Middletown transcript., 1903-03-21


the novel; although Myrtle knew
thatitwas not forgotten, forMrs
Fisher was crosser than usual.
| For the land sakes, Myrtle
don't peel all those apples away
just look, you are wasting then
all, che said irritably. Cam
you see?
The girl peeled on silently, un
til presently glancing out of the
window, she gave a gasp, and ap
Piles and pan went to the floor in
a heap.
Oh! look, for Gods sake!
she cried excitedly, that Durham
bull has broken out of pasture.
The bull in question was a
large and very ferocious one OF
its kind, and had always been
kept in a field by itself, the fence
surrounding it being unusually
high and strong; but somehow
it had managed to break through
the enclosure and was feeding in
the lane below the house.
Oh, mother, cried the child in
dismay, and jamie has to come
through the lane. What shall
we do?
Run, child, and blow the horn,
so the men can hear you; they
may be able to get him in time.
Oh, God pity u.s.. she cried,
glancing at the clock, it is nearly
four and she promised to be
home at that'time.
But Myrtle did not hear her;
already she had seized the horn
and ran down the yard, blowing
blast after blast from her strong
young lungs. I wonder if jamie
is coming home yet, she thought,
hurrying down through field
near the lane If / can reach
that clump of alders I shall be
able to see across the fields.
She was yet unperceiveq; the
beast was feeding quietly, walk
ing nearer to the other end of the
lane, and even as Myrtle looked,
he stepped through the open
bars into the field and walked to-
ward the center. Then poor
Myrtle's heart almost stood still,
for across the field, all uncon-
scious of her fate. came Jane.
For an instant Myrtle was al
most paralyzed with terror, then
raising her voice she called to
Jane to beware; but Jane evi.
IDENTIFY neither saw nor heard
anything and continued to ad.
vance.
There was only one thing to
be done; she must enter the field
and try to attract the bulls at.
tention to herself, for an angry
below warned her that the beast
had seen her step sister and was
in pursuit. Calling loudly as
she ran, the child sped like wind
through the field. At last Jane
saw her, and at the same time
perceived her danger.
Run for the upper fence, cried
Myrtle; for God sake, be quick,
and Jane, scarcely realizing what
she was doing, ran as she had
never ran before, and the infur-
lated animal, turning to continue
his pursuit, saw Myrtle for the
first time, and with an angry roar
his other victim for
her.
But Myrtle was already speed
ing down the field; she had turn
ed the moment she saw that Jane
would be safe. On she ran; oh,
would she never reach the bars. !
If she could reach them in time
to get through and close them |
she would be safe. Faster, fas-
ter; she could almost feel the hot |
breath of the angry animal. Once
she stumbled, then up again, and |
then she heard roar and felt !
herselflifted and thrown through |
space, and she knew no more.
When Myrtle came to her SEN
ses she was lying in her own
room, with the doctor, Jane and
over her.
What is it? she asked family.
Oh, I remember now, she said
shuddering. Is jamie safe?
Yes, safe, thanks to you, said
her sister, sobbing. I hate my
self for having so selfishly left
you to face that danger alone;
but indeed I scarcely realized
what I did, it was so sudden, and
your ribs are broken too. Can
you ever forgive my selfishness?
Indeed, jamie, it was nothing
more than you would have done
for me, | am sure; so say no more
about it, please. But feebly:
How does it come the brute did
lot finish me?
Oh. YOU were thrown in tho