Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-11-29

foot firmly. almost reverently. against
his knee.
He drew the velvet shoe softly off.
n turning 1t upside down, shook out
the i~ntruding cinders. put a clumsy
finger in to make sure they were all
gone; then shyly. tenderly, passed his
hand over the sole Of the fine, silk
stockinged foot that rested so lightly
on his knee. to make sure no cinders
c!ung to 1T. The sight and touch Of
that little foot stirred him deeply. He
had never before peer called upon to
render service so intimate to any wom-
and, and he did it now with half avert
ed gaze and the utmost respect in his
manner; AS he did 1t he tried to speak
about the morning, the departing train,
the annoying cinders. anything to make
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raised, the more SO because of his own
double part in this queer masquerade.
Celia sat watching him, strangely
stirred. Her wonder over his kindness
grew with each moment, and her pref
udices almost dissolved. She could not
understand 1t. There must be some
thing more he wanted OF her. for
George Haync had never been kind in
the past unless he wanted sometime of
her.
She dreaded lest she should soon find it
out. Yet he did not look ike a man who
was decelv1ng her. She drew a deep
sigh. IL only it Were true, and he were
good and kind, and had never written
those awful letters! How good and dear
1T would be to be tenderly cared for
this way! Her lips dropped at the cor
ners, and her eyelids dropped in COM
panE with the sigh; then Gordon looked
up in great distress.
in his attempt to fasten the little pearl
buttons. II ave been cruel to let you
get off the train..'
Indeed I'm not" said the girl,
nrightenlng with sudden effort. At
while it lasted. 1t was surely better
than what she had feared.
You never can button those shoes
with your fingers" she laughed, as he
redoubled his efforts to capture a tiny
disc of pearl and set it into its small
velvet socket Here! I have a button
hook in my handbag. Try this"
She produced a small silver instru-
ment from a gold-link bag ON her arm
and handed 1t to him. He took it help
lessly. trying first n end and then
the other, and succeeding with neither.
Here. let me-show you" she laughed,
pulling OFF one glove. Her white fingers
grasped the silver button hook, and
flashed in and out OF the velvet holes,
knitting the little shoe to the foot in no
time. He watched the process in humble
wonder. and she would not have been a
human girl not to have been flattered
with his interest and admiration. For
the minute h forgot who and what
he was. and let her laugh ring out mer-
rily; and so with shy audacity he as
sayed to take off the other shoe.
They really felt quite we'll acquainted
and as IT they were going on a days
picnic, when they finally gathered up
their belongings and started down the
road. Gordon summoned all his ready
wit n intellect to brighten the walk
for her, though he found himself again
and again on the brink of referring to
his Washington life, or some other per-
sonal matter that would have brought
a wondering question to her lips. He
q decided that he must not tell her
who he was until he could put her in an
Independent position. where she could
get away from him at once IL she
chose. He was bound to look after her
until he could place her in good hands,
or at least where she could look after
herself. and 1t was better to carry 1t out
leaving her to think what she pleased
until he could tell her everything. IL all
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a Pittsburgh train that night and be in
Washington the X day. Then, his
message delivered. he would tell her
the whole story. Until then he must
hold his peace.
They went gaily down. the road. the
girls pale cheeks beginning to flush
with the morning n the exercise. She
was not naturally delicate, and her
faint the night, before had been the
result of a series of heavy strains on
a heart burdened with terrible fear.
The morning and his kindness had
made her forget for the time that she
world of dread and sacrifice.
"The years at the spring,
The days at the MORN"
quoted Gordon gaily.
Mornings at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled-"
He waved an umbrella off to where a
its jeweled grass blades thickly set.
The lark's on h wing;
The snails on the thorn"
went on Celia suddenly catching his
spirit, and pointing to a lark that dart
ed up into the blue with a trill Of h
morning in his throat.
Gordon turned appreciative eyes upon
her. 1t was good to have her take up his
favorite poet in that tone of voice-a
tone that showed she too knew and
loved Browning.
God in His heaven.
Ais right with the world"
finished Gordon In a quieter voice. look
ing STRAIGHT into her eyes. THAT seems
very true. today, doesn't it,"
The blue eyes wavered with a hint Of
shadow in them as they looked back
into h brown ones.
"Almost-perhaps." she faltered
wistfully.
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