Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01

He ran now as he had never run before.
And he had need 10. for, after the
first instant of surprise. the mob was
pouring across country after him. and
dimly. as he ran. he could hear voices
IN the throng informally discussing the
advisability Of lynching him. More
over, the field through which he was
running. a moment before bare eX-
panse of green, was now black with
figures. headed by a man who carried
a pitchfork George sWerved sharply TO
the right, casting swift glance over
his shoulder at his pursuers. He dis
liked them all. but especially the man
with the pitchfork.
1t is impossible for one who was not
an eyewitness to say how long the
chase continued and how much ground
was covered by the interested parties.
l know the East Wobsley country well.
and 1 have checked Georges state
ments, and. If 1t is true that he trav-
eled east as far as -WigmarSh-ln-
the-Dell and as far west as Higgleford-
m-Wortlebury beneath the Hill. he
must undoubtedly have done a lot of
running.
But a point not TO be forgotten is
that. to man not in condition to CD
serve closely. the village of Higgleford-
m-Wortlebury- beneath-the-Hil might
easily not have been Higgleford-cum-
ry-beneath-the- Hill at all. but
another hamlet that closely resembles
it. / need scarcely say that allude to
Lesser Snodsbury-i -the-Vale.
Let us assume. therefore. that George.
having touched Little-Wigmarsh-in-
the-Dell. shot of at a tangent and
reached Lesser -Snodsbury-in- tfe-Vale.
This would be considerable run. And.
as he remembers fitting past the Dog
and Duck at Pondlebury Parva. and
splaShing through Brook Nipple at the
point where it joins River Wopple we
can safely assume that. wherever else
he went, he got plenty of exercise.
But the pleasantest Of functions must
end. and. Just as the setting sun was
gliding the spire of the UNCOVERED
church OF ST BarnabaS. a damp and
bedragsled figure might have been OBJ
served crawling painfully along the
High street of East WobSley in the di-
rection of the cozy little cottage known
to its builder as Chatsworth and to the
village tradeSmen as Mulliner'S."
II was George. home from the hunt
ing field.
SLOwLY George Mullinsr made his
- way to the familiar door. and.
passing through it. flung himself into
his faTorite chair A slim. fair girl. at
tired in tweeds was leaning over the
t,eSk on which he kept his Dictionary
OF English synonyms.
She looked up as he entered. startled.
Why, Mr.. Mullineri" she exclaimed.
What has been happening? Your
clothes are torn, rent. ragged. tattered.
and your hair is all disheveled. I'M
trimmed. hanging loose or negligently'
az loose enoS!"
She gave him a glass of water.
George smiled van smile.
You are right" he said. And. what
is more. am suffering from extreme
fatigue, WEAKNESS. laSSitude, eXhaus-
sicn. proStration and lsnguor
The girl gaZed at him, divine pity
in her soft eyes.
I'm so sorry" she murmured. so
very sorry, grieved. distressed, afiicted.
panied. mortified. detected and upset"
George took her hand Her sweet
sympathy had effected the cure he had
been seeking so long. Coming on top
of the violent emotions through which
he had been passing all day 1t seemed
Suddenly. in a fash. he realized that
he was no longer a stammerer. Had he
wished al that moment to say, Peter
Piper picked peck of picked peppers,
he could have done 1t.
But he had better things TO say than
that
Miss ake-SuSan-SuSie" His
voice rang out clear and unimpeded. I.
seemed TO him incredible that he had
ever hammered at this girl like an over
heated steam radiator. 1t cannot have
escaped your notice that I have Ions
entertained toward you sentiments
warmer and deeper than those Of ordi-
nary friendship. 1t is love. Susan. that
has been animatinS my bosom. Love.
first a ting seed. has burgeoned in my
heart TILL blazing into flame. IL has
swept away my diffldence. my doubt,
my fears. and my foreboding. and now,
like the topnoSt topaz OF some ancient
tower IL cries TO all the world in voice
OF thunder You are mine! Ny mate,
PredcStined TO me since Time first be-
GAM AS the star guides the mariner
when. battered by boiling pillows. he
HES him home 10 the haven OF hope
and happiness. so do you gleam upon
me along lifeS rough road and seem
70 say, Have courage. GEORGE am
herer Susan. am not an eloquent man
Il cannot speak fiuently as could wish
but these simple words you have lust
heard come from the heart Susan, ]
love YOU VIII YOU be my wife. spouse,
conSort. partner. or better halfP"
oh. George," said Susan Yes. yea,
ay. ayel Decidedly. unQucSticnaoly. in
duhitaoly. inccntrovertioly and past all
diSpute!"
He folded her In his arms. And. As
he did so, there came from the street
the sound Of feet and voices. George
leaped 10 the window. Rounding the
corner lust by the Cow and Wheel
barrow. was the man with the pitchfnrk
and behind him followed a vast crowd.
My darling" said George "For
purely personal and private reasons.
into which l need not enter, must
now leave YOU WIN YOU Join me late~s"
Il will follow YOU TO the ends Of the
earth" replied Susan. peSsicnately,
IT will not be necessary" said George,
II am only going down 60 the cellar,
| shall spend the next half~hour there.
II ANYBODY calls and asks for me. per-
hspS you would not mind telling them
that am out"
II viii. I will" said Susan. And
George, by the way. What really came
here for was to ask you IL you knew =
hyphenated word OF nine letters end
ms in k and Signifynig an implement
employed in the pursuit OF agriculture"
"Pttchfork, sweetheart" said GecrEe,
But YOU make take IL from me, as
one who knows, that agriculture isn't
the only thing Il Is used in pursuit Of"
And since that day concluded MFR.
MullineTl, George. believe me or believe
me not, has not had the slightest trace
Of an impeachment In his speech, he is
now the chosen orator at all political
rallies for miles around; and So often
SiSely Self~contident has his manner
become that only last Friday he had his
eve h'aekened by man named Stubs
II Just shows YOU, doesn't itf
tccpyrtsht. la2aA