River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-07-12
The Hero
Who Ran Away
ByJ. S. FLETCHER
(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

o'clock of an April evening, Maxwell
left the train with sigh of immense
relief. He was in Paris, and in Paris
he could breathe and think, and per-
haps make up his mind as to what was
to be done at the present crisis OF his
life
Anyway, am freed from the great,
the overwhelming temptation Of her
presence" he thought, as he walked
moodily about the fower-scented
streets. "a man gets so little chance
of thinking clearly in wOman's pres
ence, or If she is within easy distance
Of him If I'm going to fight this thing
out it must be away from her. She"
Maxwell stopped uddenIy-thought
and step alike came to summary con-
clusion. He was dimly conscious that
he stood at the corner of the Rue
Royale, and that he was shaking hands
with his friend Lady Ravensrode, from
whom in some vague fashion the
spring morning had suddenly borrowed
new charm Of light, shade, color and
scent.
Major MAXWELL" she exclaimed.
But why should one be surprised?
Paris is SO very much next-door now
adays. Let me sect was night be-
fore last that we met, wasn't it?"
Il think So" said Maxwell. II
came over yesterday = Dover and
Calais, you know-on business"
81 came over yesterday, too" said
Lady Ravensrode. 'Folkstone and
BouIogne, you know-also on business.
MY business is-frocks."
Maxwell stroked his mustache. He
became conscious of the presence OF
Lady Ravensrode's maid, lowering at
a discreet distance; also of the inter-
est which was being created in the
minds and eyes of the passers-by, who
glanced at the English woman's gra-
cious figure, copper-gold hair, and VI
vacious beauty, with unmistakable ad-
miration. He looked at Lady Ravens
rode, first furtively, then with GU
rlous determination in his bronzed
face
Send your maid away" he said.
THE frocks, am sure, can wait little.
IL want to talk to you. The fact
is, I'm in bit-no, | mean a good
deal-of a hole, and / want your adj
vice"
Lady Ravensrode obeyed this per-
emptory order without mugmur.
They sat down on rustic seat under
the refreshing shade trees of the
Champs Elysees.
Maxwell began tracing strange
shapes in the gravel at his feet; he
knitted his brow and pursed up his
lips, and Lady Ravensrode watched
him with a tiny smile at the corners
of her mouth. Presently he looked
up, regarded her with stony stare,
and said:
THE fact is that I've run away"
Run away? With whom?"
THAT" said Maxwell, lis feminine.
but silly. ran away to think"
oh" she said, blankly.
We'll, I'll tell you the truth" he
said, I'm running away from wom-
an"
That" she replied, is exactly what
| should expect of you"
He looked quickly and suspiciously
at her.
'Ah!" he exclaimed. ''Then you do
think me a coward?"
II didn't say So" she said. "Is she
pretty?"
Maxwell raised his eyes and stared
at her
''Pretty?" he said "She-why, she
is the most beautiful woman in the
world"
The honesty and simplicity of his
tone were so evident that her inquir-
ing eyes dropped before his.
''She is to be congratulated that
you are so fond of her." she said,
softly.
''Ah, but then, she doesn't know" he
answered. THE thing is-ought l to
tell her? That's what 1 want to know.
That's the question l want to decide
Oh, I'm horrible coward about it."
eff you love her." said Lady Ravens
rode, ''yoI certainly ought to tell her
of your love for her. It's wrong not
TO- It's WlCkSU.
Wrong? Wicked? Why?" he de-
manded, with signs of great surprise.
Lady Ravensrode turned her face
toward him and studied him with
dancing eyes and a tightly-closed
mouth. Maxwell frowned still more
gloomily.
why do you look at me like that?"
he asked. Il know you're laughing
at me, right away down in your heart,
and | want to know why. You
see, sometimes 1 think John Max
we'll, you'll be the lucixiest man on
earth if you can win her-try your
luck!' But again l think. Nonsense,
don't make a fool of yourself, and"
Lady Ravensrode interrupted him
quickly.
What, by marrying herr" she said
Good heavens, mol" answered Max
we'll mo, but by thinking that she
would consent to marry me. You see,
it's here. She's young. and beauti-
full, and rich, and she is so much ad-
mired that she might choose a hus-
band amongst the greatest-she might
marry a really great man."
Every man is really great in the
eyes of some woman" said Lady
Ravensrode.
But consider-I am IS years of
age!" said Maxwell.
And The lady?-what is her age?'