The Era-leader., 1919-02-13
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ISABEL
By LOUISE A. AD 3lESON.
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1918, by The McClure
paper Syndicate.)

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
We knew as soon as we saw her that
she was different. BY the light OF her
eye, the sprightliness in her STEP py
her quick, defiant expression, lsaDel
made it clear to us that she was no
ordinary COW.
"A jersey" my father said. But
think he was mistaken. / don't know
much about COWS. She wanted place
in the sun. She had hankering for
caste, and she refused Immediately to
herd with the everyday, milk-givlng
COWS in the neighborhood.
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, IF a COW don't act like a COW l
can't be bothered. That critters got
too much sense for an animal, 'tain't
natural. I know she jest did things
today out Of sheer spite, and 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 q 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. lsa'
bel walked out in search Of adventure
and her place in the sun.
And it was on that same day that
Evelyn, our pretty young city cousin.
was packing her clothes to 80 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.
It was certainly a pity that there
was nobody home that day. Mother
had gone to the house of a neighbor,
and l 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
ir time to see Evelyn off, and Of course
IL we had known what was going to
happen we would never, never haye
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
Inc eye would never discover teal
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 screer
door, she could distinctly see basket
of green's intended for the days din
ner, a barrel of apples, Of which sh'
was extremely fond, and another bar
rel of potatoes. . Without hesitation
the screen door being unfastened. lisa
bel stepped in and helped herself lib
orally.
In the meanwhile Evelyn, hearing
sound, came forward to see who tn
visitor might be, thinking, too, that 1
| It were that Howard B., she would le
him see, by her icy demeanor, that hi
presence or absence made very littl
difference in her young life. Now, tn
Ice cold demeanor might have been pu
on for it's effect on Howard B., bu
real chills ran down Evelyn's bacl
when she saw who the visitor was. Sh
couldn't help it. She knew it was alb
surd, but all her life she had had al
aversion for cows. So, after staring a
Isabel in terrified fascination for a full
minute, she beat hasty retreat to tn
front of the house. And Isabel left ne
green's, and apples, and potatoes, an
followed, in calm, dignified, unruffie
manner. Evelyn rushed for the from
, door. 1t was locked and she couldn
find the key. Mortal terror overtoo
her. Scream on scream rent the air.
Howard B., in the house opposite
sullenly concocting schemes for maxim
, Evelyn sorry, jumped to his feet o
hearing his name called in frenzied az
, cents. For moment he stood still
;. doubtful if he had heard right. Agai
It came, Evelyn's voice, loud. shril
I terror-stricken. Howard rushed mat
ly, made his way into the front of tn
In 4hn cikna kion nj