r
she was still 'Miss Schuyler' then, but never mind.) We were walking
through the fields, while Mrs. Benedict and Aunt Celia were driving. As
we came across a corner of the bit of meadow land that joins the stable
and the garden, we heard a muffled roar, and as we looked around we saw
a creature with tossing horns and waving tail making for us, head down,
eyes flashing. Kitty gave a shriek. We chanced to be near a pair of low
bars. I hadn't been a college athlete for nothing. I swung Kitty over
the bars, and jumped after her. But she, not knowing in her fright where
she was nor what she was doing, supposing also that the mad creature,
like the villain in the play, would 'still pursue her,' flung herself
bodily into my arms, crying, 'Jack! Jack! save me!'

It was the first time she had called me 'Jack,' and I needed no second
invitation. I proceeded to save her, in the usual way, by holding her
to my heart and kissing her lovely hair reassuringly as I murmured:

'You are safe, my darling; not a hair of your precious head shall be
hurt. Don't be frightened.'

She shivered like a leaf.

'I am frightened,' she said; 'I can't help being frightened. He will
chase us, I know. Where is he? What is he doing now?'

Looking up to determine if I need abbreviate this blissful moment, I saw
the enraged animal disappearing in the side-door of the barn; and it was
a nice, comfortable Durham cow, that somewhat rare but possible thing--a
sportive cow.

'Is he gone?' breathed Kitty from my waistcoat.

'Yes, he is gone--she is gone, darling. But don't move; it may come
again.'

My first too hasty assurance had calmed Kitty's fears, and she raised
her charming flushed face from its retreat and prepared to withdraw. I
did not facilitate the preparations, and a moment of awkward silence
ensued.

'Might I inquire,' I asked, 'if the dear little person at present
reposing in my arms will stay there (with intervals for rest and
refreshment) for the rest of her natural life?'

She withdrew entirely now, all but her hand, and her eyes sought the
ground.

'I suppose I shall have to--that is, if you think--at least, I suppose
you do think--at any rate, you look as if you were thinking--that this
has been giving you encouragement.'

'I do indeed--decisive, undoubted, bare-faced encouragement.'

'I don't think I ought to be judged as if I were in my sober senses,'
she replied. 'I was frightened within an inch of my life. I told you
t