RECREA TION. 



3ii 



any one was within bailing distance, and 

 in that moment I realized how impossible 

 it would be to look into those eyes and 

 not tell the truth. I hesitated, and she 

 cautiously descended the bank. 



Suddenly I heard a cry, and in another 

 instant was beside the girl, who was lay- 

 ing close to the hat. 



"Are you hurt, Miss ?" I asked. 



" No — that is, I don't know — I fear I 

 am, for I am unable to rise." 



"Oh, I trust it is not so bad. Do try 

 and get up." 



She made the effort, but fell back in 

 a faint. I became thoroughly alarmed, 

 and seizing her in my arms, bore her to 

 the top of the bank and tenderly laid 

 her on the softest and greenest piece of 

 sward I could find. I clapped her hands 

 and rubbed her temples. Then I be- 

 thought me of water, and hurrying down 

 to the brook filled my hat, returned, 

 and gently bathed her face. She now 

 opened her eyes and gazed around 

 wonderingly. I was so overcome with 

 joy at her recovery, that I kissed her be- 

 fore I realized what I was doing. 



"Prithee, friend," she said, pushing 

 me aside; " not so fast." 



"I beg your pardon, Miss," I stam- 

 mered. " I was so overjoyed at your 

 recovery, I knew not what I did." 



"You should be a physician and 

 apply your art to the restoration of all 

 fainting females." 



I bowed meekly, but could not reply. 

 She glanced at me from under her 



arched eyebrows and made another at- 

 tempt to rise, which drew forth a cry of 

 pain. In an instant I was kneeling be- 

 side the wounded member. 



" Let me see if your leg is broken ; I 

 have some knowledge of surgery." 



She drew back, indignantly. " No, 

 sir ; my lee; is not broken, otherwise I 

 should not be able to move it. I stepped 

 on a loose stone and turned my ankle, 

 which is merely sprained. If you will 

 bring some water I will bathe it." 



I did so, and stood at a respectful dis- 

 tance. Presently she looked up, and 

 said : 



" If you are a doctor, as you pretend, 

 you may bandage my foot. Then I 

 think lean limp home, with your assist- 

 ance." 



I silently obeyed, using my handker- 

 chief for a bandage. She praised the 

 manner in which I did the work, and 

 wondered if she had been one of my 

 dogs if I should have been as long about 

 it. 



Then rising, she said, in a dignified 

 tone : 



" I am deeply grateful for your kind- 

 ness, doctor ; I require your services no 

 longer. Send in your bill to my father, 

 please." 



I stood watching her as she moved 

 away, hoping she would recall me. As 

 she crossed the bridge, she paused a 

 moment to look at the turbid waters 

 below, then passed on without deigning 

 to glance in my direction. 



[to be continued.] 



Jinx was a clerk in a dry-goods store, 

 But he couldn't keep the pace, 



For a girl who would work for less 

 Meanly beat him out of his place. 



Later on he asked her to wed, 

 And the girl was nothing loath ; 



So now he is even at last, 



For she is supporting them both. 



G. B. 



