Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-27
EVENING STORY

EVENING STORY
MISS ErHEL's ESCAPE.
BY Carl Jenkins.
copyright, 1911, by Associated Liter
airy Press
When Miss Ethel Lynn set out from
her mothers home, "The Willows,
to drive to the village OF Roselands IN
her pony cart, the sun shone, tho tirds
sang and a crow called Good luck!'
after her. Not sign on earth or above
lit that she was to find romance aud
adventure further along the road.
When Givoni Garibaldi set out that
same hour from the village OF Rose
lands to plod up the highway past
"The willows" he was leading dane
ing bear. The same sun shone for him
and his bear-birds sang just as
sweetly for them-another crow called
his best wishes after them. II they
were to meet up with romance and nd
venture they had no linking OF It.
When Mr.. Earl Hopewell left the
house OF his brother, ten miles beyond
Roselands, to drive himself in an auto
to the village, he also had the sun and
the birds and stray crow, and ne
would have wagered two to one that
nothing more than bursted tire W MID
interrupt the harmony Of his spin.
Miss Ethel's pony was a veteran OF
eighteen years. though he still mad a
gait. In his lifetime he had encount-
cred brass bands, circus parades, wan
dering elephants, believing bulls, labor
union banners and drunken >tramps.
He flattered himself that he had be-
come blase. and that nothing could
shake his nerve. The one thing he
hadn't encountered was dancing bear
Ia grinning. shambling, ambling,
shuffling bundle OF fur. conducted by
a gentleman patterned after the model
of Captain Kidd. At sight Of the pair
the pony 'slackened his pace, and his
driver began to talk to him and assure
him that there was nothing In 1t. He
might have taken the girls word for 1t
but for the strong scent that came
down the wind 1t was bear-scent and
pirate scent-a combination that would
have brought chills to a horse forty
years. old. He stopped and reared up.
Then he snorted and SHE'D. Then he
decided to go back home.
OF course, Miss Ethel called out to
the pirate. She had been taught the
Italian language at the Misses Blanks
superior young ladies, superior board
ing school, and she used 1t on this &C.
casion Both man and bear looked at
her in establishment and shook their
heads. They had never been In China.
They were motioned to get out OF the
road to get off the face Of the earth,
but the man smiled, and the bear went
to dancing. That settled things for
the pony. He had that cart tipped
over and was on his way home inside
of fifteen seconds. The girl went with
the cart and lay in q heap by the road
side.
From a point half mile away the
coming Mr.. Hopewell had witnessed
the accident, and he increased speed
ard came up like cyclone. The bear
was hit and sent against the fence,
and then he descended and waded into
the pirate and ran him far across the
fields. It was busy day for pirate
and bear. Under the strict rules OF
romance the young man should nave
gone to the rescue Of the distressed
damsel first Of all. but he was trine
excited and mixed things up. This
gave Miss Ethel her opportunity. She
had fallen on soft spot and was only
Jared. She smiled when the bear
went flying. and she laughed as the
pirate fed. She could have got to her
feet and brushed off the dust and
picked up her hat-but she didn't AS
soon rs she saw her rescuer return
ing she resumed recumbent posi-
ton and closed her eyes. Great care
was taken to make the position
graceful one.
Mr.. Hopewell came running and
breathing hard. He thought OF broken
bones and death. He bent over the girl
and saw that she lived, and he ran to
water-hole beside the highway and
wet his handkerchief and returned to
SOD her face. Miss Ethel knew that 1t
was muddy water and full OF wrigglers.
but she never fiinched. She wanted to
hear what the young man would say
She was gratified.
Heavens, but | hope she is not
badly injured" he exclaimed as he
dabbed the handkerchief at her nose.
'.Poor girl. Poor girl! wonder who
she is? She's probably badly hurt. and
| ought to go for a doctor, but how
can leave her here? must wait till
somebody comes along. Why haven't
I got, brandy-why-why-
Miss Ethel thought it would be good
policy to sigh long-drawn sigh just
at this moment.
"Thank heaven for that! ferventiy
exclaimed the young man.
Another sigh and a movement OF the
head and feet.
"She is reviving! hope-oh. hope
The damsel struggled to sit up and
was kindly assisted by the young man,
who had hold of both her hands.
"Where-where am T."
Are you hurt Are any bones
broken?"
I-r think not