The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-01
THE EVENING STORY
GWarnlin~ Bees.

his head.
Hildred prone on thick turf opened
languid eyes to ask: "Stung? What is
it? Insect or high finance?'
you're a nice passel of friend!
Grassy said, GROSSLY. Here L am at
your persuasion, ten miles from
lemon, so from a ticker, the width OF
the world from other adjuncts OF CIVIL
zation-yet you ask things like that!
An idiot would have the sense to see
if anything stung met couldn be
what l came here to forget
Wont do tat the gait you're go
ing. One nail drives out another ana
SO forth. Never get the street and al
it's works past your remembering uI-
less 1 get you quite as mad about some
thing else. Question iS-What? IL II
were 1 the answer would be fishing
Hildred laughed.
II hate hook line, sinker, minnows,
spoons-even angle worms Grassy
said weakly, sinking back, his head IN
his crossed arms. Always did-even
as barefoot boy. Only thing 1 hated
worse was-girls-
You've lived that down nobly." Hill
dred broke in.
Grassy scowled. He was silent for
five minutes. then broke out: Il say.
Morris; what was that fairy tale we
heard last night of widow woman
up at GRAVITY who owns the whole
country round about and is going to
stop summer folk from occupying 1t
any more?''
You seem to have the facts on
hand. Wherefore this asking?" Hill
bred murmured, not raising his head.
But Grassy again sat up, eXcitedly,
saying low: Il hear something's horse
i-galloping. Up you oaf. 1t may mean
something
Hildred also had caught the sound;
it set him upon his feet before Grassy
who, stout and none too supple, had
got we'll to his knees. Not too soon.
Around a turn of the road came
horse, with a woman upon its back-a
woman in terror and in danger-for the
beast, mad with fright and pain was
running away. a swarm of bees had
settled upon its head with the uneX-
pectedness of thunderbolt. They were
crawling, singing only now and then,
but enough to make the poor horse
wild.
Hildred caught the situation at
glance-realized the hazard of it,
but did not hesitate. He snatched up
his coat, flung it over the bees, check
ing the horse the least bit, but fright
ening him more than ever. AS he
checked, HiIdred reached for the fig
ure in the saddle half dragged, half
lifted it to safety, then without a word
dashed after the horse.
Just how he managed to rid it of
it's winged tormentors he was never
afterward exactly clear. Some way 1t
was done-at the cost of painful st1ngs.
There was mudhole at the roadside.
Unhesitatingly he plaStered his own
face and hands with mud, after he
had daubed it literally upon the horse.
The animal stood painting and trem-
bling-its fright somewhat abated, but
evidently in pain. Hildred spoke to
it soothingly while he took off saddle
and bride. "A narrow squeak, old
boy he said. putting fresh wet daub
upon a stung flank. Now for-Your
rider, George! I wonder if she ever
saw the like of us!''
He wondered more how Grassy was
acquitting himself-Grassly, the gall
liant. turned suddenly a woman-hater.
In spite of the stings he chuckled as
he led the horse back. He wanted to
guffaw outright at the sight which
abashed, holding out pocket flask,
and being waved sternly away by
figure evidently just rising from the
turf. 1t was saying with difficulty:
me break the pledge! Pouring brandy
down me. helpless and fainting! Sir,
you are-no gentleman
I've always given EN- brandy"
Grassy explained. miserahly.
The Iady's lips curled. You speak
as though you had wide experience
with fainting women she said,
freezingly.
IIildred advanced. saying with his
best bow: He has. madam! Can
you wonder at it? The sight of him
is enough
go away. you-you horror! Talk
of sights the lady shrilled.
Before she could do more than turn
away her head a pretty girl upon
gray pony dashed in. her tense face
lighting with vivid relief at what she
saw. "Oh, Aunt Luella, 1 am so
glad" she painted. Il thought you
would be killed - Jemmey galloped
back and told me-
IF you had not Jagged behind I
might not have been in danger"
Aunt Luella said severely. with two
horses to settle upon those bees would
never have made up their minds until
we were out of their reach.
cooed: then, with a startled glance
at Hildred and his charge, but tell
me, please, how you escaped?
ASK him don't know" Aunt
Luella said. nodding toward Hill
dred
He explained briefly, not dwelling
upon his own stings, but winding up,
L think you had better take this poor
fellow home, touching the trembling
horse, and send for a vet.-bee stings
have been known to kill
Aunt LueIla rose. She had by this
time got back to a normal poise. The
ghost of a smile dimpled cheek still
rosy and unwrinkled despite the gray
hair framing it. as she said, holding
out her hand. I have to thank you.
gentleman, for real and timely help.
If I have been rude-please forgive it
I'm rather easily upset. 1 am Mrs.
Ware. of Grantly-this is my niece.
Elizabeth Gray. Please, both of you
come home with us. YeS-We need