{1 Rose of Womanhood 
     
    
   
   
    
     “ Do not be afraid of me. I am a 
     
     friend, and I do not wish to disturb or 
     
     annoy you in any way.” 
     
    

    
     She seemed to hesitate a moment. Then 
     
     she lifted a little slate that hung at her 
     
     belt, wrote something on it rapidly, and 
     
     held it out to him. He read, in a small 
     
     distinctive handwriting, 
     
    

    
     “ I am not afraid of you now. Mother 
     
     told me that all strange men were very 
     
     wicked and dangerous, but I do not think 
     
     you can be. I have thought a great deal 
     
     about you, and I am sorry I ran away the 
     
     other night.” 
     
    

    
     He realized her entire innocence and 
     
     simplicity. Looking earnestly into her 
     
     still troubled eyes he said, 
     
    

    
     “ I would not do you any harm for the 
     
     world. All men are not wicked, although 
     
     it is too true that some are so. My name 
     
     is Eric Marshall and I am teaching in the 
     
     Lindsay school. You, I think, are Kil- 
     
     meny Gordon. I thought your music so 
     
     very lovely the other evening that I have 
     
    
   
   
    
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