River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-01-16

john was very unhappy.
Mr.. Aylmer Hastings, let it be un-
derstooG, in way too vague to be con-
yincing, that he was son the board of
trade" he had a glib fund Of CONVEX
sation relating to wheat and pork, and
the operations of Philips in corn, whis-
pered mystericusly of INSIDE opera
tions,'' and once had confded to Meco-
ra's papa, who was an unsuspectinG
gentleman given over to the purchase
Of butter at 1919 cents and its sale al
% cents, that if the latter chose to ''go
in,'' he Hastings) could place him
right But the elder Folsom didn't
care to $50 in,'' which was just as well.
for Hastings was only clerk in buck
ct shop and couldn't have placed"
dollar fright" to save his life. In
truth, the purchase and sale accoun:
of his own daily dabblings in thousand
bushel lots Of grain and the ten-share
transactions in blackboard ''stocks"
was wceful thing to see, and kept him
on the ragged edge of penury.
But 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 reason
able. When a girl trims her own hats
and has to be economical in buying
new gowns, the horse show becomes
great school Of technical education.
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
pira ton of Medora, promptly offered
to take not only that young lady, but
her mother, too. This overture Medora
declined with frigid thanks. Mr.. Hast
ings (of the board of trade) could take
her, she said. But Mr.. Hastings didn't.
He was particularly close to shore that
week.
"Medora, DEAR" said this artful one,
eve will save our pennies to furnish
our own little nest, darling. Horse
shows cost money"
''Well, there is--the chrysanthemum
show" pouted Medora, ''and to-day the
roses are on view. That's cheap
enough, if one goes in a street car"
Lets go to the flower show in Lin
coin 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 intoxication
e n
grew radiant. She began almost 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 it's eager steps into
the animal house, where the monkeys,
the elephants and the reptilia have a
summer house. Head Keeper Cy De
Vry was experimenting the removal
of his pet serpents to winter quar-
tiers. A Gordon of policemen kept the
crowding spectators at safe dis
lance. The keeper used long stick
with running moose on its end to
snare the snakes. Then he thrust
them into a padded barrel, covered it
with a burlap sack, and attendants
rolled it 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 withered viciously. Then
the moose slipped and he fell upon the
floor. In an instant the huge creature
was in a coil, his 1nenacing warning
sounded in a sharp rattle, and he
darted his deadly fangs at the keeper.
There was wild panic. Policemen
and crowd alike fled 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 their fight.
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. Hepushed her roughly away,
then with a dismayed cry of craven
fear turned and fled. 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 thing so craven, swept her be-
ing.
A shouting cry which called her
name from some far-off rock of safety
awol<e 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