Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-01-31
THE VILLAGE SPELLING MATCir
And How it Led to a Wedding.

And How it Led TO a Wedding.
The lamps were Just lighted in tn,
town hall, each tin reflector doing it
best to emulate the dignified glitter O.
silver. The audience was assembling
by twOs and threes. Behind the green
curtain which hid the platform, dozen
bows and as many girls stood beside
table on which were placed the prizes
for which they were about to compete in
the great spelling match-an event
which had cOnvulsed Duxbury Corners
to its center, had set the sewing circles
in fiutter, and caused Webster's and
WOrcester's dictionaries to take tenn
pOrary rank, with the young people OF
the tOwn,as the most enthralling works
in the English language.
The prizes were three in number. No
d. 1 was of course that inevitable Rogers
group" which, for unknown reasons, is
always selected as reward for cham
piOn spoilers in the the rural districts
No. 2 was "The Beauties of William
Shakespeare" a fat volume in red and
gold binding. No. 3 consisted of "A
thesaurus of English words" in blue
and gold, gorgeous also, but, as beftted
third prize, less gorgeous than "the
beauties of w. S." 1t was upon the group
in gray plaster that the eyes of the girls
was most admiringly fixed; che boys
liked the books as we'll.
They're splendid, all of them," re,
marked little Carrie Powell. Il do adj
mire statues so muchp'
Perfectly splendid elegant! magnif-
cent? echoed chorus.
Il wonder who'll get the frst?" asked
Daisy Lee in half whisper.
'Oh, Ray, of course. He's taken two
first prizes already"
MY father says it isn't fair that Ray
Pelham should compete again." said
John StackpOle, in surly tone. "He's
the best speller i'm this cOuntry.-every
one knows that. And now he ought tt
stand off and give somebody else a
chance"
added little boy of ten.
Johns right, it isn't fair. Ray ought
not to be in the match at ALL" cried
two or three others. "NOne of us'll have
the least chance if he is" muttered Car
r..
oh, but do you know, think it is
IdlI, Sdlu NAL hlStl. nay tHt
champion now; he holds the belt. Of
course. he must fight every boy who tries
against him. There's always a chance
in spelling. Really good spoilers are
often tripped up by some easy little
word which you think they could spell
in minute" Mary ended with sigh
for this had been her own fate. She was
a really good speller," and had twice
just failed of prize.
She did not see Ray who had entered
as she began to speak. He had never
particularly noticed Mary Alger before
She was not a pretty girl, judged by the
DIxbury standard, though an artist
in the lines of her head and throat, in
in the exqusitely fine pale skin and
deep-set gray eyes. Neither was she a
taken for pride, the depression of know
ward, and her ordinary manner was
cold and silent. She seldom made
so long a speech as on this occasion. And
the girls opened their eyes as they lis
tened. Ray was amazed also. He was
not stupid boy, and it dawned upon
him that it was an impulse of generous
justice in his behalf which had unlock
ed the lips of this usually tOngue-tied
Mary, and her face for the first time
struck him as pretty.
The other girls chartered on, but Mary
had said her say, and stood silently look
ing at the plaster group. Ray saw that
she admired it intensely, and half wish
crossed his mind that she might win it
only half one, for to the successful
in l., he
desire to be first was very strong upon
the ambitious young fellow. Presently
an avalanche of camp chairs, followed
nOunced the arrival of the Committee
of Reference" The boys and girls rang
ed themselves in parallel rows. Mr..
Ashe, principal of the academy, appeared
with formidable MS. roll i'm his hand.
The curtain rose; the audience clapped.
NOW, my young friends, / beg that yOn
will speak as distinctly as possible" said
Mr.. Ashe. With that he consulted his
roll, gave out his first word, "hippopota-
mus" and the strife commenced.
"'Twere vain to tell what steeds gave DER
As swept the fight"
over the photographed plain ;hOw an ell
derby youth of some 60 summers, with
a prconceived theory as to the word
Indian" which he rendered thus. "In-
jun," was the first victim, and a tiny
girl of six the second; how 'aneurism"
slew its thousands; how Mary Martin
fell victim to carries" and Augusta
Brown was borne off protesting that
"appellatiOn had but one lin it. Traps
and pitfalls abOunded. Slowly the ranks
thinned; the vanquished, finding what
comfort they could in numbers, lined the
wings, applauding and jeering their
late comrades. Atlast Mary Alger was
left the only girl, opposed to three boys,
OF whom Ray was one. Five minutes,
tent seemed as though neither of the
four would ever miss. The excitement
became intense.
"II-l-i-g-g-i-b-l-e," spelled John Beach.
Wrong" said Mr.. Ashe; and John.
crestfallen, creaked his way off the
stage. Each of the three competitors
now left felt sure of prize. The ques-
ton was, which prize?
Mr.. Ashe had exhausted his roll. and
produced from his pocket deadly little
volume, full of what a sportsman
would call troopers" Ahal Owen
bryerly tripped up. The word "benzoino
proved too much for him. OnIy Raw and