Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-06-15
In the Pasture.

uCSlSiOu.
81 know am a coward" Jim Barlow
acknowledged humbly, as he Sauntered
along the country lane beside her. GIVE
been afraid of things ever since | was
frightened so in that horrible railroad &C
cident when was little chap. Try as
may can't seem to help it.
"Aunt Martha says man that's half a
man should be able to protect a woman
from every danger" Jesse continued, as
if she had not heard her companion.
"And a coward never could do that.
Why, Jim, in battle you'd run away the
first minute you sighted the enemy, be-
fore even a single gun was fired, you
know you would"
lin BarloW's handsome, bronZed face
flushed with anger.
"Your Aunt Martha hasn't ever needed
any man to protect her." he ierked out.
"What does an old maid know about
what a young man should or should not
do, anyway? And there isn't any war,
nor likelihood of it, that | know OF, so |
don't think you need fret about whether
could face the enemy or not"
"Now, don't get cross, Jim," Jessie
begged. al didn't mean 10 be unkind, !
suppose you can't help not being brave.
But when girl trusts her whole future
to mans keeping she wants him to be
brave-she wants to be able to look up
to him and respect him."
T'd make you good husband, Jes-
sie," Jim pleaded earnestly. "Pm not a
half bad fellow, and I've fairly good
education. I'm not afraid to work, eth
er; and to my thinking that counts for
more in these days than mere physical
bravery. own one of the best farms
around here, and have something in the
bank besides. can give you as COM
Portable home as girl could wish. |
hate to see you 60 on drudging at school
teaching, year after year, when | know
you detest it. If you didn't care for me,
ii would be bad enough, but | could bear
il like a man, and not say word more.
It's the knowledge that it's only my cow
ardce that's keeping us apart that nearly
drives me crazy. If could only do
something 10 prove to you that ! could be
brave-that | could protect you from ev-
cry danger-but can't, can't"
Jim's tones had become tragic, and his
face showed the anguish he felt, though
Jesse could not see that in the fast gath
ering darkness.
His words smote her heart, however.
and the tears filled her blue eyes.
"Please don't take il so hard, Jim, "
she besought him self-reproachfully.
"l'd do as you want me to in minute if
could. Perhaps some time you'll do
something that is really brave and then
-" Here her voice faltered and died
out.
Jim plunged forward in gloomy silence.
He knew his own limitations too well.
Besides, her unfinished sentence showed
him that her hope of bravery on his part
was small.
AS Jessie quickened her steps to keep
pace with those of her silent companion,
she heartily wished that she had not per-
mitted Jim to see her home. She might
have known what would happenl This
made the third time Jim had proposed to
her, and it was very hard to her to keep
on refusing.
The two young people were so absorb
ed by their own unhappy thoughts that
they failed to notice the fast gathering
clouds, which made it much darker than
the hour warranted, until Jessie was
brought TO a sudden realization OF her
surroundings by big drop of rain on her
face.
"Oh, Jim, do believe it's going to
rain," she cried, in dismay.
"That's so" said Jim, arousing him.
self, and scanning the sky. Looks as if
we might have quite downpour."
ooh, what shall we do2" gasped Jessie.
"We are half mile from home, around
by the road, ana there isn't a house near.
My best hat will be spoiled"
"We'll have to run for it, guess" Jim
declared.
Couldn't we make short cut through
Farmer Gifford's pasture?" Jessie sug-
gested. "His creatures are all in the 9TH
er pasture now, you know"
"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, clutch
ing her companions arm frantic ally, and
shrinking close to his side.
"Oh, Jim, lookl" she breathed.
The dim outline of member ofthe bo-
vine family loomed up huge and startling
in front of them.
"It's that dreadful animal OF Henry
Potter's," Jessie shuddered. "Oh, what
shall we do?"
inns face blanched beneath its tan. A
shudder of fear swept through him. He
covered back a step or two. Terror was
on the point of overmastering him. Then
thought flashed into his mind. He re-
membered having seen a couple Of men
at work in this very lot that afternoon.
Courage filled his heart.
Here was the very chance he had long
ed for-well, not exactly that, but one
that would answer as makeshift, ne
reasoned-to show Jessie that ne could
be brave on occasion.
A look of grim determination settled