The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-02-27
HENRY /. BIOSSAT, Business Manager.

AOT' lAc was GOo pFOuu 10 go near the
belle OF Crosscut before the contest,
and the remark make by Jake that he
had once heard Nell say she would
marry the victor convinced Casper
that she had grown from an artless
girl to a heartless woman.
A crowd of several hundred people
gathered at the river bank above Col
onel Given's lumber mill on the morn
ing OF the great log-rolling contest.
One OF the most eager faces was that
OF half-witted Jake, Casper's half
brother. He was as anxious for the
outcome as the champion himself. The
feminine portion OF Crosscut was we'll
represented, and among them was
Nell Given, who had for escort Mr..
Cotton, of Chicago.
At ten o'clock cheer went up as
Casper Fall stepped upon one of the
logs and glanced keenly over the
multitude. His slender yet sinewy
figure was set off by close-itting
lacked and tights. On his feet he wore
the spiked shoes of the log-runner.
AS the shouts went up, handkerchiefs
were waved by fair hands, and Fall
saw Nell Given waving hers high
above the rest. His handsome face
flushed a little and an angry light
cleaned in his eye when he saw her
turn and laugh in the face of her es-
cOrt.
"a fine exhibition am making for
the gaping crowd, muttered the young
log-runner. This will be the last
time, can tell 'em that.
And then a second and louder shout
went up as Casper's contestant stepped
from the bank and started nimbly run
ming over the logs. He turned somer-
sault and landed safely within ten feet
of Fall, coming up bowling and smiling,
like an acrobat in a circus. This was
the first time Casper Fall had looked
upon the man he was to meet in a
struggle for the mastery. One glance
served to show Casper that his rival
was no mean antagonist. He was as
supple as an eel, with the dark face
and fierce eyes of aSpaniard. No doubt
he had been matador in the Spanish
arena, and Casper realized that he was
to win no easy victory.
Ready"
Colonel Given uttered the Cry. The
bowed; then a tremendous
shout went up that made the heavens
ring, and then the contest began.
All! such log-spinning was never
seen before at Crosscut. Backward,
forward, with the velocity of mill
wheels the logs spun under the feet of
both men. Now and then particu-
larly good movement was cheered
loudly. During the greater part of
the time, however, a deep silence
reigned.
Mr.. Cotton rubbed his hands and
smiled.
"My man will win, he congratulated
himself. He's too much for the VOL
VERNE. See! wasn't that a grand turnp
Don't you see, Miss Given, your cham
pion Is tiring-he will lose; hurrah"
The last shout fell from the lips of
Cotton as his man bounded into the air
and landed on the log on which Casper
Fall was performing.
This move was legitimate enough,
but by this time Casper had discovered
two things. First, that he was bet
ter log-roller than the man pitted
against him; second, that the Spaniard
was resolved to win, even at the ex-
pense of fairness.
"pll beat him here and fight him
afterward," muttered Casper, his teeth
set IN wrathful determination.
Both men were on the same log now,
spinning it with lightning rapidity.
"Ha!"
With a grating cry the Spaniard left
the log, landing on another one near,
while at the same moment his ears
were saluted with derisive yell from
the multitude on the shore.
There, Mr.. Cotton! where's your
champion now?" exclaimed Nell, tap
ping his arm with her hand. ''Did
you see that? Casper is the better
man. Hurrah for Casper!"
Pretty Nell Given Haunted her hand
kerchief high, and it caught the eye of
Casper, who felt thrilled at the thought
that she still desired him to win.
CHANGING at his rival at this moment,
Casper saw that his dark face was yell
low with rage. a fact that satisfied the
champion of Crosscut that he would
now have an easy victory, for man in
a rage was apt to lose the management
of his feet in contest like this.
Again the two men spun their logs
rapidly, performing various figures,
first on hands, then on feet, and in
these movements the two were about
evenly matched. There was but one
way to win the victory. The one who
succeeded in getting his rival into the
river would be declared the champion.
The Spaniard had made legitimate
attempt to do this for Casper, and
failed. He now changed his tactics.
He ceased rolling his log and walked
toward the shore. Had he given up
the contest? 1t seemed so at first, and
d renewed feeling swept over Casper
FAN. Half-witted Jake stood close
down to the waters edge, and looked