The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-03-17
Running
Away From
Dbl By
BOD. ETHEL FOWLER.


( Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press
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With Its expiring chug Janet steered
! the runabeut into convenient lane,
| puttered over 1t a bit, then dropped all
useless effort to reyitalize ii. How
many miles she was from her destina-
ton or her home she had no idea. 1t
mattered little whether it was one or
n thousand, she was anchored to stay
as far as the machine was concerned.
She had set out with more haste
than discretion and had left undone
things that should have been done In
preparation for 80 long a run; also she
had neglected to take along other
things that should have been taken in
case of the emergency which was sure
to present Itself.
Emergency without recourse Is never
pleasant. Janet felt 1t almost tragic.
Ii portended the failure of her under
taking, intended to Impress and sub
due her family and--some Others Was
1t to end In this silly little fiasco?
Never
She set her teeth with determination
and went down the road to recon
hotter. Nothing In sight either way
She climbed large rock pile ut the
roadside and gazed long and intently
In the direction OF her destination, as
il TO materialize In the near distance
the factory village whence she had
meant to speed away on the prosaic
but reliable railway.
She finally persuaded herself that
she perceived spires and chimneys
upon the blank horizon and with more
determination returned to the car,
gathered up her suit ease, lunch box,
raincoat and umbrella and set out to
| finish the journey with her small, fash
| ionably shod feet.
Painting under her load. she eyentu-
ally reached the rock pile, rested her
demonstrating, aching little person a
half hour and meekly. with great dis
to city of refuge.
When she packed SO large part OF
her personal belongings she had not
considered the possibility of trans
porting 1t by main strength. like a hod-
carrier
She could abandon the treacherous
car. but not her plumage. one cannot
make n creditabie entrance into a
strange country without suitable
adornment, and she felt that her fu-
ture largely depended upon the I'm
preston her unknown relatives reeeiv-
| ed of her at meeting.
| Therefore she resigned herself to
await the passing OF Il good Samari-
tan. hoping devoutly he would be pos
sessed of large touring car and tow
her into port
| This was entirely II matter OF
chance. though. with the probabilities
against II, as she had purposely chosen
nm unfrequented way TO avoid the
auto party she had deserted.
She Kicked her heels and reflected
upon her position with anger and self
pity Bob would go. of course, In his
big new machine. and equally, OF
course, he would go for her-be could
not avoid that--in spite of her EN-.
pbntc refusal to accompany him.
Her refusal counted for little, or his
reluctance either with both families
continually finging them nj each other
In the most barefaced manner.
Her father had come home beaming
| the night before aud Informed her that
Bob would be on hand, as he had
| taken pains TO explain that she (Janet)
| was expecting him, as usual. the re-
ftIsal being mere bit of feminine
coquetry, and her mother had laugh
ingly added that she had met the
young fellow that afternoon looking
very Respondent and had chcered him
up by renIarking that Janet never
meant half she said and would be dis
appointed If he failed TO come for her
And, to crown all, Bobs mother had
run In and assured her--as II she de-
rnandcd such assurance-that Bob
| would be around early. as she had re
minded him that Janet expected him
TO take her. as usual.
"As usualr" Jane quoted vlndic,.
lively 'The poor fellow couldn't get
rid Of me If he tried, az | am sure he
| flHN EoHt WIS Hbi Ut Ill
sure OF this. They'd push ns to the
very altar without word from either
Of us as TO willingness, and II l OBJ
| jected and Bob hung back they'd Tex
| plain and assure aud force me upon
| him just had to run away to re-
| leve him. Though ! haven't got far
| yeti VIII! Some one will come
along"
| Some one did few moments later
n farmer, going the wrong way. with
n hayrack and a large curiosity con-
| corning the machine. which he graf
flied by peering and prying until ia
net was tempted to bid him mind
his own business" He proceeded to do
that same, remarking that he was
mighty glad to see one o. the dad
blamed things broke down; they'd
skeered his bosses often enough" He
| departed. comforting with merriment
at her predieament, and 1t was not ex-
actly blessing Janet sent after him.
Came next a barefooted boy, who
stared for an unwinking five minutes.
| Indifferent to her offers OF reward II
he would send some one to take her to
the village, and who also passed on,
exclaimng audibly that "he didn't
know them skootn'. tootin' things got
| tired"
Then appeared. headed vlIlageward,
u young man with lumber wagon
and a pranclng team, which lost nerve
at the sight of the shining monster
off In whIrl. the driver hurting male
dictions over lis shoulder at che
''smarty city folks for playing tricks"
"As Il any one would be icsotic
| nAhN Take