The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-14
The Eoer,i,le Story
Potato Bu6s.
(By Louise Oliver.)

(By Louise Oltvef.)
Victoria had abandoned the little
car in disgust when the gasoline gave
out. She was only half way home
from the postodlce and had the pros
poet Of walking two miles to the
Emersons. where she was staying.
She tucked tho letters into her
blouse and trudged along. the hot sun
beating down on her bare head. Cob
bar turned IN and sleeves rolled up,
Sol was having q pretty good chance
to spoil the milky whiteneas 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! Ono
red, ono black and white. and .
II there was a thing in the world
that Victoria was afraid of, It was q
cow. She stopped suddenly In dis
may. What in tho world should she
do? On one side Of her was q high
bank-she could never climb that!
On the other side were some grass. .
few bushes and a fence. She couldn't
hide under bush. She would be
sure to be trampted on. Where could
she go? The fence was high. She
had never climbed q fence.
Dut lno COW8 were COm1nKs Any
one can climb . tree II q bear is
after him. So Victoria got over the
fence. That Il. 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
tons. and she started to scream and
shtver, and cover her eyes with her
hands,. About . 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" he snapped.
For the love OF Mike, don't have hys-
terjcs here. What's tho matter with
you 2"
The wordse were pretty bad and the
manner none too gracious, but his
voice was very musical. and Victoria.
deciding she would Hike to see the
owner OF 1t, stopped shivering and re-
moved her hands from her eyes
He was q very good looking young
farmer. But he must be taught bet
ter manners than to be rude to a
young lady in distress, She knew very
well that he would never dare to adj
dress her that way could he ever have
chance to see her in her city en-
vfronment. For 1t Was true that Vic
u
she had been educated and finished
and polished and buffed. until she was
sufficiently brilliant to attract q very
eligible husband. And her present
romp in the country was the order OF
the family physician who was trying
70 harden her constitution for q
Wearytng social season.
How dare you touch me!'' she de-
manded haughtfly. .You arc very
rude and tmpertinent. 1t was had
enough to fall off tho fence without
landing in the middle OF your disgust
ing bugs. Ugh!''
The young man discovering that
the intruder in his potato field was q
very beautiful stranger, instead OF Jim
Mason's girl. as he at first supposed,
looked rather nonplussed.
Really. I beg your pardon. I'm
the Mason girl II So silly and I Thought
you were she. IL mean" hastily.
mot that you look alike, but I-guess,
just took It for granted. I was %
surprised, and you upset my mornings
work. looking ruefully at the ground.
They're awfully thick this year!''
Victoria was impulsive and gem
erous by nature. She held out her
hand Il am very sorry. But was
scared to death at the cows. II you
have another stick maybe could help
bugs
He laughed. mo thank You. 1t
Will only take Z few minutes, Mis-
Harmon. I am Victoria Harmon,
and am staying over at the Emerson
farm: My car broke down and I'm
walking"
But it's two milea"
And IT'S q beastly hot day"
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