Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-18

AS jessie QulCKeQeQ uoT sIopS "
keep pace with those of her silent
companion, she heartily wished that
she had not permitted Jim to see her
home. She might have known what
would happen! This made the third
time Jim had proposed to her, and
it was very hard for her to keep on
refusing.
The two young people were so abb
sorbed by their own unhappy thoughts
that they failed to notice the fast
gathering clouds, which made 1T much
darker than the hour warranted, until
Jessie was brought to a sudden reali-
cation of her surroundings by big
drop of rain on her face. -a
"Oh, Jim, do believe it's going to
rain" she cried in dismay.
"Thats So" said Jim, arousing him
self, and scanning the sky. Looks
as If we might have quite down
pour"
ooh, what shall we do?" gasped
Jessie. 1--WE are half mile from
home, around by the road and there
isn't house near. My best hat will
be spoiled"
well have to run for 1t, guess"
Jim declared.
Couldn't we make short cut
through Farmer Chords pasture?"
Jessie suggested. Ellis creatures are
all in the other pasture now, you
know"
1.-THE very thing" Jim agreed.
He let down the rickety bars, and
the two started across the field.
When they reached the middle OF
the pasture Jessie came to full stop,
clutching her companions arm fran
tically and shrinking close to his
side.
ooh, Jim, look!" she breathed.
The dim outline of member of the
bovine family doomed up huge and
startling, in front Of them.
tits that dreadful animal of Henry
Potters." Jessie shuddered. ooh,
what shall we do?"
Jim's face blanched beneath it's tan.
A shudder of fear swept through
him. He covered back step of two.
Terror was on the point Of over
mastering him. Then a thought
flashed into his mind. He remem-
bered having seen couple of men
at work in this very lot that after
noon.
Courage filled his heart.
Here was the very chance he had
longed for-well, not exactly that,
but one that would answer as a make
shift, he reasoned-to show Jessie
that he could be brave on occasion.
A look of grim determination
settled upon his face as ne smothered
a slight feeling Of shame for what he
was about to do.
Then he called out, run for the
fence, Jessie. / won't let him hurt
you"
"oh, Jim, can't go and leave you"
Jessie faltered.
Run" Jim commanded in tone
that she could not refuse to obey
She ran as she had never run be-
fore, stumbling over hummocks with
out needing them, and sobDing aloud
like child, from sheer excitement.
How cruel I have BEEN" she
thought. and to think he, in spite Of
his fear, was ready to risk his life
for me! Oh, how ashamed ami"
Jim did not move from the stand
he had taken before the huge, gloom
shrouded figure, until Jessie had
reached the fence in safety, and had
climbed over It,
Then he did curious thing.
He deliberately turned his back
upon his adversary, which by the
way, had apparently not moved a
muscle since Jessie had first spied
it, and ran.
The great form still stood like a
craven image where he had left it.
With a bound Jim vaulted lightly
over the fence.
"Oh, you are brave" Jessie soobed,
clinging to him. I'll never forgive
myself for calling you coward You
were splendid. oh, Jim, take every
thing back-everything. I do love
you"
Again Jim .smothered a feeling