Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-03-10
CHAPTER ".
RATE HAg Az ADVENTURE

So Miss Baldcrat tones romance was
crushed In the bud ere IL had attained
maturity, and she set out for Brighton
TO enjoy her wc'l-carncd holiday, but
not before she had seen 10 the departure
OF mndcmOisCllr and her young charge
for the farmhouse near Chcrtscy on the
Thnmcs.
England boasts no faircr scene thnn
the banks Of this beautiful river, wind
ing among grassy meadows and vcrdant
woodlands, and Willoughby farmhouse
was just the large, rambling, old-fash
Toned, picturesque building In which 10
get the most enjoyment out Of the love.
~ landscape. Moreover John Harlow,
Its ycoman owner, and Dame Deborah,
iswifc, seemed 10 have been especially
fitted by Providence TO dispense its hos.
pitalitics-to say nothingof their brown.
armed, bluc-cycd daughter Nellie
whose rustic beauty might have made
her the heroine of u pastoral poem
To Knto Grahamc tho quiet retire.
mcnt OF this lovely spot was ns heal
ing balm, bringing color TO her checks
and peace 10 her mind, though must
confess that Mile. Campignon, who re.
gnrdcd n COW as wild animal with
chronic designs on her personal safety,
and dreaded even covering the tips
Of her toes with the morning dew,
pinned for ,hc gay streets and brilliant
boulcvards Of her ndorcd Paris.
The days llcw 10y with winged speed
Old Cmsar, the housc-dog, u lincal dc.
sccndant Of the famous mustiirs Of tho
llnlNntr Nftl1 "a
girl under his especial patronage, and
woe-bctidc the tramp who should dare
To modest her in their daily scampcrs
down grassy lanes or lonely country.
roads.
II was Caesar, however, who brought
her into the vortex OF her first advcn.
ture In this scene of Arcadian simple.
ity, where ono would think that
u young lady would he ms free from
startling incidents as though she were
immurcd In the walls of wcll-rcgula-
ted schoolroom, and 1t happened In this
way.
which meant that she was anxious to
retire TO u hammock under the apple.
trees In the orchard and feast her soul
ON the thrilling incidents Of n French
novel, Of which she always pictured
herself as the heroine - and Kate and
her four footed friend started on ram.
bic down tho river bank. IL was a
lovely morning for u walk, for, though
the July sun shone with unwonted ra.
diance, fresh western breeze famed
the air and made tiny white.caps on the
ruiiled stream.
Kate stood on little knoll enjoying
the pretty landscape her hand resting
ON the great dogs head, when-whifTl
a gust OF wind swept the dainty straw
hat from her head, whirlcd II like
Kite in the air, AMI dropped IL ignomin.
iously into the rliddle OF the current,
where the small eddies played around
1t and bore II 'triumphantly TO the weir,
hundred yards below, lodging II at
last In u little island OF willows Just
above the n mature Niagara.
The girl, little mouo Of comical
distress, appealed to the mastif for
assistance, but the honest fellow re-
sponded with mute reproach in his
brown eyes, us much MS 10 say that he
was not that kind Of n dog at all.
Fetch It, CMsarl Fetch II, sirl" she
cried impaticntly stamping her foot
lie bounded round her and barkcd,
but made no effort TO recover her lost
headgcar; but in his gnmbols he APP
preached the verge OF the high bank,
and Kate, vcNed ut his stupidity, gave
him push which sent him with great
splash into the stream. Cpsar was
strong and superb swimmer, but, Ike
his Saxon ancestors, was might "
afraid OF cold bath, and instead OF
striking boldly out into the river, made
Intellectual attempts to scale the prcci.
pice, only succeeding, however, In pull.
ing down the red clay into the water
and eXt,austing himself In his frantic
EFFORTS. In vain Kate ran 10 shall
lower spot and called him; her cries
only urged him TO wilder struggles
Then she got frightened, and tears Of
distress began TO roll down her cteelis,
while the dog gave piteous howl and
sank back into the river with hardly
strength enough left TO mako way
against the stream.
II was just ht this critical moment
that u young man leaped lightly over
ssilo and ran swiftly up TO her. Her
whole mind was concentrated on the
drnw ling doR,. and she hardly yeueh-