Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-05-11
LITTLE VANS LUCK.
HE PROTECTED TALL MISS
CoURLISs.
BY KENNETH HARRIS.

friends called It. She was a magnifi-
cent yonng woman and she was stay
ing for the summer with Mrs. Gurley,
whose. husband declared his intention
of giving every eligible bachelor Of his
acquaintance a chance.
Van Spoden was quite eligible and
he was a good fellow besides. Every
body admitted that Van was a good
fellow. But late in the evening of his
arrival, when Mrs Gurley asked the
tall Miss Couriss what she thought of
him, that stately young peson laughed
and said: "Oh, isn't he cunning!"
Van happened to hear that and he
was not pleased. He had rather ad-
mired the young woman, but that set
tied her with him. He knew he was
understood and not at all muscular,
but he did not care to be reminded
Of 1t as a general thing. He deter
mined to devote himself to the other
girls in the party to the entire ex-
clusion of Miss Courliss. He did
try to.
He went away thinking about her
quite little. Not seriously, of course
and for that matter he never expected
to see her again. She came from
Columbus and would return to Column
bus, which interesting city Van had
no anticipation OF visiting-and his
plans were made for the summer.
But when Gurley telephoned to him
at the office and asked him to make
another visit he was conscious OF an
unusual agitation of mind as he &C
cepted. Mrs. Gurley and Miss Cour-
liss were at the station awaiting
them. Miss Courliss wore short
skirt and the sleeves of her blouse
were rolled up on her well-rounded
arms, so she was looking particular
ly athletic and handsome. Vans
heart failed him as he gazed at her
She must have topped him by five
miles at least and her shoes, If the
soles were thick. were not high heeled
They rode together in the dickey
of the cart. Van hesitated at first
on account of the small size of the
seat Come on" she said She had
already mounted nimbly to the dizzy
perch, calmly ignoring his proffered
Poor old Van.
There was another fellow at the
house-one in particular. He was a
big, strapping, broad-shouldered man
and to see the two together-Miss
Courliss and him-was gall and worm
wood to Van. They played tennis.
Van didn't; he wasn't much on out
door sports, fishing excepted, so he
just watched. What superb energy
she had! And what grace
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
and they were much together the next
day, too. Still, the fellow was more
or less Of chump and there was CON
ISOLATION in the way Miss Courliss
laughed at him.
1t was on the third visit that mat
tiers came to a climax. That was
more prolonged affair and there were
no other visitors. Van was not CON
ceited in the least, but he did imagine
that the young woman liked him.
Propinquity Is a great thing and there
was lots of 1t that time. They walked
together and drove together, and she
taught him tennis and took him row
ing. They sat out on the veTanda to-
gether and talked quite confidential
ly. Van committed himself to a prom
Use to visit Columbus even But
through 1t all the girl was so frank
and direct, so free from anything
like feminine timidity-and so-oh, |
such a magnificent creature. that Van |
knew it was utterly absurd to think |
of asking her to marry him.
He was considering this on what |
stay as they took what was to have |
been their last walk.
Suddenly Van felt his arm clutched |
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 be-
meath its tan and her expression was
terrified.
Don't you see?" she said. "A COW,
Oh, believe it's going to chase u.s."
The animal was standing about 200 |
yards away, switching it's tail as it
regarded them.
POOH" said Van, reassuringly.
You're not afraid OF a cow. Here.
take my arm"
II couldn't" Miss Courliss cried.
still clinging to him.
Then I'll go and drive her off"
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
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 a bun and
a bull apparently in an ugly humor.
for he paved the ground and gave
vent to thunderous below. At the
same time Van heard a faint scream
and II for an instant he had enter
tanned an idea Of flight he now dis