Stampeded

Stampeded By SILAS L. CHENEY HAZEL March gazed belliger- ently at her mother. "No use of you and Dad beating around the bush. I know- exactly why you're carrying me off to the canyon," she declared petu- lantly. "You're afraid I'm in love with Maurice Blanchard and so you propose snatching the burn- ing brand from the fire." "Hazel, dear, you're mistaken. We are afraid you are becoming in- fatuated, and that might easily lead to something more serious; but love is out of the question since you have known him so short a time. To love is to understand and really appreciate — feelings which are not acquired upon an impulse." I HAT'S the way they used to think, but times have changed. Today we live 'by heart throbs, not by figures on a dial,' but answer me one question. What's the big objection to Mau- rice?" "He's of one faith, and you are of another. Where there is a dif- ference in belief and training per- taining to anything so funda- mental as religion, trouble and dif- ficulties are bound to arise — if not before then certainly after one commences rearing a family. You are old enough to think seriously about such matters. You must un- derstand and believe what the Gospel teaches concerning the im- portance of marriage?" PLEASE don't, Moth- er. This solemnity is depressing. Why not have the next on the program?" With that she pounced on the piano bench and rattled off several jazzy selections in rapid succession, exercising almost every muscle of her lithe body in de- fiant abandonment as she did so. "Now, what say? Shall we pack and hie ourselves to the beastly canyon?" "Beastly? Why, my dear girl, it's beautiful at this time of the year." "I didn't say it wasn't, but where's the kick in sitting down day after day gazing at beauty? I'd rather get out and have a good time." Nothing win pre- vent your having a good time. There will be plenty of people not far from Upper Falls and you can hike, motor, dance, ride horseback or almost anything you choose. Besides if it's romance you're after, as I suspect, you will no doubt have the opportunity of trying your wiles on Dr. Ludlow. We expect him to arrive any day and when he does we shall invite him to visit us at the cabin." "If you do I'll run away sure. I'm not going to be stampeded into loving someone I've never seen, especially when you are forcing me to break with Maurice in order to do so." "But he is handsome, attractive, and successful, and is dying to meet you after seeing your photo." "Well, let him die. I tell you if I can't choose for myself there will be no choosing done." MRS. March made no reply. She felt troubled but not discouraged. From what she knew concerning young Dr. Lud- low he was just the sort of man she was anxious that her daughter should marry. But it was a mat- ter which demanded tact and diplomacy. Certainly Hazel was not to be stampeded. She would have to be given a chance to choose for herself. Yet it was imperative that she receive proper guidance from some source which, to be ef- fective, must be of an invisible, un- discernible nature. Donald March's summer cabin, delightfully rustic as it was, formed the only artificial object within a radius of two miles. Yet it blended and harmonized so well with the out-door designing and decorating which nature had lavished about, that it added dis- tinctly to the general colorfulness at Upper Falls where everything seemed cool, fresh, fragrant and beautiful. But Hazel, reclining in a wicker chair on the front porch, was in no mood to appreciate her surroundings. She sat gazing rest- lessly at the moss and willow cov- ered banks of the trout-brook which splashed and gurgled at her feet; at the pale aspens and dark, stately pines; at the granite and sandstone cliffs towering gigantic- ally above her, basking brilliantly in the smiles of the morning sun; and though she looked she scarcely saw, for her thoughts were wan- dering truantly in search of ad- venture. She had been there for nearly a week — a long, dull week — for as yet she had failed to see anyone in whom she could take the slightest interest. To make things worse her parents were working against her. They were up to their old tricks of keeping all eligibles away until Dr. Ludlow could be trotted along. At dinner the day before, her father had casu- ally mentioned having met a young man, driving a sport roadster, who had just rented one of the cabins at The Meadows, a resort two miles below. "He asked me where he could find the best fishing," he had said. "I might have told him it was excellent up here, but I didn't

