Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-02-24

now lay across wide meadows filled
with lush grass and starred here and
there by purple asters and skirted by
low stone walls in whose crumbling
chinks vines twisted and across whose
loose stones squirrels skipped and
chartered.
Bravo. old glrlw cried Tellingford,
his hand cal Fleetfoot's glossy neck.
gently urging her forward. At that
moment there reached him sharply and
piercingly the bitter cry Of child.
Tellingford drew rein. BY the wall.
cirtling ditch that FleetfOOt was
about to take. lay small. chubby
figure. one hand full Of flowers.
"Pricked himself with brambles."
thought Tellingford Aloud he said:
"Cheer up. sonny! Men never cry
for scratch He was fol- urging
FleetfOot on again when the inertness
Of the little heap by the wall smote
home to him. He checked his horse
and dismounted. An instant later he
stood with the helpless burden in his
arms. The child's yellow head rested
against his shoulder. One small arm
hung limp across his own. With an
understanding almost human, Fleet
foot stood by the wall like bronze
statue while TeilingfOrd mounted and
then went slowly back across the
meadows toward the road. The child,
recovering from his stupOr, began to
Sob Tellingford soothed him with
tender awkwardness and was guiding
Fleetfoot to the first farmhouse by the
roadside when woman ran down the
path leading to the door, untying her
checked apron rs she went. Her back
was toward the approaching trio.
Bobby" she cried. Bobby!
The boy stirred in Tellingford's arms.
II think l have found your boy, mad
am" called TellingfOrd gently and In
three seconds more was speeding for
the village physician. The sounds Of
the hunt had long since died in the dis
lance
1t was afternoon when Tellingford
reached the Lauderdales. From the
dining room came sounds OF talking
and laughter. In the h"'l he met Elm
lily Lauderdale. There as look on
her face that he had never seen before.
I'm awfully sorry" he began. abrupt
ly twisting the crop Of his riding whip
in his hand. but you see"- He paused
and could 60 no further. He was
man who always found it easy to tell
of the good deeds of others. but balk-
ed miserably when 1t came to the re-
cital Of his own. He muttered some.
thing inarticulate about loose stones, a
muddy ditch and a bad fall.
Emily Lauderdale surveyed him
with cool scorn.
For a muddy fall your coat is the
most conspicuously spotless garment
that have ever seen." she returned
dryly.
"Oh. l say" began Tellingford, but
Emily swept past him. her head held
high. That he had not cared to win
was evident. but that he should add to
that humiliation with excuses was
more than she could bear. She was
glad, she told herself, that 1t was Graf
plant. Yet in spite Of this gladness
there was a singing mist in her eyes
and bitter catch In her throat as she
sat before her dressing table that night
while Katie, the maid, brushed her
hair.
Everything had gone wrong that
day in big things as we'll as in little.
Even the gown she had planned to
wear that evening had been left unfin.
ished. and she was forced to repri
mand Katie somewhat sharply.
Katie burst into tears. She had
meant to finish it. she confessed. but
that morning the child Of her sister,
who lived on the road to the village
slipped on the muddy stones of ditch
and broke his arm, and Katie, instead
of sewing on the gown. had gone to see
how he Jared.
not so. ma'am." she concluded tear
fully. ""Twas he that found Bobby
and carried him home and went for
the doctor afterward."
OF the truth Of this assertion Miss
Lauderdale questioned nothing.
do you know where Mr. Telling
ford Is now?" she demanded.
Indeed l do. ma'am. He's hidden
your aunt goodby and is halfway to
the station"
"Then tell James to saddle Dolly
Dumping instantly and bring her to
the side door,"
Katie gasped and obeyed, while
Emily Lauderdale. throwing scarf
about her shoulders, ran down the
stairs to the driveway, her silken din
ner gown swishing at every step.
Tellingford meantime rode toward
the station. his lips set In thin, hard
line. He found himself mentally re-
peating his mornings advice to Bobby.
"Men never cry at scratch" when
behind him came the flying gallOp of
hoofs. TellingfOrd was blank with
amazement at the vision Of Emily
Lauderdale. hatless and coatless and
in evening dress. tearing down the
road. Straight alongside the cart she
came and held out her hand.
III you can forgive and forget" she
painted, land If you still care
Care" cried Tellingford. jerking on
his overcoat and wrapping 1t about her
after she had impetuOusly slipped from
her horse and clambered into the cart
"All l can say Is. Heaven bless Bob
byv"
And the haxen haired young person
In q suit of white satin was page at
wedding in the spring.