The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-01-12
IN THE PASTURE
(By Ellie stevens.)

mind TO that jim. Father says you
are one and the worst OF It isl can
not deny IT,"
There was a note OF sorrowful re-
greet in Jessie Leighton Is voice as
she uttered this decision.
81 know that ! am a coward"
Jim Barlow acknowledged humbly
as he sauntered along the country
lane beside her. II have been a
fraid OF things ever since ! was
frightened so in that horrible rail
road accident when / was a little
chap. Try as I may, I can't seem
to help IT,"
Aunt Martha, says that a man
that is a half man should be able
to protect a woman from every dan
ger" Jessie continued as II she had
not heard her companion. and a
coward never could do that. Why
Jim, I'm battle you'd run away the
first minute you sighted the enemy
before even, a single gun was fired.
You know you would"
Jim Barlow's handsome face flush
ed with anger
"Your aunt Martha hasn't ever
needed a man to protect her. he
ierked out, What does an old maid
know about what a man should or
should not do. anyway? and there
isn't any war or likelihood OF &c.,
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. didn't mean to be UNI
kind. ! suppose you can't help not
being brave. But when "a girl trusts
Der whole future to a mans keep
ng she wants him to be brave
she wants TO be able to look up to
him and respect him.
"I'd mako you a good husband,
JESSIE" Jim pleaded earnestly 81
am not q half bad fellow and ] have
fairly good education. I'm not a.
fraid to work either, and to my
thinking that counts more in these
days than mere physical bravery. ]
own one of the best farms around
here and have something in the
bank besides. could give you as
comfortable a home as a girl could
wish. / hate to see you 80 on drudg-
lng at school teaching, year after
year, when ! know that you detest
II. II you didn't care for me, 1t
would he bad enough, but ] could
bear II like a man and not say a
word More II IS the knowledge OF
my cowardlce that keeps us a part
and nearly drives rue crazy. II ]
could only do something to prove
that / could be brave-that ] could
protect you from every danger
but cant, can't
Jim's tones had become tragic and
his face showed his anguish he felt
though Jessie could not see that tn
the fast gathering darkness.
Ills words smoto her heart. how
ever and tears filled her big blue
eyes
"Plea-e don't take 60 so hard,
lin" she besought him seli-re-
proachfully.. I'D do as you want
me 10 in minute 10 ! could. Per
hans you'n do something sometime
that is really brave and then
Here her voice faltered and died out
Jim plunged 70 ard in gloomy si-
lence. He knew his own Limitations
TO well. Besides her unfinished sen
tence showed him that her hope for
his bravery was very small.
AS Jessie quickened her steps TO
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 happenl This made the
third time that Jim had proposed TO
her and it was hard for her 70 keep
on refusing.
The two young people we're so
absorbed in their own unhappy
thoughts that they failed 20 notice
the fast gathering clouds which
made it much darker than the hour
warranted, until Jessie was brought
70 a sudden realization OF her sur
roundings by a big drop OF rain on
her face.
"Oh. jim. ] do believe IT, is going
10 rain she cried ia dismay.
That's so" said Jim arousing
himself and scanning the sky. 1T
looks as II we might have quite a
cownpour.
oh. what shall we do? gasped
Jessie. We are half mile from
aome around by the road and there
-snt a house re-r Ny best hat