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FOOL
By ESTHER VANDEVEER
George CnrroH was sauntering il< ' roAS
a field ns free from cure as the day be
was born He vvus looking up ut the
sky. over whirl, white clouds were sail
ing as lazily as he walked He was
n city chap, who had been ordered by
his physician to iro to the country, even
though the January winds were blow
jug cold, and recupetute. He was
thinking as he walked what a hum
drum thing life was. to he sure, how
free from any kind of risk or excite
in out his own individual life was and
how when he was "howled over.' as In
expressed it. it would probably be by
an animalcule, so s>nall that he could
not see it. entering his system, in
creusing and multiplying vigorously,
the colony at last eating him up
Strange it is how often late* is doing
with us wluit we least suspect. At the
moment this last Idea entered George
Carroll’s brain a death dealing force
was driving at him from behind. A
shadow, accompaniml hy the sound of
horse’s hoofs, shot transversely before
him. Turning, lie saw a girl on horse
back In a yed coat, moving between
him and a bull that was making for
him. the girl glancing backward as she
rode to observe the bull. She was
about to turn and ride back again
when the bull caught sight ot bet.
abandoned the straight line he was fol
lowing in the direction of tin* man and
turned his attention to tin- girl.
Now. George In regard to all mat-
tors pertaining to tin* country wiw
very stupid, lie did not realize that
lie was or had been in any danger, lie
diil not gather from what lie saw that
tills girl, seeing the bull going for him.
hud leaped a fence and ridden between
him and Ills enemy for the purpose
of turning the animal from him to her
self. Instead of thus taking In the
situation and getting out of the held
as soon as possible, he stood lookilffc
at the bull chasing the girl.
The Inclosure was about ten acres,
and George stood near the middle of it.
Tlie girl led the bull as far as possible
from him. then turned and. eluding the
animal as dexterously as a toreador,
galloped away in the opposite direc
tion. By that time It began to dawn
upon the city man that the horse and
the girl were being pursued by the
bull for the purpose of goring. But
riot even yet did lie realize that she
had taken this danger upou herself for
the purpose of saving Ids life: that had
it not been for her a pair of horns
would have taken him In the back,
broken It and the earthly spark of his
existence would have gone out forever.
What occupied George Carroll’s
mind to tin* exclusion of all else was
the danger that threatened the girl and
what lie could do to relieve her from
her perilous position The only tiling
he could do was to run for the fence
ns fast as Ills legs could carry him and
climb over it. If he had done tills the
girl would have made her exit as she
had made her entrance-by urging her
horse over that same fence. She was
waiting for him to get out of the field
before securing her own safety.
It is singular how a brave man may
be a fool. or. rather. Is not a good deal
of what we call bravery folly? George
by his stupidity was leaving both him
self and the girl In danger. She could
see him standing there gaping at her.
but was so close pressed that she was
unable to make a sign to him to tly
for ids life. Nearing the opposite eud
of tlie field, she turned her head to
see George running toward her! She
could have jumped the fence, but
when she saw the man she was trying
to save hurrying again into danger. In
stead of saving herself she turned
about and started again across the
field If she went near the man the
bull might leave her and turn upon
him. So she galloped diagonally across
the field, making nil effort at a sign
for him to leave it But he did not
understand and. turning, continued his
pursuit of her.
Then followed events In such quick
succession—so quick that George could
scarcely separate them, lie saw the
horse stumble ami fall; he saw the
bull’s horns go Into the horse's belly;
he heard n report, and the bull. too.
fell to the ground. A man dropped a
gun. dashed to the fence and. jumping
it, ran to where the girl was trying to
get up from the ground. George and
the man reached her at the same time.
The man lifted her up. and she stood
on her feet
"Are you killed?’’ asked the man.
“No; not even hurt"
Then the man turned to George.
"For heaven’s sake,” he cried, "how
in the world have you escaped the fool
killer all these years?"
“He’s not a fool at all,” said the
girl; "he’s a brave man. He didn’t real
ize his own danger, he was so Intent
upon mine.”
When George Carroll reullzed what
the girl had done for him and how he
had atugldly come_very near being the
• *• .......... i...
If *wo
green.
Forth to the wood did merry men
go
To gather In the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all.
Power laid his rod of rule Wstde,
And ceremony doffed his pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes.
That night might village partner chuse;
The lord underogating share
The vulgar game of post and pair.
Ail hailed with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage ns the crown
Brought tidings of salvation down.
The lire with well dried logs supplied
Went roaring up the chimney wide.
The huge lu ll table's oaken face,
Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace,
llore then upon its massive board
No mark to part the squire arid lord.
Then was brought in the lusty brawn
Hy old blue coated serving man;
Then the grim boar's head frowned on
high,
Crested with bay anil rosemary.
Well can the green garbed ranger tell
How. when arid where the monster fell;
What dogs before his death he tore
And all the baiting of the boar.
