The Monte Vista journal., 1913-04-05
A BIT SHAKEN UP
How Margery Brown Met the
Knight of Her Day-Oreams.
BY w. DEAN SMITH.

Margery Brown, blue-check-sun-
bonnet thrown carelessly on her gold
crowned head. ran lightly down the
walk from the modest little cottage
where she and her widowed mother
lived In frugal comfort She swung
tin pail gaily In time to merry
song she war humming.
Widow Brown, standing In the door
way. her eyes alight with tender at
fection. watched the girl as she un-
latched the gate and stepped out In
tc the dusty road
BE careful OF the automobiles. Mar
gerry" she warned.
Margery turned and waved the pail
"Fll be careful. mother; don't worry"
she called back reassuringly.
Come back early. dear"
"All right. mother"
AS far back as she could remember
In the eighteen years Of her life. Mar
gerry Browns greatest pleasure was
tc go picknickiLg by herself. Garry
Ing tin pail well stocked with slices
sweet yellow butter, ponderou5 sugar
cookies and mellow red apples, she
would go to her favorite spot in a
prtch of green woods a 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
" MID rnty oil IN q
beauty OF tie descending sun. and
busbling over with the sheer Joy of
living.
Today, she was more quiet and
renssve 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 a peddler
ostensibly as gift to Margery but
In reality as pa, ment for the generous
meal for which the kindly and hospi-
table Widow Brown refused to accept
money. 1t was most wonderful book.
indeed. It 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 a
mail clad steed would dash up and
carry her of. breathless and af-
frighted. yet happy. Margery walked
slowly along until she reached the
woods. She sought out a restink place
"a velvety expanse Of short-cropped
grass beside q tiny brook that sans
and gurgled musically. 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 a drowsiness which soon
caused her to fall asleep.
She awoke with a start. A furious
noise broke the stiffness about her.
For a moment, half asleep as she was.
she thought that the knight OF whom
she had teen dreaming had really
come. and that the sound she heard
was the clatter OF his horses hoofs.
But she soon realized 1t 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 swishink of the foliage
al the treetops were violently agita
ted. Then came a crash on the outer
edge OF the woods.
Margery sprang up and ran to the
field beyond. There she saw tan
gled mass OF wires and sticks and
canvas She hastenee to the wreck
age. then paused in fright. her face
blanched. Underneath what was left
Of the aeroplane lay man. trickle
of blood across his forehead. With
a 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 1t was. and ran back
to where she had let her lunch. She
dumped 1t onto the ground. and filled
the pail with water. Hurrying to the
unconscious man. she dashed the wa.
ter into his face. He stirred uneasily
then opened his eyes.
Are you hurt badly?" asked Mar.
gerry anxlously
III ! am. I'm glad OF It," he replied.
as he looked with admiring eyes upon
the beautiful girl
Isn't there any way to get you
out7"
III you'll fuss around In that funk
heap and find me pair OF pliers, III
be free In jiffy. Thanks" he con.
tinued. as Margery tumbled an arm.