The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-02
IA Bit SHAKEN Up.
How Margery Brown Met tho
Kniuht Of Her Day.0reams.
~ W. DEAN SMITH.

crowned head. ran lightly down thu
walk from the modest little cottags
where she and her widowed mothe,
lived in frugal comfort. She swunl
tin pail gaily in time to . merry
song she was humming.
Widow Brown. standing In the door
way. her eyes alight with tender e
lection. watched the girl - she I'M
lstched the gate and stepped out In
70 the dusty road.
BE careful Of the automobiles, Mar
SoEy." she warned.
Nargery turned and waved the pail
TN b careful. mother: don't worry
she called back reassuringly.
Come back early. dear"
All right. mother"
A. far back az she could remember
In tho eighteen years Of her life. Mar
gerry Browns greatest pleasure was
to 90 picknicking by herself. Garry.
ing . tin pail we'll stocked with slices
Of delicious homemade bread with
sweet yellow butter. ponderous sugar.
cookies and mellow red apples. she
would 60 to her favorite spot In a
patch of green woods half mile
from the cottage. There, she would
spend the day upon the cool grass; a
child of nature. singing with birds
that few about her head undismayed,
and playing with tiny red squirrel
she had tanned Towards dusk, she
would return home. glorying in the
beauty Of the descending sun. and
bubbling over with the sheer Joy Of
living.
Today. she was more quiet and
pensive than usual The dream.light
was In her soft blue eyes. and q
tender smile upon her lips. A most
wonderful book by chance had fallen
into her hands. left by peddler
ostensibly as gift to Margery but
in reality as pay nient for the generous
meal for which the kindly and hospi.
table Widow Brown refused to accept
money II was a most wonderful book,
indeed. 1t told all about the fair
ladies and dashing knights of old.
Filled with the romance Of those BY
gone days; and wishing in her secret
heart that a knight In armor upon q
mail clad stecd would dash up and
carry her N. breathless and af-
frighted, yet happy. Margery walked
slowly along until she reached the
woods. She sought out q resting place
"A velvety expanse Of shOrt.cropped
grass beside tiny brook that sang
and gurgled unsteady. She gave her.
self up to the quiet spirit of the per
feet June day. The drone of bees and
the purling of the little stream lulled
her into drOwsiness which soon
caused her to fall asleep.
She awoke with a start A furious
noise broke the stiffness about her.
For q moment, half asleep as she was,
she thought that the knight of whom
she had been dreaming had really
come, and that the sound she heard
was the clatter of his horses hoofs.
But she soon realized il was not like
anything she had ever heard before.
and she became frightened
The sound came from high up in the
air-a continuous rattle. sharp and
penetrating Suddenly. 1t ceased. In
the silence that followed. she heard
the rush Of mighty object just above
her. and the swishing Of the foliage
as the treetops were violently agita.
ted. Then came a crash on the outer
edge Of the woods.
Margery sprang up and ran to the
Held beyond. There she saw a tan
gled mass OF wires and sticks and
canvas. She hastenec to the wreck
age. then paused in fright. her face
blanched. Underneath what was left
Of the aeroplane lay a man. q trickle
Of blood across his forehead. With
. gasp Of horror. the girl tried to re-
lease him; but she could not move
the pieces Of wire that held him
fast. She abandoned the attempt, see
Ing how useless It was. and ran back
to where she had let her lunch. She
dumped It onto the ground. and filled
the pail with water. Hurrying to the
unconscious man. she dashed the va
ter into his face He stirred uneasily.
then opened HE eyes.
Are you hurt badly!" asked Mar
gerry anxiously.
II l am. I'm glad Of It." he replied.
- b looked with admiring eyes upon
he beautiful girl.
Isn't there any way to got ysp
eat!~
II you'll fuss around in that junA
heap and flnd me 4 pair Of pliers, III
Be free In q jitfy. Thanks" he con.
tinued. as Margery tumbled an arm
ful Of tools within his reach.
With = few swift cuts. the aviator /
severed the wires that held him. He
drew himself out Of the wreck care
fully and got to his feet He was
somewhat unsteady, but pulled himself |
together In moment or SO.
NO bones broken" he announced.
Just q bit shaken up. that's all. Is
there telephone anywhere around,"
slim Raker has opo. ohorx . -,