The Improvement Era for March, 1930 343 much like his appearance — looked rather too high-lifed, so I inti- mated that the fishing was good down the creek a mile or so." 1 HE more she thought about the incident the more in- censed she became until, as she now sat brooding, she fairly boiled with indignation. "Shooing him away," she mut- tered to herself. "We'll see about it. Dad didn't like him because he knew I'd be interested in him. Well, I am." Springing defiantly to her feet she called: "I'm going for a hike. Don't worry if I'm late for lunch." JjOWN the steps and across the corduroy foot-bridge she tripped, following a path which led directly to the main highway. Here she looked back to ascertain if anyone were watching. Having satisfied herself upon this point she turned deliberately and followed the meandering course of the road downward. If her present conduct was not quite proper her parents were to blame, Hazel reasoned. She had always been able to pick and cull her own company until they had decided that she was old enough for them to do it for her. Her thoughts occupied her so wholly that she failed to hear the honking of a horn around the bend. A moment later she was horrified at seeing a car practically upon her. Things happened quickly; she screamed, brakes shrieked, something bunted against her, and then consciousness was snuffed out. She came to as cold water was being dashed into her face. Everything seemed blurry for a minute, then gradually her eyes focused on a young man kneel- ing beside her dipping water out of the creek with his hat. "That's enough!" she gasped as he was about to repeat the chilly remedy. "Thank heaven you are alive!" he said greatly relieved. "I think you have given me about as bad a scare as I did you. How are you feeling now?" "I'm feeling all right but since your car ran over me, I must be half dead. I — I think I had better be taken home at once." "I'm satisfied you're not badly hurt, perhaps not hurt at all as my car scarcely touched you. But I don't blame you for fainting. I came near doing the same thing. It was the closest call I have ever had. Mighty fortunate I was go- ing slowly and traveling up-hill instead of down." "Surely was, but, how did I get away down here? The road is quite a distance up there on the mountain side." "Suppose you guess. You see I was obliged to get you to water or the water to you. The one was an up-hill the other a down-hill proposition. Naturally I chose the easier. Other important factors in- fluenced my decision also. It was difficult to determine in advance how much it would take to revive you and besides I was afraid my hat would rebel at transporting water that far." H: .E must have carried her then, and the hot blood mounted her cheeks as she reached this unavoidable conclusion. Well here was adventure certainly. Smil- ing demurely and in an effort to change the subject she said, "I'm afraid Mr. — Mr. Gallant, that your hat is spoiled for future serv- ice. "My dear Miss — Opportunity, you are quite mistaken. It has merely received a christening for a more important mission. Hence- forth it shall be laid away in lav- endar, destined to become an heir- loom." H E was not only strong and agile but also possessed a ready tongue. Studying him To You By CLIVE LOVETT CLEAVES 0, 'N a day when clouds were idly drifting On sunlit grass I lay, And thought of many things. I thought of life. I thought of death, And of all that lies between, But, best of all, I thought of you! covertly through lowered lashes she discovered that he was decidedly handsome with dark, wavy hair, brown eyes, and strong, pleasing features. "You must be the one who in- quired of Dad about fishing yester- day," she said. "You're staying at The Meadows, aren't you?" "Temporarily," he replied. "And I did inquire about fishing of a certain distinguished-looking, middle-aged gentleman yesterday. Let me see — as I recall it his name was March." "I thought so. It was Dad. He was speaking of you last night." "How delightful. I feel I al- most know you already, but since I'm a stickler for social conventions I insist upon the formality of an introduction. And so: Miss March allow me to present to you Mr. Davis, Mr. Davis — Miss March." "How do you do, Mr. Davis,' she laughed. "Apparently I have met you just in time to say good- bye for really I must be going." As she made an effort to rise he sprang to her assistance, but she waved him aside and staggered to her feet unaided. "If I am able to stand alone I'm all right," she said. "If. I can't I'll know that something is the matter with me. Perhaps some bones are broken, my spine dislocated, or I may be suf- fering from concussion of the brain." "I surely hope you have suffered no injury." The genuine earnest- ness and concern in his voice sent a rush of blood to her neck and face. She moved about gingerly for a moment then more freely, conclud- ing with a flourish of the Charles- ton. "Whole as a doughnut and sound as a drum," she declared. u "HOW fortunate," he rejoined. "Do you know, Miss March, there is only one calamity I could wish you?" "I think I know,' she spoke in a mock serious tone resembling his. "You tried it today but your car stalled. Well, I warn you that it was your last opportunity." "Wrong, wrong, Miss March. You are deliberately side-stepping the issue. As for this being my last chance I plead with you to recon- sider your ultimatum." "But when the King doesn't like the looks of the strange Prince, what is the poor little Princess to do?"

