Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-10

daughter that morning to observe blush
upon her cheek when he mentioned the
name of Forest Worthington. He had
given his promise to Hinkley in good faith
to intercede for him. A promise was
sacred matter with him; and how to extri-
cate himself from the dilemma in which he
found himself, was the cause, the result of
the smoke aforementioned.
Forest is a fine young man." unused the
merchant "Poor, but what OF that? ambi-
tious ana honest But, consarn it'll there is
my promise" and he struck at the smoke
furiously, as though it were an enemy, and
began to pace the floor. Suddenly he
stopped as though struck by an original
idea, and, putting his fnper to his nose and
squirting one eye, he looked straight at the
ceiling for iull half a minute. "Bv Jupiteri
and the rest of the great planets, why not?"
and he rushed out into the conservatory
where he knew he should find Kate, still
calculating why not?"
kate, my DEAR" said he, Ibid you ever
read of the knights of old who won their
lady loves bv some feat of horsemanship, or
other wonderful athletic skill?"
''Oh, yesr' said Kate, II have often read
OF such instances, and often imagined" she
continued laughing, 'how exceedingly ro-
mantle and delightful it would be were to
be won in just such a way"
Il take you at your word," said her
father. "Your answer, though spoken in
jest, shall relieve me from my embarass-
ment"
"Whst can you nean?" asked Kate, seri-
ously.
'Would you object to being won by
mental instead Of physical skill?" asked her
father.
A light broke upon Kate's mind, and she
trembled.
She had beaten Hinkley once, but she had
never beaten Forest, was her first thought.
She turned to her father, and placing her
hand in his, said: ."You have my youthful
promise. I have never had cause to doubt
your wisdom"
That evening Hinkley Eveleth and Forest
Worthington both received the following
note:
ELLwooD MANSION. April TO- 1875
SIR-You know who your rival for my daugh-
ter's hand is. You also know the position in
which | am placed in relation to you both. My
eccentricities and foibles are well known to
you. have arranged for friendly match of
my favorite game, the result of which shall
settle the matter as to who shall be the success
full suitor FOR my daughters hand. Will you
accept the conditions?
SOLOMON ELLwooD.
The first return mail brought back these an
swers:
Iaccept your conditions
Let the match be arranged. l accept.
HINKLEY EyELETH.
Each now began to prepare for the COM
ing struggle. They were visitors upon an
equal footing at the Eilwood Mansion, and
each learned by more familiar acquaintance
that the other, though rival, was to be es-
teemed and respected as gentleman. A
portion OF each day was set apart for the
study OF checkers, aud every available work,
however ancient, was utilized. Occasional
visits were made by each to New York,
Chicago, Phiiadelphia or Portland, for the
secret purpose of consulting Yates, Heffuer,
Freeman, Reed and Broughton. The pupil
list of the Barker Brothers was increased by
two, and they took their instruction at their
respective hotels.
October 10 was the day upon which the
great match was to be contested, and like
all past dates came it came at last. Kate's
lady friends declared it was Just ..charm-
ing" and that they would be won in just
such way.
AT precisely 2 p NJ. the folding doors of
the parlor were swung wide open in order
to accommodate the invited guests. A
referee having been chosen, the two young
men, though showing slight symptoms OF
nervousness, seated themselves for the first
time in their lives on opposite sides or i
checker board.
The referee then said: Gentlemen, you
will play strictly in accordance with Ander-
sons rules. The match will terminate
when one party has won three games. No
player shall play the same opening twice
until all the possible openings have been
played. Do you agree?"
Both bowed. Forest chose the black men
and PLAYED 1916, and each clung carefully
to the trunk. AID draw was entered.
NJ . 80 r.
his opponent into new variation, Hinkiey
won by an ending that surprised even Uncle
Sol, and blanched the cheeks OF Kate. Ii
was now getting interesting, and all eyes
were turned upon Forest to note the manner
in which he took his defeat. A slight pale
ness was all that was noticeable. 1t was
now his turn to play the black men, and he
moved 11-15, Hinkley at once replied with
PLY, as follows: