The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-14

the queen,' she was saying, and emu
ed the pretentious declaration IN D
| scream of mortal terror.
Vera sprang to her feet. She graD'
bed her little companions, one WIN
each hand.
"Oh, hurry! hurry!' she cried ITS
the mad COW LOOSE"
In a flash Rolfe DurWard took ID
the scene, turned suddenly from traV-
esty to tragedy. With lowered head
bristling mien and a below OF wlld
range, the enormous animal was max
ing for the flying children. Tripping
on their long finery, the little ones
tumbled one over the other DurWaro
leaped the fence.
There was no question of the peril
of the children he saw that at
glance He reached their side and
tore the red cape from the shoulders
of the terrorized Vera.
"Run-Quick! Fast!" he ordered
get past the fence"
Then he turned, waving the red tok-
en- of defiance to the advancing AMI
NAL. AS he had hoped and expected
it diverted its course and came lung
lg towards him.
Twice in his toreador-like move
ments the great horns Of the animal
nearly impaled him. He kept up the
Haunting defiance, however, at the
risk of life ard limb until he saw Vera
and her sisters creep safely beyond
the fence. At the same time two men,
one armed with pitchfork, the 9TH
er with a rope, came running from the
paddock whence the animal had es-
capped.
Just leaping the fence, Rolfe was
grazed by the bulky head of the infu-
'lated animal. One sharp horn tore
a ridge clear up one forearm and he
landed with a wrench on the ground
beyond the fence.
Rolfe saw some neighbors take the
children home and the two men cap
ture the mad animal. He bound up his
injured arm as best he could. Then
he went back TO the tree where little |
Vera had sat, to gather up the bor-
rowed finery the children. had dropped
In their flight
The signet ring had slipped from
Vera's finger and he secured this. An
open letter and photograph lay
where she had abandoned it.
With a start OF incredulity Rolfe
the portrait as his own. 1t
must have been secured from the vii
age photographer. And then his
glance fell upon the open letter to
'leW his own name, few words only
With it, but enough to Instantly fill his
oul in the most eXtravasant joy.
He was overwhelmed with express
ions OF gratitude as he reached the
ouse wherc Marcia was codding the
frightened little ones. He found him
elf a hero in tier eyes, he thrilled
S Marcia poured forth her fearful
hanks. He insisted that the hurt to
is arm was mere scratch. Then
e placed the gathered up finery on
he porch Il BE
Il also found these" he said. hand
lg Marcia the signet ring and the
stter, as he had discovered it, open.
"You-you-read," fluttered Marcia. i
i could not help but see my name
few words with it, and-I am glad" j
She flushed crimson. He thrilled
here seemed to be embarrassment, !:
ct throbbing delight-the essence
the moment. His love took hope i
BY strange coincidence he said, I
Is voice trembling, also wrote let j
# today, still unmailed. 1t is only :
ir that you should see it" !:
Her hands shook as she glanced {
yer it. Her eyes met his. They /
'ooped, but glowed. :
DO not send it," she whispered. !
Id ran into TIE home in happy con- :
sion i
Copyright, 1918. by W. G. Chapman)