Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-02-04
yOsS.


ing one morning last April on the
the quaint old Swiss town Of Berne.
There was Johann Leid, the baker 5
son, and Fit Bund, the wood-carvcr,
and half a dozen others with their sis
tiers and SweatheartS.
Bund, as usual was loud mouthed
and yoluhle He talked with one eye
on the girls to see the effect.
what do you say to the race, boys?
There is Johann Leid With his big
muscles. l can out run or throw you
in five minutes, Leid.
Leid nodded, threw of his coat and
was beaten in both race and wrestle,
He was a big, sheepish-looking fellow,
and looked red with anger.
of you want to look well in Jean
nette's eyes," he muttered, lit is Mich
olas Voss you should throw, not me.
She thinks more of his finger than of
your whole braggart body"
Bund was enraged. Everybody saw
that plainly. He looked at Jeanette,
standing with the other girls, like Il
modest little rose among Haunting dah-
las. Nicholas Voss was playing with
his dog on the other side of the field.
He was IL quiet, understood fellow, the
son of the sehoolmaster.
Throw Noss. | could do it with one
hand No credit in that. The fellow
has no more strength than u girl,
pouring over his books. III put him
to Il test thatll shame him. Jeanette
shall see the stuff the baby is made of.
Hey, Vossw he shouted.
Nicholas came over, smiling, but
eoloring little rs he passed the girls.
He was a ditfident, awkward lad, and
felt his arms and legs heavy and in the
way whenever woman looked at
him.
Come, girls cried Bund The
girls drew nearer, shy, but curious.
Heres question of courage to be
settled Leid wants me to try throw
with Voss, but it wouldn't be fair, Tor
could fling him with one finger. and
blow him over for that matter"
Voss changed color; he played nerv-
ously with the dogs collar He knew
it was true that he could not compete
with Bund in trial of strength, but il
was hard to be told it; before little
Jeanette, too
but there's something Noss can do
as well as L. +"
what is it ?" said Nicholas, eagerly.
you can swim. Come, jump into
the river yonder with me, and see
which of us can reach the other
shorew
The girls looked ut the river. 1t was
swollen with the spring floods, and
filled with great Jumps of ice which
crunched and tore each other rs they
went rushing by.
"Ah, that would be brave deedp
they said, looking admiringly at Bund.
Jeanette looked, and turned away
with shudder.
"Well, done. Bund" said the other
lads. There's no cowardice i'll Bund,
that's certain.
Bund tore off his wooden Jacket and
boots, Strengthening himself and clap
ped his hands. He was not sorry that
the girls should see his broad chest and
embroidered braces.
Come, little one, off with your coat!
You're famous swimmer--and Jean
nette is looking" under his breath,
with an angry flash in his eye.
Nicholas looked at the lads waiting,
and at the excit ed, silly girls, and then
at the icy RIVER. He did not trust him
he had often swan the Aar Mt this
very point. But his lungs were weak.
He could not bear the slightest expo
sure to plunge into this flood would be
certain illness-perhaps death. And
for no purpose but to crafty the pride
Of vaporing idle fellow.
Come, GOMEZ" cried Bund. Afraid,
eh?'
The lads and girls looked at Voss,
even Jeannette's eyes were fixed curl
ously on him.
II am not going to swim"
If he had blufied it out in stridSnt
iocuhr voice, he might have carried
the day. But he was painfully conscious
that they all thought him coward
He was sensitive lad, and il cut him
TO the quick.
afraid afraid laughed Bund, in
solently "Well, Noss, wanted TO do
YOU good turn, and let the girls see
that you had the making Of a man in
you. But no matter" turning away
contemptnously. A pity lie could not
wear gowns and bonnet he said to
Jeanette, loud enough for Voss to
hear.
Yoss turned away and went hastily
down the road. He was bitter and
angry, and would not 60 home to his
old father in that mood. He went TO
the bear pits. Now, everybody knows
that hears are sort Of sacred animal
to the Bernese, and Nicholas, like his
neighbors, took keen delight IN
Watching the great sluggish beasts in
their pits. But be had no pride in