Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-14
THE PRIZE LEAP.
By n = w..

one of the loneliest villages
maiden whose uncs, umon beauty
attracted to her scores OF alt
rnirers. Che father Of this far
girl in his early ,outh was distln-
guished for his Hthlct'c ftAS'. DE
wore uI on his breast three medals
which were the pledges Of his vic
torious achievements His daugh-
ter was now a blushing Hebe OF
l8 years, besieged with lovers;
but the parental obedience which
he demanded led her to defer all
to his choice. Still, she had her
peculiar favorite in Harry Car
roll. who was the most accom-
plished and intellectual young
man in all the country. But the
old fsther Of the maiden, possess
ed Of perfect monomsnia upon
the subject Of lsaping, suggested
the following singular mode
OF selecting a husband for his
daughter from her numerous pro-
posals, viz: he invited all the de-
clared suitors who had avowad
themselves lovers OF Amabel to
meet at his house, and made to
them this announcement: Young
men, (" said he. 'syou have solieit-
ed my child each OF you to be-
come your bride. She is comciy
aHd pure. She will prove as fair
a gem as she appears. l have
money to give her, but you see
/ don't care about money, nor
talents. nor book knowledge. nor
military renown, but l want her
to mary a man OF skill and
strength. I obtained the mother
Of my child by jumping for her
A party Of my own age we're as
sembled and my father-in-law
avowed that the one who could
leap the farthest should be the
winner Of the prize My old wo-
man, lads, was worth the effort.
was the successful man, and my
daughter shall be obtained only
in this manner. Here is the green
sward. and there is Amabei--the
one that jumps the farthost on the
dead level shall win the prize =
Amabsl clung closely to her father
and looked upon her array OF
lovers with 10 unmeaning glance
Still her eyes rested on one more
lovingly than the rest, and that
was Harry Carroll.
A crowd OF spectators we're
present to witness the feats The
loom and the quilting frame we're
deserted, the children left their
sports, the old men forsook their
pipes, and gray haired. spectacied
old danes forgot their spinning
wheels in the excitement OF the
hour. The avenue allotted for
the contest was a level space 10
front OF the village inn. directly
in sight OF Amabels house Ex-
ercises Of q similar kind we're then
much in vogue in the Old Domis.
ion, and the green was often used
Tor such sports. The father Of
Amabel now came forward with
bis blushing daughter, attended
BY those ratriarohai judges who
we're TO determine bv actual meas
u.ement theprecise length OF each
leap.
The signal was now given. aud
each young man in turn to,k his
place 10 the arena.
"John Watkins" cries a by
stander appointed to announce
their names; John Watkins, H.
teen feet two inches
Watkins retired. somewhat
mortified at his i'll success.
edward Keyso eighteen fee
one inch"
The merry shouts OF applause
here commenced. Many pro-
ehesied Edward had won the
prize; Amabel, however. looked
psle and dissatisfied.
james Haynes, nineteen fee
precisely"
Hussas rent the air Every
body loved James; everybody bu
Amabel.
"Richard Rush, twenty fee
two and one-haif inches.
Dick replaced his coat yer,
oooIly, as il not aware OF thu
shouts which made the air re
sound with acclamations OF Joy.
Henry Pettes, nineteen feet.
But he cared not TO win the prize
Amabel stood unmoved Tive
other young men refused to leaI
for the prize, and Harry Carol
was the last upon the roll H,
marched into the arena with |
irm step.
"Harry Carroll, twenty thre,
feet one inch," was announced
and he took the prizel
Amabel rushed into the arms 0
her devoted lover, to whom al
others she gave the special pre-
ference Congratulations wer,
exchanged - "the handsomes
couple In Old Virginia" was pas.
ed around-''the best match in tn
country" cries the multitude
when suddenly q young man Q
most possessing appearanc
presented himself as a candidat
for the prize. Hehad Just aligh
cd at the village inn, and hearin
the shouts Of victory. came fol
ward and inquired Of Amabel
father II the ground was sti
open for competition. The oil
man having leisurely surveye
the strangers features, and looh
ing at Amabel. who was restir
in Harry's fond embrace, no
looked wildly and wondering