The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-16
THE CONQUEST
OF MR.. IDEAL.

she'd tell me just what kind of man
her ideal was-no more like me than a
landau is like donkey cart. Her
lover must be intellectual, profound,
whereas / am stupid and scatter
Drained. But one thing ! am, and I
know it-1'm a dead game sport. At
tennis, football, horses or yachts can
beat Mr.. Ideal every time. -
One afternoon l called on Millicent
with my new four cylinder auto. p IL
Mlllicent was always worshiping this
imaginary puffed up being Of ideas,
she didn't mind sixty mile an hour
/ jog In an auto. Sometimes used to
think she was holding the duffer up
to bother me, for l didn't see where
her own lofty sentiments came In.
Anyway she ran upstairs and in FIVE
minutes was down again IN long
gray silk duster and her hat tied down
with no end Of yelling. l was waiting
for her In the hail. but she was In such
a hurry that she brushed right past
me and out on to the stoop. There by
the curb was my automobile glistening
for all 1t was worth. She stood look
ing at 1t for n moment wrapped I'm ad-
miration; then we both went down
to the curb.
what beautiful shade OF redw she
exclaimed, jumping into the machine.
"Glad you admire IT," replied.
We logged along at town pace till
| W. roaphn1 fhn n la
her out a triie. She was a lightweight
two seated vehicle and with all her
power on a match for n hurricane.
| We soon put matter OF twenty miles
between us and the town and came TO
a big stretch of open country all on a
dead level. 1 wanted to get on another
road to my right and, knowing that
! I'd have to go around Robin Hoods
barn to do II, made up my mind to
take to the fields. The ground seemed
perfectly smooth, and there were but
few fences, some of them down.
asked Millicent II she would like n
ride OF that kind, and she said she
would. So, swerving to the right be-
tween two telegraph poles, we took to
the open.
4 OF course we didn't attempt any
rapid gait, and, considering our springs
and big tires, we didn't find 1t uncom-
Portable wheeling. There were here
and there house and scattered herds
of cattle. We'd gone couple of miles
when we came to rail fence directly
In our way. got out to let down the
rails. l was getting the last rail out
of the way when, glancing at a herd
of cattle grazing near, saw n power
full bull break from among them and
trot toward us. I glanced at my red
auto shining IN the afternoon sun and
took in the situation. The bull would
go for the machine, break up the ton
neau, and Mlllicent would be at his
mercy.
In two seconds was in my seat and
had the power turned on. gave
quick look back and saw the bull COM
ing on n gallop. Passing through the
opening I had made, FASTENED my
pace, and had we been on road we
could have laughed at the bull. But we
weren't, and as luck would have It we
struck the toughest piece of ground to
be met In four counties. The best
could do was about six miles an hour,
and the bull could beat that easily.
! '1'll keep my eye on the ground
ahead while you watch the bull" /
said to Milllcent, "and tell me IL he
gains"
He's gaining every moment" she
cried. "Go faster"
The way became smoother, and put
on more power, but 1t was question
whether IL was preferable TO be knock
ed TO pieces by the joltlng or gored by
the bull. NIillicent evidently preferred
the former, for she begged me to in
crease the speed. At the same time
received solace in our danger. MIL
licent In her terror put her arm around
my neck. She didn't know what she
was doing, but 1t feltnice all the same.
While l was enjoying 1t 1 saw
ahead the remains of swamp. There
was no water Ia It, but plenty of mud.
/ glanced TO the right and the left,
only to see that 1t was a long way
round. plunged into the bog, and
when / did so / knew It was all up
with us. The buh came on, and pretty
soon one could hear the thud of his
hoofs directly behind us. Millicent
clung TO me, and / clung to the wheel
We had nearly crossed the bog when
noticed before us on the other side
rail fence. put on as much speed as
/ dared, and ON reaching the fence,
telling Mi,licent to crouch, under
took to drive through It, At the mo-
ment the bull caught the machine on
his horns, we felt the tonneau rise,
and It and we and flying fence rails
came down in scattered heap.
saw Milllcent rising on her knees,
the bull charging toward her. Picking
up fence rail, / put myself In his
way, poised the rail and took him
Il with the end Of 1t square on the fore
head. Stunned by the blow, he stepped
looked at me In dazed fashion, turn
ed tall and trotted away.
j felt proud OF myself. Yes, admit
1t. / realized that I'd done something
worth doing. I'd saved Millicent's
life / Stood tho fanaa rofI ON ana