The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-12-01

As Melinda talked half hysterically
to herself she was dressing ranidlv
finally slipping into the GOODNESS "
her black china silk gown. IF | am
dressed in black 10 one can see me
for the woods are dark" she shud
dered. IT. must take my pink shawl
black would look awful to a dyina
man-its 50 queer I can't think OF
Ernest a. anything except a little
boy!"
Quite forgetting to arrange her love
ly fair hair which hung 10 two lone
Dralds over her shoulders, just as she
mad fixed 1t for the night, Melinda
Chuffy, tjmid as a rabbit, fearful OF
ner own shadow, hurried downstairs
locked the side door behind her and
plunged into the velvet blackness OF
the night.
Woodside was a dairy farm and II
was situated at the other end of the
long strip Of woodland which had
been Melinda's dread In childhood
The woods bordered her orchard on
one side and through the wood was
wide, Well-made road much used
as short cut by automobiles in the
daytime, but at night 1t was not light.
ed and had lost none of its terrors
Tor Melinda Chuffy. Nevertheless.
she made directly for the road, almost
feeling her way until her feet were
set on Its hard smoothness. Then,
driven BY terror mingled with pity
FOR her old playmate. Melinda fairly
raced along the road, her eyes fixed
On the black darkness before her.
As she ran Melinda Chuffy repeat
ed over and over to herself a few
words: He never laughed at me
when was afraid-he always held
my hand i'm these woods-I mustn't
forget"
A. owl booted and whip-poor-will
uttered his cry close beside her; in-
sects Of the night added their chorus.
Twigs cracked, leaves furried, ana
the wings of night-fying birds almost
touched her as they passed. Bats
tapped around her unprotected head
and Melinda alternately prayed for
protection and repeated over and
again her broken words about Ernest
Bruce and his loyalty.
At last she stumbled up the steps
OF the farmhouse and sank q erlmp-
led little heap OF black SILK, pink
shawl and faxen breidg against the
door. There the Petersons found her
and carried her inside, adding anoth.
OF to the number OF their patients.
AS they carried her unconscious
form into the sitting-room tall,
broad-shouldered man with one arm
in sling, arose from the deep chair
where he had been sitting.
Another one?" he exclaimed, and
then coming forward and looking at
Melinda's sweet pale face intently he
stared UP at the Petersons That
must be Melinda Chuffyi" he cried,
taking their slender burden and lay
ing II tenderly on a couch. How
came she here?"
Mrs Peterson, q stout fair-haired
woman, driven out OF her few wits
by the unfortunate accident of the
evening that had made her unevent-
full home hospital, looked stupidity
at him and shook her head.
Miss Chuffy-why / guess I tele-
phoned her to come to you at once
I said you were on your way to see
her and dying and she must come
without delay You see, made a
mistake and got you mixed up with
that other gentleman who is so badly
injured names were all strange
to me and I did the best could"
"Of course you did. Mrs. Peterson
and we are all more than grateful"
assured Ernest Bruce as he leaned
over Melinda Chuffy whose white eye
lids were Pickering. do you sup
pose this little woman came all alone
through those dark woods to see me?"
he asked in an awed tone, but there
was no one to answer for the Peter
sons had departed for restoratives.
poor scared little Melinda" breath
ed Ernest Bruce, kneeling beside his
one-time playmate. III wonder ~ you
know that you are true sport after
all?" Melinda opened her eyes and
looked dreamily on the face SO near
her own, SO like the face Of tho little
boy she used to know.
'1 got here in time, Ernie" she
smiled tremblingly, contentedly let
ting her hand rest in his firm grasp.
'I came all the way here from Ohio
to ask you to marry me. Melinda"
he whispered. caressing one Of her
fair braids. Somehow couldn't
fancy any girl but you after all these
years and 7 was afraid to find that
you were married after all"
Melinda blushed and strange to say
she felt none OF the shrinking that
she had experienced with those other
suitors. "I never-wanted-t marry
anybody before" she whispered
shyly. III guess 7 was waiting for
you'll"
WMwAN. TMD GManh