The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-01-14

leuSeS ana STEERING arOunu ISldHuSS
but at last they found themselves
again on land, two thoroughly
drenched figures, but safe.
''Mr. Hunter" said Dorothy then
in the most impersonally polite tone
she could command, Il thank you for
rescuing me. / want you to know
that ] appreciate it fully, but you
surely understand / would not have
signalled you If had dreamed who
you were"
She took no notice of his MUIR
INJURED Mighty lucky you didn't
dream" but turned into the path that
led homewards. He kept at her side,
in spite of her exasperatingly polite
assurance that she would not trouble
him further, saying that he should
certainly see her safe to the cottage.
Dorothy's chin rose trifie and she
walked along in naughty silence. Mr..
Hunter also kept silence until the
half mile of wood path ended on top
of the birch covered knoll above the
cottage. Then, suddenly, he turned
| upon her II think it's about time
you cut this out, Dollie Maybe you
know what you're driving it. GER
tainly don't"
Don't know"
IT certainly don't. I know you
sent back our engagement ring and
all my letters, but you didn't say why.
And every time / tried to see you,
you refused. Maybe I am consum-
mate fool for following you up here
this summer, but / felt as though I
couldn't give you up without trying
again to find out what was the mat
| ter"
II should think your duty lay more
with Miss Whitcomb,' sarcastically.
Miss Whitcomb! Ethel Whit
comb?" He spoke with such genuine
establishment that Dorothy was STAR
tied into making one enlightening re-
mark.
Perhaps being engaged to another
girl doesn't trouble Miss Whitcomb.
But you ought to know that am not
one of that kind"
do you mean that you think am
engaged to Ethel Whitcomb? Is that
the trouble, Dorothy? Why I never
dreamed of such thing, and l am
sure Ethel never did. She eloped
with Harold Nixon month ago. Be-
sides, she's my second cousin"
Dorothy stared. "You-you should
have told me that
ooh, Dorothy, I thought you knew.
I am so glad it's all settled" His
arms were closing hungrily about her.
But she drew quickly away. mo,
no, it isn't settled at all. Do you ex-
pect to excuse yourself for not meet
ing me in Jersey City that afternoon
and obliging me, girl all alone
there, depending on you, to miss my
train in New York and have to hunt
out hotel and stay there all night?
For all you appeared to care, might
have sat in the station all night"
Dorothy! I telegraphed to save
you that"
Photographed! Are you sure? I
never received any telegram"
81 sent it about 5 oclock-to the
station. I remember the very words:
Impossible to meet you. Take next
train home. Explain tomorrow
And my letter next day told you all
about it-how father was taken seri-
ously i'll that very noon, just after
luncheon. We didn't expect him to
live over night, and of course I
couldn't leave home. He was ill for
weeks"
''That must have been the letter I
didn't read" The remark was just
audible, but Hunter caught at it. els
that true, Dorothy? No wonder you
didn't understand.
t'But that isn't why you sent the
ring back"
mo, it wasn't that, Ralph. I
didn't mind so much your not meet
in g me, but when they told me you
ha ID been engaged all the time to
Miss Whitcomb Il"
''Who told you?"
UT doesn't matter now, Ralph,
sill be it isn't true am ashamed that
1 las so unjust to you. Can you for
giEe?" She held out her hand, still
mpist from her recent bath. Hunter
grAsped it eagerly. 'Of course do.
Butt want more than your hand, you
knbw," he murmured, as he drew
hef to him. And then, as her wet
hair touched his wetter shoulder,
"I'l IN sure it was fate sent me out on
th@ lake this afternoon, Dollie -
Boston Post.