The Nevada County picayune., 1906-07-27
LITTLE VANS LUCK.
Hu PROTECTED TALL NI40
 COURLISS.
BY KENNETT HARRIS.

ufday-to- M0n0ay TeSoFtp 6s ouiicy . friends called it. She was a magnifi- cent young 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 Courliss 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 undersized and not at all muscular, but he did not care to be reminded of it as general thing. He deter mined to devote himself to the other girls in the party. to the entire ex- cluslon of Miss Courliss. He did try to.
 He went away thinking about her 1 quite a little. Not seriously, of course, and for that matter he never expected to see her again She came from Columbus and would return to Colum- bus. which interes ting city Van had no anticipation of yisitlng-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 ac- ccpted Mrs Gurley and Miss Cour- liss were at the station awaiting them. Miss Courliss wore a 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 assistance. Come on; you're small"
 Poor old Van!
 There was another fellow at the house-one in particular He was 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 a chump and there was con- solation in the way Miss Courliss laughed at him.
 It was on the third visit that mat ters came to a climax, That was a 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 iOlS Ol IL NIiSlt 'ttfiAt AtN' 'N'AiN~N together and drove together, and she tauaht him tennis and took him row ing. They sat out on the yeranda to- eethor and talked quite confidential |ly. Van committed himself to prom !sg 10 visit Columbus even. But through if all the girl was so frank and direct so free from anything Nke feminine timidity-and so-oh, such magnificent creature, that Van Rnev t was utterly absurd to think Of asking her 10 marry him.
 He was considering this on what was to have been the last day of his stay as they took what was to have been their last walk.
 Suddenly Van felt his arm clutched 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 be- heath it's tan and her expression was terrified,
 Don't you seer" she said. "A COW! Oh. ! believe it's going to chase us!"
 The animal was standing about 200 yards away, switching its tall as it regarded them.
 "Pooh," said Van, reassuringly. "You're not afraid of COW. Here, take my arm"
 ~ couldn't" Miss Courliss cried, still clnging to him,
 "Then I'll go and drive her of" 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 bull and bull apparently in an ugly humor, for he paved the ground and gave vent to thunderous below. At the
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