San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-10-12
TWO MINUTES TOO LATE.

.
neck until the very last, when he man
aged to lust get one step ahead OF me.
Notwithstanding our constant con-
tests, we were the very best OF friends;
Bob was good-hearted, whole-souieu
fellow, and never crowed overa victory
When we grew to be men, we were
still! rivals in every thing. II ! pur-
| chased fast horse, Bob was sure 10
get one Just half-second better. IL 1
bought fowling piece, he would get
one little more costly and accurate.
We were both considered leaders IN
all sports, but Bob seemed always 10 W
Il short distance ahead. :.
When Clara Floyd came to the VII
lage to spend the summer, nearly every
body went frantic over her. l must
confess it even now, she was Iemarka-
bly, beautiful. Her brown hazel eyes, in
whose liquid depths seemed 10
be stored away the loves OF
the gods, were full of melting tender
ness. That oval face and slightly dim
pied cheek exceeded the yelvety peach
in softness and delicacy. The bust, over
which an artist might 60 crazy, or
sculptor frantic, with her whole form,
height, and complexion, were faultlesss,
to say the least. Her hair was dark
auburn, and hung in luxuriant curls
around shoulders of snowy whiteness;,
Clara was not of the class of popular
beauties, but she was beauty every
body declared.
1 had scarcely been introduced to her
and became interested, when found
that nv friend Bob Vane was beginning
to pay his regards to her also.
Bob and we're in for it now, l knew;
for he was in earnest, and so was l..
The months of June and July and
nearly half of August passed by, and
we were both getting along we'll. For
once in my life felt sure that l was
ahead of Bob. Miss Clara was evident
" coquetting with one of the other OF
us, and l could not tell which, yet felt
almost sure it was not me.
One of US had her company engaged
all the time. We almost killed our fast
horses taking Miss Clara out riding.
And whenever she expressed a desire
for row on the lake, we were her oars
men. Our hands were constantly bis
tered, yet in secret we kissed those bis
tiers, and wished they might always re-
main to torment us.
had very near brought matters to q
crisis, as far as L was concerned, and
only waited favorable occasion to pro-
pose.
Fortune seemed to favor me. There
was to be a grand picnic on Swan
Island. The opportunity would be a
good one, and l determined it should
not be lost.
A steamer, the Spread Eagle, was to
take us from the village to the island.
On the day before the excursion was to
take place, my uncle, wealthy old
bachelor who lived ten miles out in the
country, sent for me. Although veXed,
could not refuse, or l should incur
Uncle Tobin's displeasure. So, send
ing note to Miss Clara, explaining my
not calling on her that evening, and
that hoped to have the pleasure of be-
ing her escort the next day, l harnessed
my horse to the buggy and drove away.
NV business with Uncle Tobin being
somewhat Of legal nature, and being
tedious, 1 was compelled to remain
over night with him. The next morn.
inc it seemed that uncle never would
get done talking, and his hired man
was an age in Harvesting my horse.
At last got started, but when within
three miles of the village, a tire came
off. / looked at my watch, it was half.
past s; the boat would leave at 8, and
here i was three miles away with a
broken vehicle. l embarrassed my
horse, mounted him, rode until | was
almost in sight, and dismounting, led
him into the village. The steamer, to
my chagrin, was half mile up the riv-
er, steaming away for Swan Island.
"You are just TWO minutes too late,'
said friend, who saw my downcast ex-
preston.
elbow far is it to K--?" 1 asked.
"Seven miles"
"And the train leaves there for M
at 9 40 does it not?"
eyes," replied my friend.
"M- is just across the river from
Swan Island?"
"Yes, sir; and if you will mount
fast horse you may get to Swan Island
yet almost rs soon as the Spread Ea-
gle"
That was Just what l intended to do;
and in ten minutes l was mounted on
the swiftest horse the livery stable could
furnish, and laundering away to K.
The town was almost reached when
my horse cast a shoe.
The Spread Eagle was now five miles
away. Clara Floyd was on the boat,
and, worse than all, Bob Nane was on
/ it too.
My only hope was to catch the train
at K, and here / was a mile away,
the time almost up, and a lame horse.
| hurried up the poor beast as fast as
: L 1 lam