The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-23
Runaway
By CLARISSA> >MACKIE
@ by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.


Wlue NeTuHud WHeTe all medlS were
served
The guests numbered dozen,
several of whom Alice recognized
as old acquaintances. The others
were strangers, but the girls were
all pretty and vivacious and the
men were the right kind. There
was one man who came in a little
late and sat down near Mrs. Mer-
rill, on the same side of the table
as Alice was sitting. She could not
/ see him but the corner where he
was seemed full of merriment. She
was glad of that-glad because the
youths on either side of her were
| jolly college bOys-she wanted fun
and laughter-lOts of ii all the
time, because life had been rather
/ bitter the last few months for pretty
/ Alice Pearce, especially regarding
her affair with Blake Irving Well.
she had run away from Blake since
/ their quarrel and she had made her
parents s0lemnly VOW not to inform
/ the remOrseful lover of her where
abouts. Mrs. Pearce had shot a
guilty look at her grim husband
when their daughter exacted this
promise, and Alice remembered her
fathers hearty voice when he said
promptly:
"Of course. daughter, your moth
er and solemnly promise not to
tell Blake where you have gone Go
in peace, and come home with
Blake entirely from your heart !"
"Of course he has gone from my
Ae ri now." Alice had said in a very
shaky voice, but they had been very
CHEEKY to the last, and the girl had
no suspicion that the day before
the promise had been given, Mrs
Pearce had whispered a few words
to Blake.
81 am hundreds of miles away
from him." thought Alice, little
drearily, and just then the young
man on her left made funny re.
mark and Alice laughed merrily.
Suddenly, the merriment in Mrs
Appleton's corner ceased for awhile
Just as If the sound of Alice's laugh.
ter had stilled il.
Perhaps Ii had-who knows?
1t was long after dinner was over
that Alice set down her coffee cup
and stepped through one of the
open windows into the moon
splashed night. She paused in &c.
stacy at the head of the steps
Through an open space she saw
the lake, glittering like a silver mir.
ror-bOats were down there and she
heard the distant tinkle Of guitar
Alice felt a sudden distaste for so
clety-she confessed to longing
for solitude-she wanted to think
about Blake-just once more before
she ousted him from her heart for
ever. That was why she had come
of Beechcamp. She ran down the
steps and stepped into one Of the
dim moonlit aisles among the pines.
Almost instantly the pines seemed
to close about her-behind her
1T is an illusion !" she breathed
quickly, her hands flying to her
heart, and so she stood in listen
ing attitude.
Suddenly. she awoke from her
reverie. A mans familiar footsteps
came down the aisle behind her, she
heard Blake's voice. softly calling
her, and in her terror Alice Pearce
fed. OF course her white dress
made her conspicuous. but she was
fleet of foot. But always in the dis
tance behind her she heard the
crash of heavy footsteps, and now,
suddenly, she heard a crashing In
front of her.
She stopped and slipped into the
shadow of dark thicket and
gasped breathlessly. For she was
between two fears-and the last
was the greatest fear that she had
ever known.
In the moonlit space In front of
her a great black bear was stand
ing on his hind legs dabbing at her.
Behind her the footsteps paused
moment and then Blake's voice
came low and caressing.
''DarlingI" he said. and then he
was in front of her thrusting her
behind him with one strong hand
that did not loose it's possessive
grip. In his other hand something
flashed. once, twice. three times
There was a heavy crash, and then
silence except for the signing
breeze In the pines.
Darling, are you quite all right?'
II was Blake's voice, tender, vi
brating--the voice she loved.
YES" she quavered. and some
how she found her face pressed
tight against his breast. and his
arms close about her.
And when the remainder of the
house party came hurrying down
the aisles. Mr.. Merrill in the lead
with a shotgun over his shoulder
they found Blake and Alice still
standing hand in hand beside the