Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-14
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Chaperon-By Clyde Lawrence.
Copyrighted 1903. by Associated Literary Press.

bull and al once made for the trees
He came up at Il hot pace. made ii
.un% spring TO catch Il branch anC
escaped II vicious aweap of the horns
10y inches. He had been settled on II
branch for three minutes before he
heard II voice asking:
'Sir. what shall we dog
Good lands. Il lady up Il tree! he
gaSped. How did you get there?'
That creature chased me. and IL
climbed"
Il can't hand you my card. but my
name is Randall Hope"
And l am Miss Darboy Of the
school"
Yes. You are the French teacher
You have charge of the summer camp
You have issued an edict that no man
shall approach it within half a mile
That old farmer with shotgun turned
me back yesterday. and l was trying
it again today
You wanted to see me-" was asked
''Oh. no, l wanted TO see Miss Har.
den. l am in love with her, you
know"
"Sir. Miss Harden is under my
charge. and the rules l have made
must be obeyed."
well. all right" replied Mr. Hope as
no settled himself more comfortahlv
on his percn. Il was honest enough
70 tell you that was in love with Miss
Harden. but if I'm to be kept out of
the camp I'll stay here. Nice after
noon. isn't il: Are you enjoying your
vacation:"
Miss Darboy looked across at him in
Indignation and muttered to herself in
French. She was just about TO an
nounce that she would descend and go
straight to camp when the boyine.
who had been quiet for Il moment. be-
gan paving and believing She
therefore changed her mind and hum
bly, asked:
Won't he get tired and leave us
pretty soon:"
1t will take week to tire him out"
was the reply. Yes. | expect to be
here for at least seven days. You can
see how mad and determined he is
ipu ti'th nv SCIl W tliiID.
so that when you grow weak from hun
ger you will not fall To the ground"
'Merci. Merci. But you can't mean
it. monsieur
You had started for the village.
probably. When you don't return the
girls will think you have eloped. This
is just the season for elopements. you
T of or, nd fn
the camp. | see it. The girls are
running around i'm wild excitement. A
boat with man In it is drawing near.
and you are not there TO shoe him
away"
oh my unhappy self" mOaned Miss
Darboy II shall be blamed No one
will believe me. | shall be diSgraced""
The teacher shed tears in French
and was quiet for few minutes. Mr..
Hope watched her and saw that a
mental struggle was going on. He
was too wise to interrupt. and pres
emily she said in very humble English
MIR. Hope. does Miss Harden's
mother know that you love her daugh-
ter"
to tell her and ask her consent to the
marriage"
MIR. Hope. can the creature below be
driven away?" interrupted Miss Oar
boy. with hope in her tones.
Possibly"
And it needn't get to the young
ladies' ears that was-was up a
tree?"
Not unless you tell the story your
SELF
And you could accompany me to
camp the same as il l had met you in
the village?"
Just the same. Yes. l could ac-
| company you to camp. and 1 could
take stroll with Miss Harden and
have a talk. and you could let some OF
the other fellows pay calls and add to
the Zest"-
MIR. Hope. proceed to drive the
creature hence"
Mr.. Hone dropped his handkerchief
to the grass. and while the bull was
shifting at it the young man swung
down and grabbed him by the tail and
twisted and shouted. Away went the
frightened bovine on gallop. and
Miss Darboy was assisted down. Two
hours later she was saying to her