The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-10-05
A MODEST
MAID
b. D. ". SPRINGER
Copyright BY American Press Assoc
citation. lsl.

she saiG she had an especial reason 70
> asking me. but didn't tell me what |
was. So one midsummer morning
took a train 10 make the visit. o.
reaching the station-l was not ex
pected tan an hour later-nOt hndtng
conveyance 10 meet me. l concluded q
7 leave my baggage at the station ans
walk. Never having been to Mrs
southwick's place before. ! was Obliges
20 inquire the way and was put on to I
short route. at the end OF which I could
enter the grounds at the a On
arrival l climbed a fence aud walked
some three or four hundred yards e
a elump Of trees. which was so invit'
ing that I concluded 10 penetrate II.
Right In the middle there was swung
a hammock. and In the hammock lay q
young girl asleep.
Now. a young girl asleep In a ham
mock Is a pretty sight at any time. but
n pretty and In a shaded nook she
Is tempting. This M was very pretty.
There was about her that relaxation
artists love 70 get In their pictures and
statuary. There was a slow heaving Of
her breast. Her mouth was partly open.
showing a narrow line Of ivory be-
tween a pair Of pink coral lips
Well. though the natural onse-
quence Of a young mar seeing a girl
thus defenseless before him h that be
cannot resist the temptation to kiss
her and get his ears boxed-not for
his pains. but his pleasure will en-
deavor to describe what happened l
advanced a step al a time. and with
every step forward took ten back
ward IN my resolution not 70 dishon-
estly steal what did not belong 20 me
I reached a point but a yard from the
sleeper without waking her. She wal
slumbering 30 calmly that for some
time I dared not proceed farther for
fear Of awakening her. Had she slept
more soundly I might have been
holder. But while hating ! was grad
ually flling with bravery-or reckless
AS soon as I had gathered
enough courage for the purpose I ad-
vanced another step or two. halted
then bent down to see how near I
could bring my face to hers without
Weakening her. then touched my nps
70 hers.
Beyond a slight spasmodic move
she remained the same. Within
a single moment I experienced dread
and reassurance The girl slept on. and
I. having achieved my purpose. be-
suddenly conscious OF the
frfghtful risk I had run and was
seized with a desire TO escape the con-
sequences or my ofense. I withdrew
IS stealthily as possible and proceed
"a 70 the house
I was received by Mrs S0uthwick
With a hearty welcome. and we sat
together on wicker chairs on the
,iazza. And now that you are here"
he said. -and while We are alone I
will give you my reason for inviting
Tou down 1 have a wife picked out
or you"
"A wifeF'
-Yes. a very lovely girl. modest. IN
issuming. prefty-lndeed. everything
hat is maidenly."
And ali this r. for meY"
Eyes. but you must proceed with her
cry slowly. She Is sensitive. pure.
he least advance before an oHer OF
marriage would undeniably shock her"
For heavens saker' I exclaimed In
Suppose she should DO the
fri asleep 10 the hammock"
1T Is this maidenly mOdesty." con.
Inued the go-between. that h Edith's
hief charm. I am sure that alone Il
nough to make you love her"
7 dare say" ! replied. with proper =
Offences.
w5en I was presented to Miss Edith
ireer I felt the guilt Of Judas lscariot
up 10 me. grew red and pale
y turns. stammered out a few
that didn't e anything. I
II down before she or Mrs. South.
lick had seated herself and Jump
] up ~ n ] had encountered a tack
the cushion. Meanwhile Miss Greer
God with her eyes bent on the floor
II ! were the first young man she
Id ever met. Mrs. southwlck zane
the rescue BY inviting Us into the
ming DON for luncheon.
The fact that the young lady dis
aged nc such embarrassment as she
light have done had she been sensi.
9 Of the kiss ! bad stolen. that she
.ither appeared shocked nor lndlg-
INT. brought a return Of confidence.
lound Der rather too unsopbisticated;
II. as Mrs. SOuthwick had said. her
was her chief charm. Az
'ticed this ! shuddered at the enor.
Ity Of my odense in pressing those
ire lips With mine and gave frequent
that the piracy had not been
Z
Mrs. Southwick made the match she !
The only difficulty in the
was that the young lady was 50
'eetly Innocent that It seemed a
to me TO propose 70 her.
ally got out a proposition. and.
ougb AT drst she said she was too
ing and too inexperienced 10 trust
10 any a since she regard.
me the soul Of honor she would
mmit herself to my keeping.
rhe denouement Of a love story
ualiy comes With a wedding. In
a case IL comes NJ n tin uoddfno