The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-08
LITTLE VANS LUCK.
az PROTECTED TALL MISS
coURLIss.


Van SpOoeu mrt NC -
urday-to- Monday resort, as Sufieys
friends called II. She was magnin-
esr, voung woman and she was stay
sng for the summer with Mrs Guriey.
whose husband declared bis intention
of giving every eligible bachelor OF ms
acquaintance chance.
Van spoden was quite eligible ana
he was a good fellow besides. Every
hodv admitted that Van was a good
fellow. But late In the evening OF MS
arrival when Mrs. Gurley asked the
tall Miss Courliss what she thought OF
him. that stately young peson laughed
and said: ~Oh. isn't he cunning.
van happened to hear that and ne
was not pleased He had rather aa-
mired the young woman. but that set
tied her with him He knew he was
undersized and not at all muscular.
but he did not care to be remindee
of 1t as a general thing. He deter
mined 10 devote himself TO the other
girls in the party. TO the entire ex-
clusion OF Miss Courliss- he oia
try to.
He went away thinking about her
I Suite a little. Not seriously. Of course.
and for that matter he never expected
TO see her again She came from
Columbus Nus would return to colum-
bus. which Interesting city Van had
no anticipation Of visiting-and his
plans we're made for the summer
But when Gurley telephcned 70 him
at TIE Office and asked him to make
another visit he was conscious Of an
unusual agitation Of mind as re ac-
ceuted. Mrs. Gurley and Miss Cour-
lfss were at the station awaiting
them. Miss Courliss wore a snort
skirt and the sleeves OF her blouse
were rolled up on her well-rounded
arms. 50 she was looking particular
" athletic and handsome. Vans
heart failed him as he gzzed at her
she must have topped him BY i've
mics at least and her shoes. II the
soles we're thick, were not high heessd-
They rode together In the diekey
of the cart. Van hesitated al nrst
on account Of the small size Of tise
seat. Come on, she said. She had
already mounted nimbiy to the dizzy
perch. calmly ignoring his prohered
assistance. Come on: you're small
Poor ols Ysns
There was another fellow at the
house-one in particular. He was :
big. strapping. broad-shonldered man
and TO see the two together-Miss
Courliss and him-was gall and worn-
wood to Van. They played tennis.
Van didn't; be wasn't much on out
door sports. fishing excepted. 50 he
just watched. What superb energy
she had And what gracel
van was rather unhappy on that
visit. she was friendly enough. but
that other fellow took her out for
row on the little lake In the evening
AMI they were much together tie next
day. too. StiI. the fellow was more
or less OF a chump and there was con-
ISOLATION in the way Miss Couriiss
laughed at him
Ii was On the third visit that mat
ters came 10 climax That was a
more prolonged affair. and there were
no other visitors. Van was not con-
caited in the least. but he did imagine
that the young woman liked him.
Propinquity Is a great thing and there
was lets OF it that time They walked
together and drove together, and she
taught him tennis and took him row
ing. They sat out on the yeranda To-
gether and talked quite confidential
ly. Van committed himself 10 prom
ise to visit Columbus even But
through 1t all the girl was SO frank
and direct. 50 free from anything
like feminine timidily-and so-oh.
, such a magnificent creature. that Van
knew It was utterly absurd 10 think
OF asking her to marry him.
. He was considering this on what
. was to have heen the last day OF his
stay as they took what was to have
, been their last walk.
Suddenly Van felt his arm clutehei
tightly. and a voice he hardly knew.
so tremulous was It. said: -Oh. VAN
what Is it, asked Van in amaze
ment Her face, he saw. was pale he-
Z meath its tan and her expression was
terrified.
Don't you seer" she said. "A COW.
or. | believe it's going'so chase uss~
The animal was standing about 200
yards away. switching its tail as Il
regarded them.
"Poohl" said Van. reassnringiy.
you're not afraid OF cow. Here.
take my arm"
Il couldn't" Miss Couriiss cried.
stin ciinging to him.
Then I'll 90 and drive her on
said Van. Don't be a silly little
girl"
Don't leave me. please" entreat-
ed the little girl, but Van laughingly
disengaged himself and advanced upon
I the enemy. picking up light switch
as he went He had travelled half the
distance between them when he per
ceived that the cow was huh and
bull apparently in an ugly hnmor.
for he paved the ground and gave
vent 10 thunderous below. At the