The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-08-25
BESSIE
BY AGNES G. BRoeAN

90. 1922. by Western Newspaper Union.)
When Bessie, the black cow, was on
her peaceful way to pasture that MORN
ing, who could have fOreSeen that she
would have an influence on two young
human lives? Professor Laidlow would
have scoffed the idea.
When Peggy saw the COW, she made
for the highest fence, and perched
there in trembling fear. Peggy was
unfamiliar with the ways of the COW,
having just come on from the city to
visit Aunt Felice. She was consider
ing, here in country quiet, a means of
future livelihood. Also, Peggy was re-
covering from supposed broken heart
recovering nicely.
The young man who had caused this
broken heart was dazedly unaware of
the cause of his failure to win it. Brief
was coward. On this particular
morning of Bessie's joyous outing, Peg
gy had been on her way to the brook
side to read magazine, but innocent
Bessie blocked the way. The girl, in
panic, glanced around the enclosure
wherein she was trapped with the cow
and made for the fence top.
Peggy relapsed for a time into for
getfulness of danger, picturing the hero
who might come boldly to her relief.
masculine voice from below, and rap
idly man clambered up beside her.
I meyer saw the beast" he Chartered,
until l was directly beside him. I
was cutting through the meadow, In
order to quickly reach the schoolhOuse.
The animal looks vicious-I beg your
pardon. Were you caught in a like
predicament?"
II was" she replied, land hoped
that some brave person might happen
along to release me. 1t appears the
brave person has not happened"
The man was contemptuousIy obliv-
ious Of her disdain.
'I'm no matador," he returned CURLY.
Peggy shifted her position to look
him over.
"What-are your" she asked imper-
tinently.
Il am here to apply for the position
of school principal" he told her. Peg
gy almost lost her balance in the ex-
element of this information, and was
obliged to steady herself by the mans
unwilling arm.
hn
myself" she said.
"You won't get it. His tone was
ungracious. "Women are not reliable
enough to hold positions of any i'm
portance."
you talk" she suggested spitefully.
like man who has been disappointed
lin love, perhaps"
81 have been disappointed" he sur
prisingly answered. "The young woman
whom foolishly thought had captured
my fancy proved to be impertinent.
She was in my classes. / can brook
impertinence from no one. 1t is to me
most distasteful."
"Just as cowardice in man is dis
tasteful" remarked Peggy, sadly rem
iniscent-"and most disappointing.
The professor, for the first time, re-
garded her with interest. Something
In the usefulness of her tone found an
echo in his own heart. "You, too" he
questioned gently, "have known dis
illusionment?"
Peggy nodded. "Of course" she ad
mitted. AUNT Sophia, with whom l
live in the city, is rather disagreeable
to young men whom she thinks may be
paying me attention. But that was no
reason why Ted Thayer should have
been afraid to come to the house, and
so he asked me to meet him at the
home of mutual friend"
Certainly not" emphatically agreed
the professor.
81 have decided" said Peggy, sof-
tened, "to withdraw my school applica-
ton in your favor. You will undoubt-
edly be the person for the place"
81 had about decided to relinquish
my idea of coming here" the professor
confessed, when / started out this
morning. Too deadly monotonous, the
place seemed to me, for even the fur
thering of my true purpose, for the
school has been only means to the
end of enabling me, In country seclu-
sion, to complete a certain work on
science. But since you and / sat here
together | have come to the conclusion
that If you remain-do you intend to
remain?'' The professors tone was
eager.
In strange, happy confusion, Peggy
reached for low hanging red apple.
Lightly she swung it to and fro.
"Aunt Felice is anxious to have me
stay for the summer; 1 really think
that would be delightful. And-Aunt
Felice is not the least bit like Aunt
Sophia"
Something softly moist brushed Peg
gie's palm, and the apple slipped from
her grasp. Then, gratefully, Bessie
rubbed her black head against the
girls knee.
"Why!" breathed Peggy, "she's not
savage at all. Why. believe she likes
me-"
"How," asked the professor incoher-
emily, "could she, or anyone. or-or me,
help liking your
Calamity he assisted Peggy from her
perch.
81 am going your way" he an
nounced, which was surprising, as the
professor could not know which way
was to be Peggie's.
at is NICE" she said, as his arm pro
-ected her against Bessie's calm length,
to meet a brave man."
The professor smiled with satisfac-
ion.