The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-10-07

AS A'iiSS uhluTleu II harmless look
ing white parasol that developed a
bright red lining.
Neal Burton glanced at the rosy glow
reflected on the girls softly rounded
cheek and met her inquiring eyes.
How much farther to the river,
Neal?" she asked hastily.
"As If you didn't know" he retorted.
you must have been there times
enough with Fuller. You needn't be
afraid I'm going to propose to you
again."
II don't wish you tor
you've made that very plain on
three different occasions. l may look
at you sometimes, may 1 not, without
intending to throw myself at your feet
and plead for crumb Of affectionY
His bitter sarcasm stung Anne to
foolish retort.
1T would make me most uncomfort-
able If you did. as haven't even a
crumb to spare!'
Neal WINGED. II don't wish a crumb,
Anne. It's all or nothing as far as
I'm concerned"
I'm sorry it must be nothing. then"
In the adjoining pasture sleek dark
form leisurely approached break in
the rail fence
The young man, eager for keener
torture to allay the dull ache of his
heart, spoke again jealousy.
"Of course Pm no horny handed son
of the soil; l don't mangle the kings
English nor talk with a twang and
eat sixteen buckwheat cakes for
breakfast, winter and summer. can't
milk COW, and don't know the best
soil in which to produce giant turnips.
/ do know the real estate business
from the ground up, can provide a
home. and ! can run a motor car.
These are my limitations. Speaking
of Nathan Fuller
1--WE were not speaking Of him." in
terrupted Anne coldly.
Again silence. The dark form paus.
ed In the opening Of the broken fence
with uplifted head.
"Are you going to that barn dance
tonight p asked Neal after awhile.
"Yes"
"You told me when I asked you to
go that you didn't care for that sort of
thing"
81 changed my mind. / thought 1t
would be rather fun to go and meet
the country people. Their ways are so
fresh to me; they enjoy everything so
heartily. 1t Is such pleasant, simple
life"
"The natives won't enjoy themselves
much with lot Of giggling city board
ers looking on. / suppose the other
people at the farmhouse are goingw
T-I hardly think so. Mr.. Fuller in
vited me to go. I'm going to drive
over in the buggy with him." Anne
blushed deep with embarrassment I'M
der Meals sharp gaze. Don't look at
me like that, Neal Burton" she added
sharply. Nathan Fuller is a fine fell
low, and he saved my life! I might
have drowned If he had not happened
along the river when my boat upset
You may laugh at him for a country
man, but / would like to see you do
deed like thatw
"It is not my luck to have the OPP
portunity." returned Neal. his face
curiously white. II understand what
you mean. Anne. I'm just a plain,
matter Of fact sort of chap. the sort
you've always known. and you're tired
of my type. II may be permitted to
express the opinion--I trust Fuller will
not misunderstood your gratitude for
something warmer"
Anne made no reply. Her blue eyes
were fixed on the shining river which
they were approaching.
Suddenly Burton tore the red lined
parasol from her light grasp and
clutched her arm.
"Run, Anne! Run for the willow
trees and climb! It's bull! I'll keep
him Off! Run. tell your He pushed
her toward the river. but she turned
and chung to him with a little cry Of
alarm.
With a despairing gesture he tossed
the red lined parasol toward the ap-
preaching beast and saw it whirl
along. its crimson silk full in the face
OF the animal. Then he grasped
Anne's arm and raced with her across
the intervening space toward the will
lows.
Behind them the bull was trampling
the tantalizing sunshade into twisted
fragments. His angry below announc-
ed that their fight had been discov-
cred, and. with amazing celebrity in so
clumsy a beast. he had turned and
was after them.
Neal fairly tossed Anne's slight form
up into the low hanging branches,
where she chung desperately. That he
was able to reach her side and throw
his arm about her was due to his
trained muscles. backed by cool
head. As he braced himself against
the inclined trunk. his feet secure in
n convenient crotch below, the below
ing animal struck the willow tree like
a whirlwind.
AS they rocked dizzily with tho
swaying tree Anne chung closely to
Burton's shoulder. into which her face
was pressed. Neal smiled tenderly
down at her bright hair. while the bull
repeatedly charged the tree trunk with
most unsafisfactory results Presently