The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-08-14

The milkman's hcrses were peace
ably inclined. but this proved too much
for them. At 8 wild gallop they
started down the street. MIX was
dripping behind. cans were clanking,
bottles we're crashing. Il was truly
in a perilous position that Miss Col.
chester found herself. yet It was as
ludicrous as could well be imagined.
II she could have got out Of the door
she might have been dragged on the
ground and killed. But she was Sc
eurely wedged in. Apparently she
must stay there until the milk wagon
went to pieces. The men on the street
laughed even while they gave chase.
It was irresistibly funny.
But the milkman did not stoD to
laugh or scowl. He set out with all
his might to rescue a human being in
distress, never once thinking Of his
grievance. His long legs were active
and his voice restrained his horses
from a distance, Before they had run
two blocks he had stopped them and
a rushing up to help Miss Colehes-
ter out Of her predicament. And just
at that minute, while he was Juggling
wildly at the fat. unHieldy form, the
yellow-painted wagon Of his rival drove
up and Elsa-delicate ss a flower in
pink gingham this time, with a pink
bow In her fair hair-came out with a
basin to get the milk.
BY this time a crowd had gathered
around the runaway. The milkman
was favored with any amount Of as
ISSUANCE in the difficult task OF getting
Miss Colchester out OF the door, but
by mutual consent he was acknowl-
edged as commander of the occasion.
Miss Colchester's fright had not
been make-believe. She now tainted
under the strain and lay in her res
cuer's arms a dead weight OF more
than 200 pounds. In a slim, pretty
young girl fainting may be considered
rather a romantic and delicate thing
to do. Certainly 1t seemed so in the
old-time novels, But there was moth
ing romantic or delicate about Miss
Colchester in a faint. The milkman
was holding her with outmost gentle
ness, but he looked up anxiously.
"What can we do with herr" He
said. we can't carry her home and
she can't be put into the milk wagon"
Bring her right In here" said the
sweetest voice In the world; and Elsa,
pretty Elsa, dainty in her pink dress,
looked up at the perspiring and milk
despatched milkman with admiration
in her eyes.
She led the way across her own i'm
maculate kitchen, never minding that
1t was no longer immaculate when the
sodden garments OF the victim of the
accident and her rescuer had dripped
milk over it, and directed the bearers
where to deposit their unconscious
burden on the couch In the sitting.
room. Then she proceeded to admin.
lister restoratives, oh so handily.
The next day as he passed Miss
Colchester's door Elsa herself came
out with a milk-basin and beckoned.
miss Colchester wants me to thank
you for what you did yesterday and to
say that she will pay all the damage
that came to you from the accident"
she said. "And she would like to get
her milk of you after this"
"And will Mrs. Jones, too" f~altered
the milkman. Mrs. Jones was Elsa's
mistress.
Yes, but am going to work here
for a little while until Miss Colches.
ter feels stronger"
Her rosy color did not heighten.
Her tone was low and modest as ever
and yet-somehow-it was different.
And the milkman felt his heart dance
in his bosom as lightly and yet as
TREMENDOUSLY as the leaves on the sway
ing branches above him. For he
knew, in some unexplainable way, that
he had at last proved his knightliness
to the maiden Of his choice and that
now she looked upon him with eyes OF
love.