The wassail round in good brown bowls,
Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls.
There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by
Plum porridge stood and Christmas pie.
Nor failed old Scotland to produce
At such high tide her savory goose.
Then came the merry maskers in
And carols roared with blithesome din.
If unmelpdious was the song
It was a hearty note and strong.
Who lists may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery.
White shirts supplied the masquerade.
And smutted cln- ks the Visors made.
Hut, oh, what maskers richly dight
Can boast of bosoms half so light ?
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest
a'e;
’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale.
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
The poor man’s heart through half the
year.
—Sir Walter Scott.
AN UNORTHODOX CHRISTMAS.
I WENT to spend the day with Rose,
T and then
A Christmas greeting passed between us
t wo,
But 'twas not "Peace on earth, good will
to men.”
We only said: “Good morning!” “How
d’ye do?”
VND then to her 1 offered smilingly
The present she expected me to bring.
There were no hanging hose, no Christ
mas tree.
The box was tied in paper with a string.
IPE didn't sit beside the Yule log’s
’ blaze.
We just turned on the radiator's steam.
And dinner, unlike those of storied days,
Gave no plum pudding, hut some bisque
Ice cream.
\\fE didn't hear the church bells’ solemn
V toll,
And when we had our Christmas even
ing lunch
We didn't have a steaming wassail bowl,
But just a jug of simple claret punch.
V\7E trampled on traditions, I suppose,
* V Yet one rite we observed with care —
but. no:
Although 1 well remember kissing Rose,
It wasn’t under the mistletoe.
-Life.
cause of her death he was paralyzed.
As it was. he had been the cause of
tue loss of her horse and a bull worth
SIOO had been shot Fortunately
George had a fortune and could repair
the monetary damage. The rest of it
could not be paid for in that way.
But fate, when George was walking
across the Held regretting the unevent
ful tenor of his life, had another pur
pose. All this chain of events was
but one of fate’s tricks to make a
match. The girl reaped her reward
by helping George spend this income.
Colds t
should be "nipped in the J/'
bud”, for if allowed to run V
unchecked, serious results f
may follow. Numerous A
cases of consumption, pneu- I
monia, and other fatal dis- S
eases, can be traced back to I
a cold. At the first sign of a I
cold, protect yourself by I
thoroughly cleansing your I
system with a tew doses off
THEDFORD’S
BLACK
DRAUGHT
the old reliable, vegetable |j
liver powder. I
Mr. Chas. A. Ragland, o I
Madison Heights, Va., says: ||
"I have been using Thcd- ||
ford’s Black-Draught for L
stomach troubles, indiges-fi
tion. and celds, and find ittcM
be the very best medicine
Sever used. It makes an oldra
man feel like a young one.” ft
Insist on Thedford’a, the&
original and genuine. E-671T
(Christmas gifts for the entire family and
your sweethearts and friends too at
Smith Hardware Company
We have bought a larger supply than I
ever before and our prices are right
We list below some articles we carry that will make appropriate gifts.
Aluminum Pans
luminum Kettles
Aluminum Boilers
Aluminum Roasters
Aluminum Salt, Pepper shakers
Aluminum Childs Sets
Aluminum Tea and Tablespoons
Air Guns
Brass Vases
rass Jardiners
Brass Umbrella Stands
Brass Trays
Brass Lamps
Brass Fire Sets
Brass Candle Sticks
Brass Cuspidors
Bread Trays
Boy Scout Air Rifle Shot
Boy Scout Rifles
Boy Scout Pocket knives
Boxing Gloves
Brush Sets
Boys’ Automobiles
Boys’ Hand Cars
Boys’ Wagons
China Dishes--10D piece set
oal Vases
Ghocolate Sets
Celery Trays and Salts
Cake Plates
Chafing Dishes
Casseroles
Cut Glass
Crumb Trays
Carving Sets
Clocks, Seth Thomas and others
Coffee Percolators
We are showing the most complete line of Silver
Knives, Forks, Spoons and everything in this line
ever shown in Winder.
We have Coaster Brake Bicycles and Motor Bikes from $23.50 to 45.00
Why not get anew Stove or Range NOW for a Christmas Present to
do your Christmas Cooking on?
1
It will pay you to see our line before buying. f
Smith Hardware Company
Winder, Georgia.
Door
mats
£namel-
Mvare
Fancy Creamers
ancy Lamps
Fruits Stts
Foot Balls
Glass- IJ
ware Oarps
Mayonnaise Sets
anicure Sets
Nut Sets
Nickeipla led ware
Pocket Knives
unch Sets
Razors
azor Sets
Roasters
Rifles
Serving Dsihes
andwich Trays
Serving Trays
Salad Dishes
Silverware
Scissors, all kinds
Skates
Striking Bags
'Smoking Sets
Shot Guns
Tie Racks
oilet Sets
Velocipedes
ases
Work Baskets
atches
Water Sets