The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11

lightly on his great coat-sleeve and
giving ear to the old sailors profuse
and stately compliments with as COM
posed q c0untenance as if he We're re-
citing the multiplication table. l
limped at a good distance behind. my
books under nv arm and my cap drawn
closery down over my sulky face.
Just as I was watching the red
tassel and one end of the blue COM
forter. having been blown together by
gust of sleety wind, dancing and
flirting in the most INDIGENOUS manner
behind their wearcrS' backs, there rose
shout behind us.
The bull! Look out! The bull,' /
knew the meaning of that cry too well.
| knew what ferociouS animal it was
that Farmer Ingram kept stalled up in a
corner of the lot through which we
were passing. In summer we school
children always Stunned this pasture,
but through the winter the bull was kept
in confinement and l had entertained
no thought OF peril How well | re-
member that Instant There was no
time for dreaming then. The spark o:
manhood in nv blood burst into flame
looked upon life and death. and honor
outshone them both. | felt strange
cxultation and complete self-poSsession.
The furious beast, its tail erect and head
bent low, maddened by the sight OF the
red cloak, was rushing full upon Miss
Lincoln. who had but just caught sight
of it and stood pale Is a ghost, helpless
from utter terror. Throwing down my
| books, hurried toward her as fast as
my hobbling limb; would carry me. |
could not play even the hero gracefully,
you see. My grandfather turned his
head at the same time and without the
pause of an instant. old as he was.
whirled his mighty cane above his head
and dashed across the snow to meet the
bull. But his foot slipped on the CLASSY
crust and he fell heavily, the cane be-
ing thrown Intellectually from his hand
right before the feet of the relieved
brute, who trampled him rs he plunged
onward, without pauSing. toward the
helpless girl. | remember thinking even
then, in the Supreme moment of pcrilS
what shameful bigotry it was in the
prejudiced creature to fly into such a
passion with any one for offending his
fastidiouS taste in dress. / saw but one
course of action open before me, not
dignified nor glorious, but perhaps capa-
BILE of saving wOman's life. \ boy
could not fight; a cripple could not run;
| but | was Il light little fellow and might
possibly slide safely down the bank and
out upon the ice, where Mr.. Bull would
find it embarrassing to follow.
Quicker than the thought, L had torn
the obnoxious scarlet cloak from the
teachers shoulders, and, holding it by
the tassel, fiouriShed it so Extensively in
the animals eyes is he drew near that
he swerved from his path, with a low
snort OF fury. and directed his charge at
once against myself. who had lclpt as
far away from Miss Lincoln as l could.
| scrambled back to the very edge OF
the embankment and even as | felt the
hot breath of the beast upon my face,
threw my heels over my head with a
shrill, deriSive hoOt, and, curlei into Il
ball, still clinging to the cloak, rolled
down the steep incline and out upon the
river. The eXasperated bull pitched
headlong after me, tloundered mo-
meHt in the drifts, through whose crust
he broke forthwith, and. rendered
frantic by his obstinate and ugly wrath,
blind to everything except that tluttcr-
ing red rag, rushed heavily out upon
the thin sheet of ice, which crashed and
gave way beneath him. In one instant
more he was caught as in trap, the
greater part of his body immersed in
the bitter cold water and jagged edges
of ice cutting his tough hide at every
struggle.
Well! That was all There was
nothing more for me to do but rub my
poor lame legs and hobble up the bank
again. felt that | did not cut exactly
heroic figure. as l crapt YEARLY across
the snow, leaving Farmer Ingram and
his men to extricate the believing bull,
which was in danger of drowning itself
by its impatient plunges. My only re-
gret was that the red tassel had been
wrenched from the cloak. found Miss
Lincoln, her eyes flooded with grateful
tears, supporting my grandfather, who
was much shaken by the excitement and
the fall. and more severely hurt than
any of us as yet surnised by the tramp
ling he had undergone
As limped up to them, hat crushed
and jacket awry, brushing OF the
patches of snow from clothes with one
hand, while in the other still graSped
the cloak and tassel, Miss Lincoln, tC
my CONSERVATION, threw her arms about
my neck and kissed me.
You are the dearest little boy in the
world, Ralph" she cried, with no trace
of the spelling-book left il her eager
speech, ''how can ever thank you?"
But 1 think a finer thrill passed
through my frame, when the white
haired sea Captain, for the first time il
our two lives, gave me his honored hanC
and said in those deep tones, never be
fore so gracious to my ears:
well done, my grandson. 1t wa:
the deed of a Rainford.
Nv log has burned to ashes. / mus
light my chamber candle and 90 TO bed
There is nothing more to tell, unles:
YOU care to hear that when l was actu
ally confronted with the question,
found it easier to ask Miss Lincoln fol
the red taSsel than for her hand, anC
my grandfather for 4 medical education
|, than permission to set up housekeeping
why do you choose to be a doctor
Ralph?" he queried, not unkindly.
What better use can / make of my
brains, since they are all of the Rainfort
in me, than by setting them to the hell
of other poor fellows, who may be in a;
hard Il case as mine?" / answered il
the shrill tone that penetrated his dul
ears most readily.
LAY, az, that's true" he responded
musingly, your eyes have a flash Tx,
Your fathers. Ralph. 1t is the spirit
after all, that makes the man"
And my poor grandfather, who never