Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-12-23
Tho Divers REVENGE.

chums ever since they could remember
Their fathers were farmers in northern
Vermont, and the respective farms laid
adjacent in one Of the valleys which run
into the Green Mountains.
William and John were never happier
than when in each others company. TO
gether they climbed the steep mountain
sides ana inhaled the invigorating all
characteristic Of the northernmost part OF
New England. Together they attended
school in the rural district school house
They were about the same age; and they
kept such even pace in their studies, tina,
they always managed to keep in the same
classes with each other.
None Of the schoolboys could offend
William without offending John: and
whoever quarrelcd with John was sure to
have al enemy in William alone.
The course of friendship, however, like
that Of true love, seldom runs smooth -
and even these two fast friends had bone
Of contention. The apple Of discord was
nothing more or less than a pretty lit.
tie faxcn haired school girl, daughter of
Deacon Abijah Perkins. Jenny was her
uanle; and she was just one of the sweet.
est little pinks Of perfection in all that
rustic region. She was abont two years
younger than the boys; and the way
She played the juvenile coquette with her
two youthful admirers could not have
been excclled by maidens of maturer
years. At times William would be in
high leather; Jenny would allow him to
draw her home from school on his sled
when the ground was covered with snow.
He would be her champion, and no brave
Knight in ancient times WAS more atten.
tive to his lady love than was Jinny's boy
ish beau. Then, suddenly, and when
least expected, William would be discard
cd for the time being, and John would
come into favor. Thus it was hard to
tell which Of her admirers Jenny liked
the best. 1t ia doubtful if she herself
knew which she really preferred.
Years passed on, and the two boys and
the girl grow into their teens. With ad.
advancing years, the rivalry for Jenny's
became stronger. The time had arrived
when schoolboy rivalry had given place
to jealousy. In ordinary matters the
young men did not break with each 9TH
cr, but on the main point at issue they
were always at variance.
1t was on the occasion of country par
ty or ':apple bee," that the matter came to
a focus. The season was mid winter, and
the weather was intensely cold. The two
heroes had each resolved to take Jenny to
that particular apple bee. Each took it
for granted that no invitation was needed
SO far as Jenny was concered, and all that
would he Necessary in the way of asking
her to 60 would be TO drive up Decon
Perkins door, with horse and sleigh,
snd the girl would put on her things and
be ready to go at once. Thus it was that
Jenn y received no warning in the matter
Little did she know that night was to de.
eide her fate.
At dusk, or ':carly candle-light," as was
the expression in the region, William har.
messed his fathers best horse to the red
sleigh, and taking with him good sup.
ply Of buffalo robes, drove in the direc-
tion of Deacon Perkins house. As he
passed by the Atkins homestead, he saw
John Harvesting horse to sleigh also.
Divining in an instant that John was
about to set out upon an expidition iden-
tical with his with his own, William put
the whip to his horse and was soon skim.
ming along the at rapid rate. He had
driven perhaps mile, when lie looked
back over his shoulder aud saw his rival
coming at q break'neck speed. His rival
was evidently gaining upon him. The
81 edges came along side of each other,
and the race became exciting. Each dri.
YER applied the whip and shouted to their
respective horses. 1t was q moonlight
night: but the snow kicked up by the
horses feet flew into the faces Of the dri-
vcrs, and blinded them so that they could
hardly zee the road before them.
At length the contestants; came to =
narrow place In the road, and the two
coul net drive abreast. As 4 result, j ohm