming with it's suggestion of help leesness and dependence. q don't know what can be the matter with the machine.
 I'm coming down" announced Maitland briefly. Wait
 Thank you. I shall
 She laughed. and Maitland could have bushea for his insnity; happily he had action to cloak his emharrass- ment Tn iwinkling he was at the waters edge. pausing there to listen. with admirable dociity. to her plain tive objection: ''But you'll get wet and-and ruin yeur things. cant ask that Of you."
 He chuckled by way of reply. slap- ping gallantly into the shallows and courageously wading out to the side of the car. Whereupon he was advised in tones of futtered indignation:
 You simply wouldn't listen to me, And warned you, Now you're soak ing wet and will certainly catch your death of cold. and-and what can do? Truly. I am sorry"
 Here the young man lost track of her remark. He was looking up into the shadow of the motoring cap, dis covering things; for the shadow was set at naught by the moon luster that. reflected from the surface of the stream, invested with gentle and glamorous radiance the face that bent above him. And he caught at his breath sharply, direst fears confir ned: She was pretty indeed-perilously pretty The firm. resolute chin. the sensitive. sweet line of scarlet lips, the straight little nose, the brows del icately srched. the large, alert. tawny eyes with the dangerous sweet shad- ows beneath. the glint as of raw cop per where her hair caught the light Maitland appreciated them all far too we'll and clutched nervously the rail of the seat, trying to steady himself to re-collect his routed wits and con. sider sensibly that it all was due to the magic of the moon. belike: the witchery of this aprarition that looked down into his eyes so gravely
 "Of course" he mumbled its too beautiful 10 endure. Of course it will all fade. vanish utterly in the cold light of day
 Above him. perplexed brows gath cred ominausly. q beg pardon ?''
 e1--er-yes,n he stammered at ran dom.
 ssYou-er-what p''
 Positively. she was laughing at himi i He, Maitland the exquisite. Mad Malt. land the imrert,rbahle, was being laughed at by mere child. girl scarcely out of her teens He glanced upward. caught her eye a-gleam with merriment, and looked away with much vain dignity.
 'I was saving he manufactured that I did not mind the wetting in the least. I'm happy 10 be of service. y
 You weren't saving anything of the sort" she eontradieted. calmly. How ever" She paused significantly
 Maitland experienced an instan- | taneous sensation as of furtive guilt, decidedly the reverse of comfortable. l He shuffled uaeasily There was a brief silence. on her part expectant. on his blank His mental attitude re- mained hopeless: for some mysterious reason his nonchalance had deserted l him in the hour of his supermest need. not ir all h;s experience did ae remember anything like this-as swk- ward.
 The river purled indifferently about sis calves: vagrant breeze disturbed hs tree tops and died of sheer lasst t56e; Time plodded on with measured stride. Then, abruptly, full-winged inspiration was born out of the chaos of bis mind Listening intcntly, he glanced with covert suspicion at the bridge; it proved untsnanted inoffen- tive of mien: nor arose there any sound of hoGf or wheel upon the high way. Again he locked up at the 2 Fl; and found her in thoughtful mood, fTowning, regarding him steadily be- meath level brows.
 He assumed disarming levity of 1 demeanor. smiling winningly There's only one way" he suggested-not too arChly-and extended his arms