St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1914-01-09
A BRAVE
FOOL
By ESTHER VANDEvEER

was born. lie WIS iouhihS w ~ ~
sky, over which white clouds were sail
ing as lazlly as he walked He was
a city chap. who had been ordered by
his physician TO go TO the country, even
though the January winds were blow
ing cold, and recuperate. He was
thinking as he walked what hum
drum thing life was. to be sure. how
free from any kind Of risk or excite
ment his own individual life was and
how when he was "bowled over" as he
expressed II, II would probably be by
an anlmalcule, 80 small that he could
not see IL. entering his system, In.
creasing and multiplying vigorously.
the colony at last eating him up.
Strange It Is how often fate Is doing
with us what we least suspect At the
moment this last idea entered George
Carrolls brain death dealing force
was driving nt him from behind A
shadow, accompanied by the sound OF
horses hoofs. shot transversely before
him. Turning. he saw n girl on horse
back In a red cont, moving between
him and bull that was making for
him. the girl glancing backward M she
rode TO observe the bull. She was
about 10 turn and ride back again
when the bull caught sight Of her,
abandoned the straight line he was fol.
lowing In the direction OF the man and
turned his attention to the girl
Now, George In regard 10 all mat
ters pertaining TO the country was
very stupid lie did not realize that
he was or had been In amy danger He
did not gather from what he saw that
this girl. seeing the bull going for him.
had lcapcd n fence and ridden between
him and his enemy for the purpose
OF turning the animal from him 10 her
self Instead OF thus taking In The
situation aud getting out OF the field
Ms soon as possible. he stood looking
at the bull chnslng the girl.
The Enclosure wns about ten acres
aud George stood near the middle Of lt
The girl led the hull M far as possible
from him. then turned and. cludlng the
animal as dexterously M torendor.
gallopcd AWAY IN the opposite dircc
ton. By that time II began 90 dawn
upon the city man that the horse and
the girl were being pursued by the
bull for the purpose OF gorlng Rut
not even yet did he realize that she
had taken this danger upon herself for |
the purpose of saving his llfo; TINT had |
II not been for her pair of horns |
would have taken him In the back |
broken II and the earthly spurk of his
existence would have gone out forever
What occupied George Cnrrolls
mind % the exclusion of MI else WIS
the danger thnt threatened the girl aud
what he could do to relieve her from
her perilous position. The only thing
he could do was % run Tor the fence
M fast M his legs could carry him and
rllmb over a. II he had done this the
sirl would have made her exit ns she
had made her entrance by urging her
horse over that same fence. She wns
for him 10 get out of tho field
before securing her own safety.
II n singular how brave man may
he fool. OF. rather. IL not good deal
n what We call bravery follyY George
ly his stupidity was leaving both him.
Ielf aud the girl In danger She could
Zee him standing there gaping nt her
Iut was no close pressed that she was
inahle 60 make u Sign TO him 90 nv
or his life. Nearing the opposite end
Il the neld she turned her head 10
ee George running toward herl She
ould have jumped the fence. hut
when she saw the mnn she was trying
o save hurrying again into danger. In
tead of saving herself she turned
bout and started again across the
leld II she went near the man the
'ull might leave her and turn upon
i'm SO she galloped diagonally across
be neld. making an effort at Sign
or him 10 leave II. HUT he did not
nderstand aud. turning. continued his
ursuit OF her.
Then followed events In such quI,k
uceession-so quick that George cCnld
earcely separate them, lie saw the
orse stumble and fall; he saw the
ulls horns 20 into the horses belly:
g heard report, and the bull. too,
sll 20 the ground. A man dropped
un, dashed 10 the fence aud, jumping
. ran 90 where the girl was trying 10
et up from the ground George and
he man resohed her at the same time
he man lifted her up. aud she stood
a her feet
Are you killedi' asked the man.
NO; not even hurt"
Then the man turned TO George.
"for heavens sake" he cried. "how
the world have you escaped the fool
Her all these years." i
Hes not a fool at ALL" said the b
RI; hes = brave man. He didn't real, 4
. his own danger. he was SO intent d
lOn mine" b
When George Carroll realized what c
Q girl had done for him aud how he a
ID stupidity come very near being the 81
use OF her death he was paralyzed. a.
J II was, ne had been the cause or =
e loss OF her horse and a bull worth =,
10 had been shot Fortunately ~
Jorge had fortune and could repair n
E monetary damage. The rest OF Il 8,
uld not be paid for In that way. "
it fate, when George was walking r
ross the field regretting the unevent, |
tenor OF his life. had another pur- |
Ne. All this chain OF events was
{ one OF fate's tricks 10 make a
Itch. The girl reaped her reward
halDlng Gaoroa Snand tht. t,,o.,,.