The Bottineau courant., 1914-09-18
RUNNING AWAY
FROM BOB
A Flight That Failed.
BY ETHEL FOWLER.

With its expiring chug Janet steered
the runabout into a convenient lane.
puttered over it bit, then dropped all
useless effort to revitalize it. How
many miles she was from her destina.
tion or her home she bad no idea. 1t
mattered little whether it was one or
q thousand, she was anchored to stay
as far as the machine was concerned.
She had set out with more haste
than discretion and had left undone
things that should have been done in
preparation for so long a run; also she
had neglected to take along other
things that should have been taken in
case Of the emergency which was sure
to present itself.
Emergency without recourse is never
pleasant. Janet felt it almost tragic.
1t portended the failure Of her under.
taking. intended to impress and SUBJ
due her family and-some others. Was
it to end in this silly little iasco? ?
Never!
She set her teeth with determination
and went down the road to reconnoi-
ter. Nothing in sight either way. She
climbed a large rock pile at the road
side and gazed long and intently in the
direction of her destination. as if to
materialiZe in the near distance the
factory village whence she had meant
to speed away on the prosaic but relia-
BILE railway.
She finally persuaded herself that
she perceived spires and chimneys
upon the blank horizon and with more
determination returned to the car.
gathered up her suit case. lunch box.
raincoat and umbrella and set out to
finish the journey with her small, fash
ionably shod feet.
Painting under her load. she eventu-
ally reached the rock pile. rested her
demonstrating. aching little person a
half hour and meekly, with great dis
gust. plcdled back to the runabout as
to city of refuge.
When she packed so large part of
her personal belongings she had not
considered the possibility of trans
porting it by main strength like a hod
carrier
She could abandon the treacherOus
car, but not her plumage. One cannot
make a creditable entrance into
strange country without suitab BILE adorn-
ment and she felt that her future
largely depended upon the impression
her unknown relatives received Of her
at meeting.
Therefore she resigned herself to
await the passing of Il good Samari-
tan. hoping devOutly he would be pos
sessed of large touring car and tow
her into port.
This was entirely a matter of chance.
though. with the probabilities against
it. as she had purposely chosen an un-
frequented way to avoid the auto party
she had deserted.
She kicked her heels and reflected
upon her position with anger and self
pity. Bob would 20. of course. in his
big new machine and equally. Of
course. he would go for ber-he could
not avoid that-in spite of her EN-
phatic refusal to accompany him.
Her refusal counted for little or his
reluctance either. with both families
continually flinging them at each other
in the most barefaced manner.
Her father had come home beaming
the night before and informed her that
Bob would he on hand, as he had taken
pains to explain that she Janet) was
expecting him us usual. the refusal
being a mere bit of feminine cOquetry
and her mother had laughingly added
that she had met the young fellow that
afternoon looking very Respondent and
had cheered him up by remarking that
Janet never meant half what she said
and would be- disappointed If he failed
to come for her.
And. to crown all. Bobs mother had
run in and assured her-as If she de-
manded such assurance-that Bob
would be around early. as she had re.
minded him that Janet expected him
to take her as usual.
LAS uSual"" Janet quoted vindic-
lively. THE poor fellow couldn't get
rid Of me if he tried. as l am sure he
has sometimes!' She was not at all
sure Of this. They'd push us to the
very altar without word from either
Of us as to willingness. and If OBJ.
jected and Bob hung back they'd 'ex-
plain and assure and force me upon
him. just had to run away to re-
lieve him. Though | haven't got far
yeti will: Some one will come along
Some one did few moments later
a man on horseback from the little
town told her civilly that if she was
there when he went back he'd send
some one out for her. though it might
be dark and it would cost her consid.
erable.
$50 much. maybe, that Id not have
enough left for my fare and just have
to sneak back home. You wretched
good for nothing failure!" She jammed
and ratified everything with handles
and cried heartily.
After which she felt better. wiped
up. powdered her shiny nose and pre-
pared to make Il melting appeal to the
next passer be who or what he might.