The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-04-03
Observation-Disclosures
ISABEL
BY LOUISE A. ADDISON.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
lyright, Iyly, by the McIIuIe NeWs'
paper Syndicate.)

her quick, defiant expression, Isabel
made 1t clear to US that she was no
ordinary COW.
"a jersey" my father said. But l
think he was mistaken. / don't know
much about COWS. She wanted place
in the sun. She had a hankering for
caste, and she refused Immediately to
herd with the everyday, milk-giving
cows in the nelghborhood.
Old Mr.. j., who had taken the cows
to the pasture for years, reported to
father at the end of the first day that
Isabel had taken one look at her placid
grass-munching companions-and bolt
ed. He had chased her the entire day
through forest and glade, and brought
her home, after a spent day, rebellious
and defiant.
"'Taint no use talking" said the old
man, III COW don't act like COW
can't be bothered. That critters got
too much sense for an animal, faint
natural. l know she jest did things
today out of sheer spite, and l shan't
chase after her no more"
And he didn't. So Isabel stayed
home, while her companions went
meekly to pasture every day. Still she
was dissatisfied. 1t was evident that
staying in a dreary barn all day irked
her high-strung nerves. She had yearn-
ings for higher sphere of influence,
so one day, the door being open, Isa-
bel walked out in search of adventure
and her place in the sun.
And 1t was on that same day that
Evelyn, our pretty young city cousin,
was packing her clothes to go home.
Evelyn had been with us for three
months, having been sent by her pa
rents to recuperate after her Illness.
Evelyn was working very hard, lips
compressed and eyes carefully turned
away from the house next door, where
lived Howard R. She would return
his ring by mail, for she was deter
mined not to see him or speak to him
before she left, or any time after
ward.
1t was certainly a pity that there
was nobody home that day. Mother
had gone to the house of neighbor,
and had been obliged to substitute at
the school because Miss F. was sick,
and it was deemed inadvisable to close
up altogether. We expected to return
in time to see Evelyn off, and Of course
If we had known what was going to
happen we would never, never have
left her alone in the house. But then,
we could hardly be expected to look
so far ahead.
Evelyn was miserable, but she had
lots of pride. She was going to leave
the house and the village with Won
derful show of carelessneSs and
sprightly gayety. No spying eye from
across the way would discover even
trace of sadness. Certainly that spy
ing eye would never discover a tear
in hers. But she had reckoned with
out Isabel, who, on leaving the gloom
of the barn for the freshness of the
bright summer day strolled slowly
along until she came to the back of
the house. There, through the screen
door, she could distinctly see basket
Of green's, intended for the days din
ner, a barrel of apples, of which she
was extremely fond, and another bar.
rel of potatoes. Without hesitation,
the screen door being unfastened, Isa-
bel stepped in and helped herself lib
orally.
In the meanwhile Evelyn, hearing a
sound, came forward to see who the
visitor might be, thinking, too, that IL
It were that Howard B., she would let
him see, by her Icy demeanor, that his
presence or absence made very little
difference in her young life. Now, the
ice-cold demeanor might have been put
on for its effect on Howard B., but
real chills ran down Evelyns back
when she saw who the visitor was, She
couldn't help IL. She knew 1t was alb
surd, but all her life she had had an
aversion for cows. So, after staring at
Isabel in terrified fascination for full
minute, she beat hasty retreat to the
front of the house. And Isabel left her
green's, and apples, and potatoes, and
followed, in a calm, dignlfied, unrufled
manner. Evelyn rushed for the front
door. II was locked and she couldn't
find the key. Mortal terror overlook
her. Scream on scream rent the air.
Howard b, in the house opposite,
sullenly connecting schemes for making
Evelyn sorry, jumped to his feet on
hearing his name called In frenzied ac-
cents. For a moment he stood still,
doubtful II he had heard right Again
It came, Evelyn's voice, loud shrill,
terror-stricken. Howard rushed mad
ly, made his way into the front of the
house, and took In the situation at
glance.
Isabel, not the least frightened NJ
the two by this time, received, l am
sorry to relate, blow on her arlstO-
cratic body, and much to her surprise
and Indignation was forced back to
her stall In the barn, while Evelyn,
almost fainting, fell into her reseuer's
arms without word, on his return.
"You're-you're-not going away,
are your asked Howard. after q min
ute or two.
She shook her head in the negative,
and, smiling wanly, put the ring, which
she had intended returning by mail,
on her finger again.