Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-04-04
Callie's Cobra
Was a Thorn
By LILLlAcE MITCHELL
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- When he had first met Callle they
had both been on one OF those Satur-
day hikes thai city people frequently
enjoy-for the day.
Callie, however, had always lived
In the city. With the usual contrari
ness Of human nature she longed to
live in the country. Jim, on the other
hand, had been born on farm, had
followed his father from one farm to
another and had finally managed to
finish high school at northern Michi-
gan lumber town where linen we're
men," as they themselves boosted. Jim
liked to hike, but he had no particular
love for the country as place in
which to live.
Just after they were engaged Callie
found out that Jim hated the coun-
try. Callle decided to take zone.
some" hike over her three-day holiday.
Could she give up all idea Of living In
the country In order to marry Jlm2
Gould she face life In the city for
ever?
thing like that isn't decided In
a moment.
Callle, with a light pack to carry,
took train that let her out at a
lonely little way-station, hundred
miles from the city. She dropped
postal card to Jim, telling him where
she had gone.
Swinging into the country road with
no sign of human habltation before
her, Callle threw back her head and
drew In deep breaths joyously. All
this was the lifel Even Jim, darling
Jim could offer nothing to compare
with this. Singing birds, feathery
trees, wild flowers sprlnglng up at
the sides.
BY night she had come to pine
woods where she unrolled her blan-
ket, blew up her air pillow, and took
out the dainty sandwiches she had
packed In the city.
Callle wondered IL she could have
good things sent out by parcel post.
BY morning she wished that she had
brought a frying pan and bacon. The
sandwiches were good but she could
have eaten the three days supply at
once.
BY noon her further hiking brought
her to high hill. A few scrub pines
dotted It. Brush and splny looking
growths making hiking slow. Under
the warm sun snakes gllded through
the brush, giving Callle little shivers
along her spine.
She sat down to make sure that her
canvas legglngs were well fastened,
A small garter snake slithered near
her ankle. Callle let out yell for
help before she realized that there
was no one to yell to. She began TO
wonder If she had been foolish to
come out alone this way. II she missed
the road and did not come to the town
she was expecting to find-her heart
skipped beat and she rose TO her
feet, pulled down her little scarlet
hat and pressed forward with cllnched
teeth.
It seemed now that all of the snakes
In the world had congregated In this
spot and were gliding about In the
sun. She tried to pretend that she
could not see them. Then at the side
Of a little stream where there were
bulgy stepping stones that rocked as
one stepped upon them, snake
reared and darted towards her.
"a cobra" she moaned as she lost
her footing, stepped wildly on several
stones and fell half In the muddy
stream and half on the coarse brush
bordering II.
When she took Off her Logging she
found two tiny marks. A quick tour.
niquet, turning turning, turning until
It seemed that all Of the blood In her
body had stopped flowing; cold hands
blood racing around and around her
head-CallIe was fear-strlcken
"Cobra-twenty minutes to live"
she said In low tones
The sun was going down now and
she thought OF herself lying out here
never to be found. BY her red Int, II
she were ever found, Jim would know
that II was she for he had helped her
select that nt a store on Michigan
boulevard one Saturday afternoon.
Drowsy, her head dropped forward on
her chest.
She was aroused by the sound OF
motor, and then n voice. She opened
her eyes.
you little Idlotl Chasing of like
this alonew said Jim, shaking her.
Callle chung to him. now wide
awake. LIZA
I'm going TO dle--cobra," she wills.
pered. "oh, don't scold me now, Jim.
I'm -dylng---twenty minutes"
He stared at her He reached over
TO The place where she had thrown
her Logging and looked at II.
There are no cobras 10 this neck
the woods" he laughed. you've
got sDlny.thorn In your logging
grille. Just thorn that's ALL Lucky
you wore that red hat. got your
card In the morning mail and drove
right out. The postmaster told me
you we're In last night and he said
you wore red hat I've searched
for miles
well, all ready TO go back to civil.
zotlOn where snakes are snakes and
flats are fats and all Of that7 Plenty
Of snakes out In Lincoln park At the
700 and they're all classified for you
cobrns and ALL" he teased.
Callie shuddered. "Say, Jimmie, can
we stop some place and get good
mcnlT
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