344 The Improvement Era for March, 1930 "Try some of her charms on the lonesome Prince. No doubt she could change him into something which would meet the approval of the haughty King." "Maybe," she temporized. "But if I don't bestir myself soon there'll be a searching party on my trail. Really, Mr. Davis, I must be go- ing/' "Then permit me to assist you to my car and I'll drive you home." "Thank you, but I really pre- fer walking. There is such a pic- turesque little woodland trail lead- ing up along the creek, and it's only about ten minutes walk from here to our cabin at Upper Falls." "Then lead on, and I'll follow to make sure of your safe arrival." OHE became more seri- ous than she had been thus far. He must not accompany her home. That would spoil everything. "Thanks, Mr. Davis, I couldn't think of putting you to so much trouble. Good-bye." "But wait, Miss March, you haven't told me where or when I may see you again." "Does it matter?" You will surely be too busy fishing for fu- ture interruption." "Perhaps you fish sometimes also," he suggested. "Sometimes, when it isn't rain- ing." "And where in your opinion is the best fishing?" "Oh, anywhere along here just so it isn't too close to the cabin," she said daringly, a twinkle appear- ing in her eyes. "It's too noisy there. Fish like it best where everything is quiet." "So says Isaac Walton," he re- joined. Then scanning the sky; "It doesn't look like rain about one o'clock tomorrow does it, Miss March?" "No. And no doubt Isaac Walton also says that the fish bite especially well shortly afternoon," she mocked and with a wave of her hand darted out of sight among the willows and luxuriant under- growth. JJLE stood gazing at the spot where she had vanished. "What a girl! She's the one for me all right," he murmured smil- ing to himself. Gradually the smile faded into an expression of deter- The Hawthorn By STELLA P. RICH T WISTED, gnarled and broken, Bent in the cold March wind, Dejected, by the creek side You watch the swollen pain Of water rushing past you, And you hate life and your own ugliness; Then moonlight, and birdsong, and winds warmly kind Bring dreams; Something rises in you — Something you cannot quell, A beautiful golden torture That makes you reach and yearn; And we who are passing by you Murmur, "The hawthorn has blos- somed again." mination as slowly he turned and made his way towards the sport roadster, which might have been blocking traffic on the road for the past hour, only there had been no traffic to block. Summer wore on, autumn ap- proached. Already many had closed their cabins and returned to the city to renew their vocations. But the Marches lingered, although Mr. March was away much of the time now. Hazel had experienced sufficient excitement during the summer to satisfy even her volatile tempera- ment. She had been in Mr. Davis' company a good deal, first on the sly — later openly. Her parents had never failed to manifest their disapproval of him; but since she treated the association so lightly, apparently they felt no very grave concern. Then too, he was spend- ing most of his time in the city. But Hazel had become greatly con- cerned. She knew 'Mr. Davis loved her, and when the time should come for him to tell her of it, what would she do? There was her parent's disapproval and more important still, there was Dr. Lud- low. He had been in the city for some time, yet her parents had never invited him out, and rarely spoke of him in her presence, al- though she felt sure he was an important subject in their thoughts and private conversation. She bit her lip in vexation as she considered how stupid they must be to have taken literally what she had said about "stampeding her into lov- ing him." Still she could not let them know differently now. They would laugh at her if she did. At times the newspapers referred to him and always in a complimen- tary manner. Apparently he was winning distinction in society as well as in his profession. ONE night after her father had returned from a long stay in the city, she asked him whom Dorothy Spencer was step- ping out with now. Hazel secretly disliked Dorothy, principally be- cause she was envious of her. Mr. March considered before answering slowly: "I am not sure, but I be- lieve Dr. Ludlow is taking quite a fancy to her." Then like a bung- ling school boy he hastily changed the subject. All this greatly in- trigued her. It might not have amounted to anything had she been privileged to see and speak with him or even to speak about him; but as it was her curiosity simmered under cover until it eventually reached the boiling point, forcing her at times to wonder if she were not really in love with him unsight and unseen. With such a disturb- ing factor it was impossible for her rightly to analyze her feelings to- ward Lawrence Davis. Things were in this state when her mother approached her one Sat- urday afternoon. She appeared quite agitated. "Hazel," she said seriously, "out of regard for your feelings we have said little of Dr. Ludlow and have been discourte- ous enough never to invite him to pay us a visit even after he ex- pressed such an interest in you. But now he is leaving the city, perhaps permanently. Under the circum- stances we have been obliged to in- vite him to have dinner with us to- night. Of course if you desire you may find some excuse to be away, but I am sure he would like to see you. Certainly we'd be happy if you remained." JTlAZEL tried desper- ately to appear cool and perhaps overdid it. "I suppose I will be able to stand it since apparently it will be the first and last time," she said. Toward evening she dressed care- fully and went for a stroll to calm herself. She followed the path down the creek and quite uncon- sciously took a seat on a fallen log (Continued on page 365)