Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-03-19
ADVENTURES WAY
BY MAIslE 1RoPHY.
wright, 1918, Western Newspaper
Union.)


Susanah looked down the long vii
lage street where stone pavements
basked in hot sunshine, and up the
long street where green hill sloped
invitingly; then she paused in the gap
Of the hedge, wondering in which d.
rection adventure lay. For Susanah
was a child of adventure. Long ago.
when she had visited at Aunt Jeru-
sha's, in summer time, she had be.
lIeved that fairies lurked in that
hedge, that enchanting surprises were
to be found all the way up hill.
Now, when Susanah's dress reached
the tops of her trim high shoes, when
her soft hair was massed in wavy
coils upon her head, she still believed
in fairies, in slightly different way,
while light Of promising adventure
shone alluringly in her dark dashed
eyes.
IT." thought Sue, "you start out on
the shortest journey, sure that lovely
things are going to happen, why lovely
things will happen"
And always Sue was right. She
found the lovely things herself; an I'M
usual flower, perhaps, in some hidden
corner.
Susanah had discarded both the
town road and the hill road for one
leading down mysteriously into vast
shady ravine; in the very heart of this
solitude, as she went expectantly
along she discovered winding crystal
stream. The stream was narrow, and
some invader had bridged it across
with stones placed wide apart. 1mme-
diately Susanah was possessed Of q
desire to reach the other side by way
of the same tempting stones. They
were SO broad and smooth; she tried
the first one cautiously and 1t bore her
weight. then at her daring leap to the
second stone the adventurous light in
her eyes deepened; this really was bet
ter than sitting ustlessly In aunt's
sleepy garden. Here was an element
of chance which sent flush to her
cheeks-to be perched on stone in
midstream. with no one to come to her
aid II the stone should slip, or If she
should find herself unable to reach
the third stone or return to the irst.
Susanah laughed a merry laugh,
which went echoing down stream to
where a man sat fishing, just around
the bend.
The man drew up his line abruptly
and peered around the corner; then,
"Great Scott" he muttered. for the
stream was not shallow, as Sue had
believed.
"Of all the foolishness," the man
grumbled; he was exceedingly an
noyed that his afternoons sport would
be interrupted.
BY way Of attracting her attention,
he began to whistle softly, and Su.
sanah looked about. "Please remain
where you are for a moment" the man
called, and made his way to her along
the slaty beach.
She stood quite still; this man. OF
course, was but part Of her coming adj
venture.
1T will be dangerous for you to try
to 60 farther" the man admonished,
.and to move now might cause you q
wetting. I will wade out in moment
and carry you back"
"Carry her back!" Susanah was
about to Indignantly protest, when the
stone swayed beneath her feet; In
stead, she gave a startled cry. The
mans strong arms caught her up just
as she discovered that the soles OF
her shoes were growing uncomforta'
bly, wet. She wondered, as her deliv-
erer's high boots splashed back
through the water, at her own sense
Of perfect confidence.
"That." he remarked severely, "was
needlessly reckless thing to do. One
has no right to allow their whims to
carry them into" Just then he
paused, staring, for Susanah had, for
the first time turned her wide eyes full
upon him. Their glinting depths
seemed to recall to him inexplicably
certain joyous, care-free days OF his
boyhood. He smiled. Again he
looked, and it was as though he, too.
had glimpsed the fairies.
II will not try to scold you," the
man told Susanah. She dimpled.
II am very grateful to you," she an
swered.
"Billy," he called, "Billy"
Then suddenly he raised his voice
In halo!
Down through the opening q boy
came racing toward them. He wore
khaki suit, this boy, and dotted his
hat to Susanah.
"Look after the boat and tackle,
son." the man commanded. Il am 60
ing to walk up to the level"
Susanah, moving quietly at his side,
realized that in some strange manner
her adventure had become unaccount-
ably disappointing.
II am going to ask return for say.
ing your life," the man was saying,
laughingly; 1--WE are camping out
down here, but Bill makes abominable
coffee. It would be too much to ask
today, of course, but IL you could man.
age to slip down here some time
around mealtime, and instruct him in
the art Of coffee-making; that is, If
you do not live too far away" His
voice was eager.
couldn't your wife teach your soni"
Sue Stammered.
II have no wife. Son is a pet name