El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-04

Miss Susie Indignantly repudiated the idea,
but she could not persuade the family The
thought of a frog as big as man was far too
much for them. For two nights Miss susie
did not see the frog But there is a long,
beautiful road which stretches out from FOun-
tain Springs, and along this it was her habit
to ride. Three days after the last appear
ance of the frog on the lawn, she went can
tering along this road. She had ridden a
couple of miles and was passing by clear
ing All at once her horse stopped and be-
gan to tremble Miss Susie looked over his
head. There squatted in the road, perhaps
twenty yards away, was the frog. 1t was
enormous, and as she watched, horror strick-
en-, it raised itself and began to dance
The horse turned, and bOlted back for
home.
Miss Susie, almost fainting from fright,
dropped from its back before the house and
went tottering in to her mother.
That night there was a family council.
While Colonel Warner still could not bring
himself to believe in frog so big, his daugh-
ter's fright shook him.
I'll get two or three people and We will
follow you quietly he said. Go out riding
tomorrow, but ride slowly We will creep
along in the covert and see whether we can
see anything"
A suspicion began to form in Miss Susie's
mind. It seemed absurd-and yet she could
not help connecting young Mr. Meredith
with these apparitiOns Of an unbelievably
big frog and yet she felt it was so absurd
that she didn't want to tell her father about
it and maybe get Jimmy into ridiculous trOu-
Bile. Nevertheless, that evening she sent over
for Mr.. Meredith.
Have you decided to marry me-" he ask
ed as soon as he arrived.
Miss Susie spared.
Lets hear you do that dog fight again"
Mr. Meredith rendered the fight with art
and precision.
Can you initiate a frog fght?" asked Miss
Susie innOcently. But Jimmy saw the Trap
and didn't fall into it.
That's the one thing I never learned to
initiate"
The next day, followed quietly by her faith
er and a small posse, Miss Susie rode over the
Walden Road. She slowed up at the clear
ing. From the clearing where the frog had
appeared before there came a prOdigiOus
CrOak. Miss Susie, confirmed now in her sus-
picions and fortified by the thought of strong
men close behind her, jumped from her horse
and walked rapidly toward the roadside.
AS she did so, out jumped again the mys-
FERROUS frog. Its appearance was so fOrmid-
able, it looked so real, that the girl screamed
with fright and seemed about to faint The
frog gave a prOdigiOus leap and caught her
in its arms. A human voice issued from the
frog, saying, Don't be frightened. It's only
me, Jimmy Meredith. 1 never meant to
brighten you this way"
And just then, pistols drawn. Colonel War
ner and his men came to the rescue. Miss
Susie saw them out Of a corner OF her eye.
Don't shoot father" she cried; its only
Jimmy Meredith. I think he is going plumb
crazy
The men fell upon the frog, and, To- it was
made of papier mache. They ripped it open,
and within it, scared stiff was young Mr..
Jimmy.
You scoundFel." shouted the Colonel. I've
mind to shoot you where you stand What
do you mean by frightening my daughter sop
q did it because 1 loved her" stammered
young Jimmy, "and I thought I could fright
en- her into marrying me. But never meant
to brighten her as bad as this. I didn't IN
derstand what I was doing
The matter is now in court, but is is likely
to be settled by young Mr.. Meredith promis-
ing to leave for protracted trip abroad.