The Washington herald., 1914-03-14
DAILY SHORT STORY.
POTATO BUGS.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Victoria had abandoned the little
car in disgust when the gasoline gave
out. She was only half way home
fom the postoffice and had the pros
pect of walking two miles to the
Emersons where she was staying
She tucked the letters into her
blouse and trudged along, the hot sun
beating down on her bare head. Col
lar turned in and sleeves rolled up,
Sol was having a pretty good chance
to--spOil the milky whiteness of her
skin.
All at once she saw some cows.
And no fence to restrain them, for
they were out in the road and coming
toward her. Three of them! one red
one black and white. and a Jersey.
II there was a thing in the world
that VictOri was afraid of, it was
COW. She stopped suddenly in dismsy.
What in the world should she do?
On one side were some grass, a few
bushes, and 4 fence. She couldn't hide
under a bush. She would be sure to
be trampled on. Where could she go?
The fence was high. She had never
climbed fence.
But the COWS were coming, Any one
can climb tree il a bear is after him.
So Victoria got over the fence. That
is, she climbed to the top and fell the
rest of the way. And she knocked
pan out of a mans hand on her way
down.
Before she could scramble to her feet.
she caught sight of the contents of the
pan, now scattered in all directions, and
she started to scream and shiver. and
cover her eyes with her hands. About
a hundred or two squirming, crawling.
potato bugs was the sight she was trying
to shut out And then the man took her
firmly by the shoulders. "Shut up"
be snapped. For the love of Mike
don't have Mysteries here. What's the
matter with you?"
The words were pretty bad and the
manner none too gracious, but his voice
was very musical. and Victoria, deciding
she would like to see the owner of it,
stopped shivering and removed her hands
from her eyes
He was a very good looking young
farmer. But he must be taught better |
manners than to be rude to a young lady
in distress. She knew very we'll that he |
would never dare 10 address her that
way could he ever have a chance to see |
her in her city environment For il was
true that Victoria's parents were very
rich and that she had been educated
and finished and polished and buffed, un-
til she was sufficiently brilliant to attract 1
a very eligible husband. And her pres
ent romp in the country was the ORDER
VI lne Idnly PHYSICIAN, VINO was try
ing to harden her constitution for a
wearying social season. .-
How dare you touch met she de-
manded haughtily. You are very rude
and impairment 1t was bad enough to
fall off the fence without landing in the |,
middle of your disgusting bugs Ughw
The young man. discovering that the
intruder in mis- potato field was a very
beautiful stranger. instead of Jim Ma
sons girl. as he at first supposed. being
rather nonplussed.
Really, I beg your pardon. I'm awfuIly
sorry I said anything. But the Mason
girl is so silly and / thought you were
she. IL mean" hastily, mot that
you look alike, but I-guess. I just took
il for granted. I was so surprised-and
you upset my mornings work." looking
ruefully at the ground. They're awfully
thick this yssri'
Victoria was impulsivs and generous