Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-13

| u,
pocket and the other meditatively at his
say" he repeated.
Dick flushed, but Judith grew positively
scarlet. The intense blush seemed to spread
into her very eyes, and they REDEEMED ON
inously.
"You are entirely mistaken" she said, in
the small, still voice which is generally sup
posed to be monopolized by. conscience.
! Richard is half inch taller than myself.
We were measured only last June"
'Perhaps you have grown some since"
suggested Boughton, quite unmoved.
"Not in grace, eh, Judyl" put in the boy,
good-naturedly coming to the rescue.
you've got her in perfect temper, Cousin
Phil"
How can you speak so, Dickl" cried Ju-
dith, turning upon him, and dropping the
kitten, which fell with furry bounce upon
| the polished floor. 81 see that you have
even less consideration than before you
went away. And, besides, you know very
well that you are half inch taller than
| am"
"Suppose we test it, said Boughton, who
somehow felt an unaccountable pleasure in
exasperating her. Perhaps he was revel-
| ing in the delight of taking the superior
pose in his turn. Here's a good book to
measure with. If you will stand back to
back with your brother"
All the blush was IN her eyes now. Her
face had grown quite pale.
"You are insulting" she said, with her
,eeIh shut, and walked out OF the room.
This was a greet deal more than Bough-
ton had expected. He stood staring after
her with the book still in his hand, and then
opened it blankly and looked IN 1t as if for
an explanation. 1t was volume of Miss
Hannah More's private devotions, and so
he closed it and replaced it on the little Ia
BILE whence he had taken it.
"Don't you mind her." said Dick, easily.
''She's always twice es sweet after one OF
| her tantrums."
This seemed in truth to be the case. She
came in to dinner as suave as May, and
took her seat beside Philip with smile.
SHOW cross DO you think am!'' she said,
leaning toward him, and making a cushion
for her round chin with her palms, her
elbows being on the table.
81 am afraid was very provoking" he
said, eagerly. 81 am sorry; will you for
give me?"
She said nothing, but went on smiling, so
he took his forgiveness for granted, and
partOOk of more green goose with light
heart.
Now, it was very dangerous to take any
thing for granted with this young lady,
especially when there were little sparks OF
vermilion in her eyes, as there were to-
night. But Phil could not possibly have
known this; the smile she bestowed upon
HIM was so enchanting that he did not look
higher, and so noticed nothing peculiar
about the eyes.
;o1-, - nd
the next day all three went out for a walk.
This ramble happened to be very eventfuL
| may as well state that there occurred the
e-honored episode with the bull, but
Boughton neither transixed the Infatuated
animal with a pitchfork, nor leveled it
with a well-aimed blow from his muscular
fist
1t happened this way. They were pass
ing through what was then known at Cary
lon as the "Mill-Meadow," when peculiar
kind of rumbling noise attracted their at
tention. Dick was the first to look back
''Good heavens Judy" said he, tits Prid-
dies bull"
SIS itl" said Judith, losing color for an in
slant, and following the direction of his
eyes. eyes, it is, and not fence within
two hundred yards. Oil what are we to
doc"
81 tell you," said Boughton, straighten-
ing himself and feeling an abominable
clutch in the hollow between his ribs, run
as hard as you can, while Dick and L
Why, where is Dick!' he said, blankly.
''Tm-going -for-Priddier ' came back in
broken bits over the shoulder of the flying
youth. "He can-manage-himr"
Boughton said nothing. He turned again
to Judith.
''That's all right. Run, now, as fast as
you can, and can easily keep him off with
stones until Priddie comes"
"And leave you here for that brute to
gore and trample!" said Judith, bristling in
q moment 81 see myselfP' she added, with
fine scorn.
All this time the bull was making ire
mendous tow row, and using one of his horns
as q plowshare. He was coming nearer,
too. They could see his little red eyes dis
tinctly.
judith, 1 beg of you," said Boughton,
giving her not gentle push.
"Well, 1 WILL she said, suddenly.
She lifted her walking-skirt, and with
quick gesture slipped off the red balmoral
petticoat which she wore underneath. This
she took in her hand and started of at
long, even run, before Boughton well real
was within fifty yards of his bullship, she
gave view-halloa which did more credit to
her lungs than the occasion, and flourlshed
the red skirt in the air.
Boughton's heart did actually stand still
He gave dragging breath, got the best of
his horror, which was inclined to make him
weakened, and started off after the girl.
But the brute was before him, laundering
on at great numbering pace, only stopping
now and then to plow the ground with that
ugly left horn of his.
Away went this modern Europa in the
direction Of the nearest fence. Half way
between 1t and her pursuer she dropped the
red petticoat, and this his eminence tarrieo
awhile to toss and worry and mix with the
red clay.
Boughton had an awful fancy which he
had no time fortunately TO countenance.
He seemed to see Judith being trampled and
mangled in the same fashion as her pretty
skirt, by those brute feet and horns. But, |
thank Heaven it was only the next instant !
that she reached the fence and literally |
rolled over into the next field.
Then, for the first time looking back, she |
saw him.
"Get overI Get ov-eri-quickr' she |
called, in what voice remained to her. SIT |
no SECS you ne Wll-klu you-ohl -"
This as Boughton just managed to put the |
rails of the old snake fence between him
self and the bull, who rushed along bel |
lowing like bovine demon, with his tail an |
exact reproduction of Hogarth's line of |
beauty.
"The-straw-staclks," Judith painted, as
Boughton reached her. ''He may-tear-
that-fence-all to-bIts 70
He took her hand, and they ran together
to group of straw stacks some ten yards
T. ~