i. 



THE It^JF 



.. 0F JPJIE 7IZ>FEC!S. 



Dr. Edward J. Tucker. 



Chapter II. 



THE FATE THAT RULES FOR GOOD OR 

 EVIL THE LIVES OF ALL MEN. 



With a sigh I turned to retrace my 

 steps home, all inclination for shooting 

 having vanished, when my eyes fell on 

 the unlucky hat lying on the sward. 

 With a cry of delight I seized it and 

 bounded in the direction the maiden 

 had taken. She was still limping pain- 

 fully along. I called, but she refused 

 to turn at the sound of my voice. 



"Here is your hat, Miss," I said, 

 holding it toward her. "You have 

 forgotten it again." 



She took the hat and looked at me 

 coldly. I walked by her side some mo- 

 ments in silence, admiring her face and 

 figure, when she paused and inquired : 



" Are you going in this direction ?" 



" I am," I replied. 



" Very well," she said, freezingly. "I 

 am tired, and will sit on this stone and 

 rest, while you continue your journey." 



" I was only going this way because 

 it was your direction. You are lame ; 

 will you not allow me to assist you 

 home ?" 



"I can go home alone." 



" I live only a little way over yonder 



hill, and can have a carriage here in 15 

 minutes, if you will permit me." 



" I am able to walk ; besides, I have 

 not far to go before I shall obtain assist- 

 ance." 



e Look here, Miss," I said, pleas- 

 antly, " I am sorry for what I said, but 

 you goaded me to it." 



" You are like all men ; you blame 

 women for your own misdeeds." 



I was deeply offended and, without 

 another word or look, turned and re- 

 traced my steps. I threw myself on the 

 bank of the creek and wondered who 

 the young girl was. I surmised she 

 must belong in the city, which was some 

 two miles away. Then I realized how 

 impossible it would be for her to walk 

 that distance with her lame foot. 

 Springing to my feet, I hurried up the 

 road with the intention of procuring a 

 carriage, and again offering to take her 

 home. I had not proceeded far when I 

 met Steve driving down the road in the 

 only carriage we owned. 



I disliked to hail him, after the alter- 

 cation of that morning, but I wished to 

 be of service to the obstinate little 

 stranger, even at the expense of my 

 pride, so as he drew up, I said : 



" I was just hurrying home to get the 

 carriage ; can you let me have it ?" 



