The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-29
The EVENING STORY
Taking the Bull by the Horns.
(By Baruch Disraeli.)

ing.
DO you think so?" naively returned
Miss Walbridge, lifting her soft blue
eyes innocently to her companion.
Most decidedly do" energetically
responded the young man, driving
why am 1 incorrigible?" pretended
to inquire the other, with an adorable
shake of her fine head.
LAS if you didn't know! cried Osbert
Indignantly He stared at the long
stretch of country road without seeing
you," he went on mournfully, let ME
see, six times
only six, osbert?" interrupted the
other with sweet ripple
There you go again. ruefully laugh
ed Loring. Turning his hazel-brown
eyes toward the lady at his side. he
continued imploringly: Cant / make
you look at the matter seriously?"
The girl laughed deliciously. Present
ly: What is the use. Osbert, in taking
things seriously?" appealed she to hirr,
her small straight nose wrinkling COM
ically. Life is so short, you know"
Exactly" agreed the other with en-
thusiasm. Let us get married and en-
"That makes it seven timesr' trium-
phantly cried Stella, and clapped her
small hands for very joy.
Osbert's firm, shaver chin was up In
the air.
IF you will marry me-" said he with
a sigh. ''T'll propose to You hundred
times!'
Eight times" from Miss Walbridge.
They both laughed. A touring car
was tearing down the road. They made
way for the monster.
We'll, Stella" resumed the young
man. won't you? There is a minister
knot for us in no time. Shall we turn
back?" He swung his broad shoulders
around toward the village whence they
had walked.
mol" vehemently protested the lady
with an impatient stamp OF her artSto-
cratic foot. "Of course not!''
VERY we'll them" resignedly sighed
the other. We'll" continued he light
ly, as the two walked briskly on, 'if
you don't wish to marry me.you
YES agreed Miss Walbridge:
There is Helen Swanson, for instance"
An amused smile played around her
small mouth.
from the other.
"Lottie Johnson. them" suggested
Stella, her eyes merry.
IAN eelr' contemptuously objected
Loring.
you are hard to please!' protested
the lady with mock seriousness. How
will Mamie Gridley do?" The lower
part of her face was hidden behind
lace handkerchief, while her laughing
eyes watched the contortions on the
young mans frank. handsome face.
DO you think want to marry
mountain" cried Osbert. Then, with
laugh, 81 am going to marry finer
girl than you think
"Who ?'' with assumed Indifference,
queried Miss Walbridge, though a
Jealous pain was nibbling at her heart.
Never mind easily responded the
young man. wait until you get our
cardsI" as.
'eTl1en your. proposal to me was
merely a bluff?" angrily flashed the
maid Realizing, however, how much
her outburst committed her. she re-
lapsed into Indifference. "Oh, L don't
care" laughed she. Marry whom
you please, and when you please. YOU
can have my blessing"
Loring whistled for reply. They
walked on in silence, separated from
fields of gold and of emerald by
barbed wire fences. A little ahead of
them the hard road turned abruptly;
clump of trees filled the angle and
shut out the highway beyond. A sharp
trottfng was suddenly heard. Suppos-
ing this to be buggy, the young
couple sweryed out of the road to one
side.
"a bull!'' cried the girl.
Farmer fuckers bull!' supple
mented the young man.
The two stopped and stared at one
another. The situation was serious
They were too far away from house or
barn to be able to run back for shelter
before the bull would overtake them.
And five ropes of barbed wire barred
their way to the fields.
"The bull will gore u.s. declared
Stella.
''I don't care what happens to me-"
replied the young man with shrug
of the shoulders, You run back to
the village shall keep him busy for
go
IT won't!" announced Miss WAL
bridge. "why don't you care what
will happen to your"
you know very well why" gloom
lily answered osbert. Now, hurry UP
.I stayl" cried the girl. There is
the other girl, you know" she re-
minded him lightly. 'fWhy don't you |
care what will happen to you?"
said Loring. NOW hurry along with !
you to the village" he added, with |
much concern.
II WON'T" again cried Stella. eff
you wish my life to be saved. save
your own!"
''Then marry mel" from osbert.
mine times." triumphsntly from
the girl Eyeing admirinsly her COM
panion's six feet two. she added: ION
that condition I will"
"Honor bright?"
Gas I live"
"Cross your heart
The girl obeyed.
They were near the clump of trees
coat was off in a minute. As
he animal came up he received this
coat over his head. Tightening the
deity over the beasts head.
Osbert. with herculean effort. turned
he bull in the opposite direction. Now
he lifted the girl up lightly. and swung
Ter gently over the fence. Stella. from
Ter safe vantage. watched with beating
leart the struggle of the giants.
The brute had made short work of
)sbert's coat. EnraRed more than