Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-14
The Race is Always to the Swift.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Night in great city. The wind surged and
moaned with mournful cadence through the
leafless trees that stood like gaunt spectres of
the night, ever and anon bending low their
withered trunks and great black branches as if
in mute appeal to the storm king to not pros
trate them forever with his cold, merciless
breath.
Adown a street where cleaned the bright
lights of wine bibbers' haunts and the baleful
glare of the oyster saloon fell upOn the sidewalk
young man strobe with quick, nervous step
and wistful, haunting look in his eye. At a
corner where the crowd Of eager. jOstling pedes-
TRANS was thickest he paused and looked anX-
iously around. The soft. low tinkle of a bell
hand, the young man stepped briskly forward
saying softly to himself: my heart has not de-
ceived me; am in time"
Adebert Quirk had caught the semi-weekly
Car on Van Buren, street.
In the elegantly furnished parlor of a hand
some residence. tall and radiantly beautiful
girl sat silently in front of a CRATE fire, the
flames from which leaped lightly up the Chin
ney and cast ruddy glow on all that came with
in the range of their lambent beams. Cleopatra
Mcclure was the only daughter of a father who
fairly idoliZed the proud beauty who presided
over his household with such stately grace-hs
wife having fallen into wash tub and been
drowned, within two years of their marriage
Which shall | chOose!" said the girl in soft.
mellow tones Shall it be the strong. limbed
Rupert with his proud Saxon pedigree. or Adel-
bert, who would deck his bride in Jewels? NV
heart tells me that with Rupert ever bv nv side
life would always seem pleasant dream. /
love him with wild, passionate devotion that
time can never change. But AdeIbert is rich
and powerful As his wife l shoald shine in
society. Oh. me! Which shall it be-"
Suddenly rising from the tduteu1 she said:
II have decided. To him who gets here first
this evening will plight my troth. Fate Shall
decide"
The Van Buren, street car was slowly vending
its way westward On the sidewalk came with
firm tread a sunny haired young man-Rupert
Gilhooley. Suddenly there fell upon the air the
-clangor of bell. Rupert broke into a run. The
bridge began to open. He succeeded in get
ting across The car did not. In the rear left
hand corner of that car sat Adelbert Quirk.
Fate had begun work
/; After crossing the bridge Rupert did not
sIaeken his pace. and was soon well toward the
end of his tourney. when the pitifM crying Of
child attracted his attention. He stopped, and
finding that the little waif had lost it's way,
waited patiently until a policeman came up.
into whose care he cOnfided the wanderer.
By this time the bridge was closed. and the
car was laundering OH its way, the horses
dashed into their best speed by the driver. who
was anxious to make up for lost time. Just as
Rupert gave the child to the policeman the car
caught up with him. He had but half mile to
go. Walking leisurely along, he reached the
residence of Stuyyesant McGuire. and as the
door opened Cleopatra fell into his arms with
glad cry.
Fate has brought you to me, my darling"
she said. You must never leave me again."
An hour later the door bell rang. and Adebert
Quirk was informed by the hired girl that Miss
Mcclure was not at home.
Rupert had outwalked the horse car.