River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-16

"Oulu IuCdu CSTIdIu anu awful uSdLu
and he knew it; yet he never swerved
| or faltered. Unarmed, agile, wary,
full of nerve and perfectly fearless
this was the man she had openly de-
nounced as a coward!
But what had happened now? Had
blind terror seized him at last? For
as he freed himself from the labyrinth
of paths and swelling mounds, and
gained the level drive, Robert sudden
ly turned his back on the bull and
sprang orward-running as if for his
life-while the animal, with head
down, plunged after him, believing
and gaining upon him at every step.
And so they passed, in an ugly vision,
out through the gate and from Neris-
sas sight.
The next she knew the gate was
shut, and Robert was fastening
toward her, breathless, empty-handed
and unframed!
"Nerissa, are you hurt?" he cried,
bending over her where she lay In
huddled heap.
She was very pale and was trem-
bling pitifully, and now she began to
sob quietly.
Its nothing-only my ankle-I
can't move-but it doesn't matter.
was SO afraid"
Eyes, | know" he painted, as he lift
ed her into an easier position; "but
there's no danger now-no, none at
ALI" for she was clinging to his hand
like child who is still afraid. But
comforted.
"Oh-after that first mad moment I
was not afraid-for myself" she
sobbed at last. ''It was for you-but
you feared nothing, I could see that
and l had dared call you coward! 1t
was the bravest thing 1 ever knew"
He looked down at her with a sur
prised and puzzled smile, for how can
mere man ever hope to gauge a
girls estimate of his actions?
A short distance beyond the GENE
terry Nerissa saw an oX-cart and asked
to be taken home in that
So a bargain was made and soon
Nerissa was enthroned on a couch of
hay.
"But-wont you ride, too?" she
said.
mo, will walk alongside"
please ride; I want you-beside
me-" she murmured and Robert, with
a new light in his eyes, climbed in.
He carried her again from the OK
cart to the house. And then, for he
was a physician, and it was Nerissa's
request that he should do so, he
bandaged up the aching ankle.
Then once more he stood before her
and said 'good-by."
"But-why must you go away
now?" Nerissa asked, nervously, as
she realized that in the amends she
wished to make she was to have no
help.
Because my arrangements are all
made and my word is given. 1 go to
start my life afresh in new place. 1t
is too late to change my mind now
even if l wished to do So" he said
did you think l would care to stay
here-permanently- what had
occurred"
No suppose not" she admitted
wistfully; still am sorry" Then,
holding fast by the remembrance that
he had that day declared he loved her
still. she shut her eyes and added,
desperately: Robert, tell me this:
when you gave them your word you
would go-did you promise you would
go-alone?"
The news of Nerissa's reengage
ment to Robert Lea, and that she was
going away to begin life with him in
western town, came like thunder.
bolt to Nerissa's family and friends.
We'll, Rob is splendid fellow, and
we always said so, but we thought
you thought him coward?" they said
Con the contrary, l know him to be
a brave man." said Nerissa.
Yes, for he has that grand sort of
moral courage which would make him
hold to his own conviction of right
against all the world-but still"
HE has not only that courage, but
the other sort as well! He has faced
death upon the field-and proved his
couragei"
Now, Nerissa, what on earth are
you talking about?"
81 am talking about-the battle of
Bulls RUM" said Nerissa, solemnly.
where I saw Robert Lea-the stand
ard bearer-facing the enemy and aw.
full. almost certain death, and he bore
himself like hero-he never flinched!
l tell you all, he is the bravest of the
brave!"
At that they gasped and shrugged
their shoulders, and declared that
Nerissa certainly had gone crazy!
Whereupon Nerissa held her peace
and smiled in sweet content.
Her Form of Teaching.
A school-teacher who has several
foreign scholars unable to speak Eng
lish with facility has new method
of teaching them how English is
spoke.
Instead of calling them by their
baptismal names she has invented a
new directory. For two weeks she
names her pupils after the produce of
the packers.
You are sausage" she says to
one. you are pork chop" to an
4 L