The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-04-12

could "place him right" But the
elder Folsom didn't care to ''go in"
which was just as well, for Hastings
was only clerk in bucket shop and
couldn't have placed" a dollar
fright" to save his life. In truth,
the purchase and sale account of his
own daily dabblings in thousand
bushel lots of grain and the ten-share
transactions in blackboard Stocks"
was woeful thing to see, and kept
him on the ragged edge of penury.
But I guess he was engaged to
marry Medora all right enough. Girls
are so queer.
When the week of the horse show
came, Medora wanted to go. This
was not only natural, but quite rea-
.sonable. When a girl trims her own
hats and has to be economical in buy
ing new gowns, the horse show be-
comes great school of technical ed
ucation. There is so much more in
congregated life to see, you know,
than horses.
Now John, good John, when he
learned of this natural, reasonable as
piration of Medora, promptly offered
to take not only that young lady, but
her mother, TOP. This overture Me-
dora declined with frigid thanks. Mr..
Hastings (of the board of trade)
could take her, she said. But Mr..
Hastings didn't. He was particular
ly close to shore that week.
"Medora, DEAR said the artful
one, 1--WE will save our pennies to
furnish Our own little nest, darling.
Horse shows cost money.
"Well, there is the chrysanthemum
show pouted Medora, "and today
the roses are on view. That's cheap
enough, if one goes in street car
Lets go to the flower show in
Lincoln park, dearest" said Aylmer.
Every little we save now will help
us a good deal later on"
Therefore Medora dearest went
with Aylmer to see the flowers in
Lincoln park.
The flowers were really superb.
The day was fair. In the intoxica-
ton of sun and perfume apd youth
Medora grew radiant. She began al
most to believe she loved Aylmer and
as his wife would be happy.
They strolled out of the conserva-
tories into the bright November air
and soon, without purpose, found
themselves part of the great crowd
which had turned its eager steps into
the animal house, where the mon.
keys, the elephants and the reptilia
have summer house. Head Keeper
Cy DeVry was experimenting the re-
moval of his pet serpents to winter
quarters. A Gordon of policemen kept
the crowded spectators at safe dis
tance. The keeper used long stick
with a running moose on its end to
snare the snakes. Then he thrust
them into a padded barrel, covered it
with q bur1ap sack. aud attendants
rolled II away.
All were disposed of but Satan, the
huge diamond-back rattlesnake. He
seemed apathetic in the chilly air.
The keeper noosed and lifted. The
great snake writhed viciously. The
moose slipped and he fell upon the
floor. In an instant the huge crea-
ture was in coil, his menacing warn
ing sounded in short rattle, and he
darted his deadly fangs at tile keeper.
There was a wild panic. Policemen
and crowd alike fed for the doors.
They were closed. Against them
burst this furious, impetuous, unrea-
soning crush of men and women in
fear. The weak were trampled. The
strong struck vicious blows at those
who opposed them.
At the first burst of alarm Medora,
who had stood quite near the keeper,
grew deadly pale. Then, as she re-
membered that she was leaning upon
her Aylmer's protecting arm, her
heart gave an exultant leap of pride
and confidence. His strength was
hers. He would save her, if he could.
If not-well, they could die together.
But as the girl looked up into her
lovers face she saw it had grown
ashen. His lips were aquiver. She
felt the shaking of the arm her fingers
touched. He pushed her roughly
away, then with dismayed cry of
craven fear turned and fed. Medora
stood quite still. Her voice had left
her now, but great wave of shame
for him, of contempt for herself that
she had loved a thing so craven, swept
her being.
A shouting cry which called her
name from some far-off rock of safety
awoke her to herself. She looked.
A man, leaping through the now
opened doors, whence the struggling
human wedge had burst at last, came
with huge bounds toward the center
of that strange arena where Keeper
De Vry was battling desperately with
the infuriated snake, whose touch
was death, where the deserted girl
stood so strangely tranced. A great
light, Joy born of love divine, shone
in Medora's eyes when she saw and
knew this man, this hero, was John.
her John, John Brown.
With those great hands she had
thought coarse he snatched her up
in his stout arms and swiftly bore her
away. Then Medora knew her bliss
was come at last, and his unbound
kisses on her lips left her unshamed
as he whispered: Darling, love
you yet. by William Bloss.
81 HOPE you will not say anything
you will be sorry for"
ffT Oo%1 occt1ro Won that will f1Of ~