Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-05
Running
Away From
R0H BY
oOOe ETHEL FOWLER.
Copyrighted. 1903. by Associates
Literary Press.


puttered over 1t a bit, then dropned All
useless effort to revitalize 81 H.
aany mics she was from her destina.
'ion OF her nome she had no idea. II
mattered little whether it was one or
Thousand. she was anchored to sta v
as Tar as the machine was concerned
she had set out with more haste
than discretion and had left undone
Things that should have been done I'm
preparation for so 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
1t portended the failure of her under-
taking, Intended to impress and sinh
/. due her family and-some others. Was
IT to end In this silly little aascoY
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 at the
roadside and gazed long and intently
IN the direction OF her destination. as
II 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 case. lunch bor
raincoat and umbrella and set ont 70
nnish the journey with her small, fash
: ionably shod feet.
! Panting under her load, she eyentu-
] ally reached the rock pile, rested her
demonstrating. aching little person n
nalf hour and meekly, with great dis
gust, plodded back to the runnbout as
to city Of refuge.
When she packed so large a part or
her personal belongings she had not
considered the possibility Of trans
/ porting 1t by main strength, like a hod-
carrier.
She could abandon the treacberors
! car. but not her plumage. One cannot
make credltable entrance into n
strange country without suitable
adornment aud she felt that her fu,
ture largely depended upon the i'm
! preston her unknown relatives receiy-
cd OF her at meeting,
Therefore she resigned herself IN
await the passing Of rood sarnari.
tan, hoping devoutiy he would be nos.
sessed OF a large touring car and tow
her into port.
Inis was entirely matter of
chance. though. with the probabilities
against 1t, as she had purposely chosen
an unfreQuented way to avoid the
auto party she had deserted.
She kicked her heels and reelected
upon her position with anger and self
pity. Bon would go. OF course. I'm his
big new machine. and equally. of
course. he would go for her-he could
not avoid that-tn spite OF her en-
phatic refusal to accompany him.
Her refusal counted for little, or his
reluctance either, with both families
continually fiinging them at each other
In the most barefaced manner.
Her father had come home beaminr
the night before and informed her that
BOD would be on hand, as he had
taken pains to explain that she JaneN
was expecting him. as usual. the re-
fusal being a mere bit Of feminine
coQuetry. and her mother had laugh
ingiy added that she had met the
young fellow that afternoon looking
very respondent and had cheered him
mp by remarking that Janet never
meant half she said and would be dis
appointed II he failed to come for her.
And. to crown all, Bob's mother had
run In and assured her-as IL she de-
handed such assufance-that Bob
would be around early. as she had re-
minded him that Janet expected him
to take her. rs usual.
"'As usual." Jane quoted yindie.
lively. The poor fellow couldn't get
rid OF me II he tried, az / am sure he
has sometimesr' She was not at all
sure OF this. They'd push us to the
very altar without a word from either
or us as to willingness, and IL OBJ
Jected and Dob hung back they'd sex-
plain and assure and force me upon
bin i just had to run away TO re-
lieve him. Though 1 haven't got far
yeti WIFI Some one win come
along"
Some one did few moments later-
a farmer. going the wrong way, with
hayrack and nree curiosity con-
corning the machine. which be graf
lied by peering and prying until ia
net was tempted 60 bid him nmfnd |
MS 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 predicament, and It was not ex- |
actly a blessing Janet sent after him.
Came next bsrefooted boy. who |
stared for an unwfnking five minutes.
INDIFFERENT to her offers Of reward II
he would send some one to take her TO
aee village. and who also passed on.
sxciafmipg audibly that "he didn't
Know them skootfn'. tootin' things got
tired"
Then appeared, headed villageward,
young man with a lumber wagon
and prancing team, which lost nerve
II the sight OF the shining monster
and Janet signaling wildly and tore
on In whirl. the driver hurting male
1ictions over his shoulder at the
'smarty city folks for playing tricks"
AS " any one would be idioftG
enough to stop here for the poor snort
u setting on bis horses" janet unused
cornfuty, watching the vanishing
loud OF dust "If was only In that
wagon with nay things! But expect
a De bumped pretty hard"
A man on horseback from the little
own told her civiily that If fshs was
mere when he went back he'd send