Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-02-24

while the startled dignity OF her rext.
ures warred with an unmistakable ten.
dency to mirth. He had struggled to
his feet, nursing his bruised elbow,
.rritably conscious Of his resemblance
to an emerging chimney.sweep. Il
don't habitually swear" he said, but
I'd got to the point when something
had to explode"
"Oh." she said. don't mind met"
Then .mirth conquered and she broke
forth suddenly into laugh that
seemed to set the whole place aquiver
with musical contagion. They both
laughed in concert, while the bull
paved the ground and sent forth q
rumbling below Of affront and chal-
lenge.
She was the first to recover. "You
did look so funny" she gasped.
II can believe It," he agreed, max
ing vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. 1.-THE possibilities Of a motor for
comedy are simply stupendous."
She came closer and looked curious
ly at the quiescent monster-at the
steamer.trunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portmanteau peeping
over the side Of the tonneau. rs it
broken?"
Merely on strike, imagine. Are
we far from the village?"
About mile and half"
"I'll have to have it towed after me.
The immediate point is my traps.
wonder If there is likely to be team
passing"
I'm afraid it's not too certain" an
swered the girl, and now he noted the
liquid incubation, with it's slightly
questioning accent, charmingly South.
ern. There is no livery, but there is
& negro who meets the train some
times. I can send him if you like"
You're very good" said Valiant, as
she turned away, "and I'll be enor-
mously obliged. Oh-and If you see
white dog, don't be frightened If he
tries to follow you. He's perfectly
kind
She looked back momentarily.
"He-he always follows people he
likes you see"
Thank you," she said. The tone
had now hint-small, yet percepti-
ble-of aloofness. I'm not In the least
afraid of dogs" And with little nod,
she swung briskly on up the Red Road.
John Valiant stood staring after her
till she had passed from view around
q curve. "Oh, glory!" he muttered.
ITO begin by shaking your fist at her
and end by making her wonder If you
aren't trying to be fresh! You poor,
profane, houndering dolt!"
=
The girl walked on up the highway
with lifting stride, now and then
laughing to herself, or running few
steps, occasionally stopping by some
hedge to pull leaf which she rubbed
against her cheek. smelling its keen
new scent. or stopping to gaze out
across the orange-green belts Of sum
ny wind-dimpled fields, one hand push
ing back her mutinous hair from her
brow, the other shielding her eyes.
Farther on the highroad looped around
. strip Of young forest, and she struck
into this for short cut In the depth
she sat down to rest on the sum
splashed roots Of q tree. Leaning back
against the scanned trunk. her felt hat
fallen to the ground. she looked like
some sea.woman emerging from IN
earth.hued pool to comb her hair
against dappled rock.
She drew back against the tree and
caught her breath % bulldog frisked
over = messy boulder Just In front of
her.
A moment more and she had thrown
herself on her knees with both arms
outstretched "Oh, you splendid crea-
ture!"" she cried, you big, lovely
white darling!"
The dog seemed In NO way averse to
this sensational proceeding. He re-
sponded instantly not merely with tail
waggins, but with ecstatic grunts and
growls. Where did you come from?"
EODT pTTCC TEy