Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-10
AN ENHANCEMENT
BY EDITH LOWELL.

teS. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper SyndicateC
"Yes, love you, more than anyone
II this world" ami Hilda smiled at the
questioner. II love you, but I won't
marry you-yet."
| NOW, Hilda, be sensible. That's
good girl. There's absolutely no rea-
son why you should put me off 80,
your only reason is"
Ihat I'm not ready. I'm not, and
since you're SO angry, I'll finish read
ing TINS story. You are angry, aren't
your Please be cross, for I'm nearly
bored to death with your everlasting
good nature"
Bob glanced at her quickly. AL
thouSh her eyes were knocking, there
was hint Of earnestness in her words
that made him uneasy.
why, Hilda, little girl, what is It?
Are you tired of me?"
! mo, Bob, not tired. It's Just be-
cause everything is too good to be true.
1 want romance! adventure! Listen,
BOD, when l was IL little tot it was
you who hauled me in your cart l
rode on your velocipede, you pulled me
| 'A'S "uNn l'olib. 1Ou We uuHCeu
| with me, studied with me, and loved
me. 1t has always been you-nothing
has ever come between us-and now
you want ME to marry you'll"
1t was astonishing, hut it was
true-Hiha was crying. With q burst
or tears She continued: "YOu enlisted
anu went to camp. but you never
even-got across! It's the most COM
monplace and unromantic love l ever
heard of. Thercv
"Why, Hilda, little girl, don't know
what you mean-Or what to do-sut
isn't love enoush?' His arm stole
around her.
| bob, l want to be reScued-I want
you to be hero. want you to snatch
me from the jaws of a horrible death,
to carry me from burning building!
| AnythinS--anything! Bob, dear, only
| let's not just be married and live hap
PLY ever after. l want an adventure,
something different, something to re-
member and thrill at, even after ten
years!"
That night when Bob was alone in
his room he pondered the question
deeply. What could he do-what could
a man in such position do?
But fate often steps in and settles
our difficult problems when we least
expect it.
The next morning Hilda's six-year-
old neighbor, Stanley Mason, found her
in her garden. "Oh, Miss Hilda, won't
you please have a picnic with me this
| OHfprnnOno hTnfhnr,c
just hate to stay with Katie"
"Why, Stan, I'd love to. What shall
we do, and where shall we have our
picnic?"
II tell you what; I'll get my fish
lines and you can take US In your car
and Wen fish in Shady Brook"
THAT will be lovely, dear. If mother
says you may we will start at three
O'Clock. I'm so glad you invited me-
I'll put up the luncheon. You run and
ask your mother"
1t was only four miles to the slug
gish little brook, and in short time
they stopped by the side Of the seldom
used road. After Stanley had actually
landed fish, Hilda thought she would
try her fiShermans luck. Stan seemed
to enjoy batting her hook with a wig
/ Cling worm, though Hilda had to turn
away.
After losing her bait several times
she felt heavy jerking on her line.
She pulled it in, exclaiming: "Oh, l
must have the grandfather of all
fishes!" She gave Il tremendous pull
| and there on the bank beside her
lay horrible, great wriggling eel! At
Hilda's cry of alarm Stanley ran to-
ward her, but he was just little boy,
md IIilda's terror frightened him. He
began to wall. Hilda's panic increased
as she scrambled up the steep bank.
The line somehow became entangled
about her ankle, with the eel pulling
and writhing at the end Of the line
Hilda screamed and struggled but
could not release her foot She sud-
denly realized STAINS fright and
Gained herself.
"There. Stan dear, we'll get the old
eel off somehow Mary must have put
q knife in the luncheon basket-will
you look and see?"
Stanley ran to the car and opened
the basket. "No. there isn't, the
! breads all san'wishes, so we didn't
need any"
ITilda tried to loosen the fishing line
so that she could slip her foot from
the moose, but the slight Juggling
caused the eel to flop and twist. IIilda
Jumped again and the cord frightened.
After several trials, each seeming to
stir the eel into greater activity, Hilda
asked Stanley to go to the farmhouse
across the field for assistance.
A moment later n car rumbled over
the wooden bridge.