Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-08-19

ers remarking the manner in which til,
|eyc ofthe stranger scanned the arena
"F you can leap beyond Harry Carol
j you'll beat the best man in the colonies
| The truth of this observation was assent
ed to by general murmur. az,
." Is it for mere amusement you are
pursuing this pastime,' enquired the
youthful stranger, or is there a prize
for the winner?" "A
Z" Annette, the loveliest of our village
maidens is to be the reward of the vic
tor" cried one of the judges.
care the lists open to all 2"
"All young sir" replied the father
of Annette, with interest, his youthful
ardor rising as he surveyed the proper.
tons Of the straight limbed young stran
ger. "She is the bride of him who out
leaps Harry Carroll. If you will try
you are at liberty to do so. But let me
tell you Harry Carroll has no wife in
Virginia, Here is my daughter, sir
look at her and make your trial" ,-
The young officer glanced upon the
trembling maiden, about 10 be offered
on the altar of her fathers unconquera-
BILE monomania, with an admiring eye.
The poor girl looked at Harry who stood
near, with troubled brow and angry
eye, and then cast upon the new com
petitor an imploring glance.
Placing his coat in the hands of one
Of the judges, he drew a sash he wore
beneath it, tighter around his waist,
and taking the appointed stand, made,
appa rently without effort, the bound
that was to decide the happiness or mis-.
cry of Henry and Annette. ., n
"Twenty-two feet and one inch"
shouted the judges. The announcement
was repeated with surprise by the spec
tators, who crowded around the victor,
filling the air with congratulations, not
unmingled however with loud murmers
from those who were more nearly inter-
ested in the happiness Of the lovers.
| The old man approached and grasp
ing his hand exultingly, called him his
son, and said he felt prouder of him than
if he were a prince. Physical strength
and activity were the old leaper's true
patents Of nobility.
Resuming his coat, the victor sought
with his eye the fair prize he had, al
though nameless and unknown so fairly
won. She leaned upon her fathers arm,
pale and distressed. ... .'
Her lover stood aloof, gloomy and NOR
tilted, admiring the superiority of the
stranger in an exercise which he prided
himself as unrivaHed, while he hated
him for his sucsess.
Annette my pretty price," said the
victor taking her passive hand, 9" have
won you fairly" Annette's cheek be-
came paler than marble she trembled
like an aspen leaf, and cIung closer to
her father, while her dropping eye
sought the form of her lover. His brow
grew dark at the strangers language.
Il have won you nv pretty flower,
to make you a bride !-trembie not so
violently-l mean not myself, however
proud | might be-" he added with gal
lantry, Perhaps" and he cast his eyes
round enquiringly, while the current of
life leaped joyfuly to her brow,and mur-
mer of surprise ran through the crowd,
perhaps there is some favored youth
among the competitors, who has high
er claim to this jewel. Young Sir, he
continued, turning to the surprised Hen
ry, "methinks you were the victor in the
list before mel strove not for the mai
den, though one could not we'll strive for
a fairer, but from love for the manly
sports in which | saw you engaged.
You are the victor, and as such with the
permission of this worthy assembly re.
ceive from my hand the prize you have
so we'll and honorably won.
The youth sprang forward, and gras-
ped his band with gratitude and the
next moment Annette was weeping with
pure joy upon his shoulders. The wei,
kin rung with the acclamations of the de-
lighted villagers, and amid the temporary
excitement produced by the act, the
stranger witdrew from the crowd,moun-
ted his horse, and spurred at brisk trot
through the village.
That night Henry and Annette were
married, and the health of the mysteri-
Gus and noble stranger, was drank in
overfowing bumpers of rustic beverage.
In the process Of time there were born
unto the married pair sons and daugh-
ters; and Harry Carol had become
Colonel Henry Carroll of the Revolu-
tionary army.
One evening, having just returned
home after hard campaign, he was sit
ting with his family on the nalleru nfh,s