The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-26
BY
MRS. BAILLIE REYNOLDS
Author OF
Author OF
The 0a3ssuno Tesl," "a RhAatOa wife, etc.
Copyright 1910
By George H. Doran Company

ments on his back" returned Jem.
But I don't see why you shouldn't
mention it."
81 want to forget it," said Vernon.
ST DON'T" said Jem.
you don't?" she inquired incredu-
lousy.
mo. I dare say you've heard how
it is sometimes with chaps who are
dying with thirst at sea. They want
to drink salt water, though they know
as we'll as they know anything in this
world that it will not quench their
thirst--that it will kill them, or send
them mad. But you would hold
back man from drinking salt water
if you could. wouldn't YOU, even if he
felt it was the one thing on earth he
wanted. Well. felt to you that night
as man delirious with thirst might
feel towards the person who came
and prevented his drinking salt wa
ter"
AS he spoke he changed his posi-
ton, rolling over so that he was lying
face downwards, on his elbows. He
took up a tiny stick, and began to
punch hole in the turf. Vernon
sat up. There was a question trem-
bling on her tongue. but she could not
ask it. 1t came over her sharply. as
she sat there, that he was making a
curious conference.-the his speaking
IS he had done meant that he was
paying her the honor of being sincere
with her; that he wished to make her
understand something. She knew
moreover, that, if what she believed
him to mean were true, a load would
be lifted from her mind, and their
intercourse would rest upon better.
truer footing. But she dared not
ask. and there was long silence. At
last he ventured, with a forlorn visit
fitness:
do you understand"
I'm not sure" said Vernon, under
her breath. What / want to know
is-Did / do it? Did 7 prevent your
drinking-salt water?''
He turned his face to her then. His
eyes were full of a gravity that show
ed how much the moment meant for
him.
"Once and for ALL" he said simply,
She turned her face away, for she
could not. control it. He must not
see the two tears that rushed to her
eyes and overlooked upon her cheek.
How good they had been to her, those
spirits of the Waste and Weald! They
had seemed to deceive her, to decoy
her from her road, to make her their
sport and dupe through the long nigh,
hours of her wandering. But all the
time they had been leading her, as
an envoy is led blindfold through the
mazes of the enemy's Notifications
till she stood just where she was
meant to stand, at the very moment
that she had to be there. She had
reached Barrow End in time.
That was what she had craved to
know. That was the question that
had embittered every glance she mel
from her kind aunt, who knew notf-
ing. And now the stone was rolled
away. She knew that Jem was safe
and she had not thought so. She
had decided that between them lay
a barrier that no friendship could
pierce. He had taken his chance 70
tell her of what meant so much to
him. Now there was no obstacle
which could not be removed, between
| him and his love for little Selma
you thought-not?" he asked
huskily. after a long interval.
II did not know she stumbled
But am very glad. Oh, Mr.. Bard.
sley-I beg your pardon
She spoke with humility, doubtful.
| ~, pleadingly.
That's funny thing, from you te
me-" said Jem. ct should have
thought the boot was on the other
Leg"
| This cross colloquiaIism seemed the
one thing that could have saved hel
from sentimentality. She burst into
a little laugh of sheer relief.
| "Oh,-there they comet she cried
There are the baby swans! Why
there are five of them!" and spring,
ing from her seat, she went down te
the waters edge, and succeeded ii
mopping the two ridiculous tears be-
fore Jem saw them.
/ She could hear that he had risen
| and followed her Here" he said
holding out his hand with something
in it, 81 brought some bits of bread
for you to entice them with
why, how thoughtful of you!" she
responded gratefully.
| And there followed an amusing hall
hour, of coaxing the shy wild birds
And at last 1t was one of the ugly
scraggy, mouse-colored babes who
first dared touch a floating morsel
and gobbied it with rapture. Tha
was enough for papa and mamma
They thrust aside their helpless in
fants,and devoured the delicious frag
ments with a most unseemly eager
ness, making Jem and Vernon chucklt
with appreciation.
| "Look at your watch" she said a