The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-01

moment we could only stare ct each
other in hopeless amazemsnt IL
dith wrung her hands.
ooh! what can we do, what can
we do?" she walled dlstractedly.
THAT horrid mrs. Clareburton lives
up there, and we've cut each other
for months, and now | shall have to
go in! No one knows no one can
guess what that dreadful goat and
Augustus Frederick may be doing at
this very moment"
| was very sorry indeed for Judith.
l had heard of her feud with Mrs.
Clareburton. 1t was an exceedingly
painful and difficult situation, but I
had to try TO rise to it.
please don't cry, Judith" I said,
with quite unconscious familiarity.
whatever you do, don't cry! There's
no need for you to go in at all. I'll
run up the drive and rescue Angus
tus Frederick from all possible CON-
plications!"
But then Judith insisted on rising
to the situation too.
mo, l must come" she said. Hes
in my charge. oh! but 1t Is very
horrible!"
| never argue with Judith. It Is .
thankless task. Next moment we
were through the gates and running
side by side up the drive. But as we
went Judith turned her face to me,
and / just caught her words:
You'll stand by me whatever hap
pens, Dickie," she whispered, and
merely nodded. But the question
sent warm, delightful feeling all
through me. Almost directly we
heard succession of shrill screams
and as we rounded bend In the
drive a really shocking sight presen-
ted itself to our straining eyes.
A tall, substantial lady, beautifully
clad, was running desperately across
the lawn. Behind her, just two feet
| behind her, sped Billy the goat intent
on mischief. He was still attached
to the carriage, and the war cry Of
the delightful Augustus Frederick
was mingled with the flying lady's
screams. Even as we rushed forward
we saw her reach tall stone fern
vase and scramble with surprising
agility to seat upon it. A second
later the disappointed but undefeat-
ed Billy was skirmishing wildly
round and round this coign Of shelter.
think if you will excuse me, I
will not dwell at any length upon the
scene that followed. 1t Is somewhat
painful to me to recall 1t. In any
| case, 1t was mercifully short. Mrs.
Clareburton was justifiably angered
and, after we had got Billy more or
less under control and had helped her
to scramble down from the vase, she
made no attempt to belittle her griev-
ance. She said several severe things
directly to my address, and several
more at Judith's. | remember that
my apologies sounded clumsy and la
bored even to myself.
Judith had borne up bravely
through this trying scene, but, when
we found ourselves on the road
again, with the slightly blown but
entirely unshamed Billy walking
sedately beside us toward his home,
she quite broke down. She produced
a very small handkerchief, and be-
gan to cry in quiet, resolute sort
of fashion. One constantly feels a
fool, but at such moments the feeling
is stronger than ever. l strove with
sad futility to comfort her.
Its no good telling me not to
mind!" she sobbed. 81 can't forget
about that horrid, horrid, woman!
To think that I should have given
her such a chance of being nasty!"
should have done better by being
silent, but few of us are always wise.
| tried again, very clumsily, I dare
say, to soothe her wounds. I was to
learn that woman in distress is apt
to rend the nearest victim at hand,
however innocent he may be.
"Oh be quiet" Judith said, and
stamped her foot. Cant you see
that want to be quiet! But sup
pose you think that this awful, hui
initiating morning gives you the
right to patronize me and say what
you like!"
l shrugged my shoulders and put
my hands in my pockets. | won't
deny that ] was rather hurt. We
walked in a heavy silence for some
two hundred yards, and then Judith
spoke in very small voice,
'Dickie," she said, 81 am a beast!
You must try to forgive me for say.
ing that"
I hope that my grin was as elo-
quent as | meant 1t to be.
"And, Dickie," she went on, "T
don't want to puff you up or make
you conceited, but-but you've been
rather dear this morning!"
l should certainly have said some
thing graceful and courtly in my Joy.
full amazement, but at that moment,
for the third time that morning, Billy
bolted! 1t was necessary to pursue
him instantly and afterward-well,