The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-05-05
CHLOE N A sr1LE

had been blown a little into admired
disorder by the bluff wind Oh the heath
her cheeks We're flushed with health
n beauty. and she was mistress and
queen Of herself and her domain,
You know" she said firmly, ut ia
quite absurd to pretend that women
are one whit Inferior to men. excent
OF course" she added quickly, Sin re-
gard to physical strength"
And eve then there were the AIMS,
sons" l suggested.
DC Q know" said. stopping In
mldfield to observe her critically "T
believe tina if you only practjced a
little you would be more than a mn+oh
for a man.
h looked away across the corn
"Do-do you think so?" she said hest.
tatingly, and added, after a pause 81
l don't think I'm so-I'm not what
you'd call muscular"
We'll, perhaps not | assented. ex.
aiming her appraisingly. But sin.
envy, say"
How absurd!" said Chloe. She
walked on; I followed.
Another stile," said l cheerfully.
Dear me; that's the fourth" said
Chloe r~esignedly. Il do wish they'd
make gates between the fields"
All" said l, smiling. there's one
thing ut any rate in which men are
superior. They can negotiate a stile
Indeed" said Chloe loftily. II
should have thought the feat was NOT
impossible for a woman" l pursed nm
my lips. Any woman can get owe,
stiles she aid warmly, seeing nv
skepticism.
shrugged my shoulders. She march
ed coldly and confidently toward the
stle 1t took Off a high ground, which.
l suppose, accounted for the absence Of
a step. But there were two crossbars
to assist the climber. l thought Chloe's
face fell as she noted 1t.
LET me give you a hand" l said.
Nonsense" she replied. ~ don't
want any assistance. It's quite easy."
Perhaps I'd better take the sun
shade" l suggested.
She did not answer ut once: then. "If
you wish It," she replied nonchalantly,
though it's Of no consequence"
took the sunshade and waited.
Chloe's two feet were now on the low
est bar. She peered over. The stile
let down beyond In n big drop into a
kind Of hollow or ditch.
"Oh," said she, II didn't | was
still waiting.
nDO on onr, cbo coIlo3 80 .
". l went on lelsurely. But some
how could not make up my mind to
walk briskly. She did not join me, so
l flung myself upon the grass and pull
ed out a cigarette. Then | heard nv
name called in a distressful voice. I
stood up and looked round. Miss DO.
hun was still astride the top bar, and
she was pinker han ever.
please, come! Don't be so unkind!"
b cried, with tears in her voice. I
hurried back like the wind.
"Oh, just give me your handm pant
cd Chloe. nervously lifting one from
the bar. II can't. It's such a long
drop. can't get my
wait a bit" said 1, considering.
you're halfway over now. You've on
~ got to lift that foot off the bar
and
II shall go over. l know l shall 20
over" she said pathetically.
"No. you WON'T" said 1. ut only re-
Quires confidence. Imagine you're on
q horse and
But l don't ride a horse this way"
said Chloe miserably.
mo-" said l, but men do, and wom-
On are just as good as
ITS cruel Of you-it's beastly, when
I'm In such PERIL" sobbed Miss Bohun.
She clutched wildly for me with the
/ trembling hand she had disengaged. I
seized 1t and her.
Now, just lift that foot" | enjoined.
Chloe's weight lay on my shoulder.
II can't get 1t free; It's stuck" she
said pitifully. l moved closer, still
with my burden on my shoulder, and
loosed the dainty foot. Now" l said.
She lifted it gingerly. Don't mind
about your ankles" I said.
"Oh, but l am Her foot went
back. shut your eyes. please" she
ontreated. hut my eyes. The next
instant the weight on me was doubled
and two arms went stranglingly about
my neck. As l have explained, the
foothold descended into a hollow. I
went down precipitately on my head.
I saw several cornfields and two or
! three stiles. also more than one Chloe.
But I seemed content to be there. Miss
Bohun extracted herself quickly.
"Oh. are you hurt? oh, how dread
full of mel" she said.
II liked It," l said, and I'm only
hurt in n place"
"I--you frightened me-" she said,
with Il serious little laugh. I'm SO
sorry! Is 1t your head?"
shook it and sat up. mo, luckily
I was born thick headed"
"Your-your kneey she inquired
again hesitatingly.
Certainly not my knee" l replied.
Then Chloe turned away. She
might have asked further questions,
l A,p& che Jfl,f& CHE ,.yo hrycy smooth