The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-23

u"teu oShLHotty anu strength, called
forth tho admiration OF tho young mont
"Mnyhap, sir, strauger, you Ink you
can beat that" said Charlie Simms, 70.
marking tho manner In which the now.
conner scanned tho aroma III YOU can
outleap Harry Carroll you boat the best
man in tho colonies"
rs 1t for amusement you are pursu.
ing this pastilne2' inquired tho youth.
iui stranger, "or is there prize for the
winner?
| The sweetest prize man ever stroye
for, answered ono Of the judges: "yon-
der she stands"
| The stranger cast respectful glance
at tho blushing maiden, and his eyes
looked admiration.
"Are the lists open to all2" he asked.
"All, young sir" replied Annet,e's
father, with interest. hi, youthful ardor
rising as he surveyed the proportions Of
the straight-limbsd young stranger. III
you will try you are FREQ to do 90. Hero
is my daug liter, sir; look a. her and
| decide"
| With q smile the newcomer threw of
his coat, drew his sash tighter around
his waist, and stepped forward. An.
nette looked anxtously at Harry, who
stood near with troubled brow and an.
cry eye, and then she cast upon tho
stranger glance OF piteous entreaty.
All hearts stood still as tho young man
bounded forward.
| twenty-five feet and an inchw The
Judges words were received with muir.
murs OF surprise and wonder. Not
without feeling OF pity Tor poor Har-
ry, al! crowded round the new victor,
Offering him their congratulations. The
old farmer approached. and graspinr
the young mans hand, exultinsly called
him his son, and said he felt prouder OF
him than il ho were 4 prince. To tho
old athlete the true patents OF nobility,
were physical strength and activity.
Resuming his coatthc stranger sought
with his eve tho fair prize he had. al.
though namelcss and unknown, so
fairly won. She leaned upon her faith
er's arm, pale aud distressed.
Poor Harry Carroll stood aloof,
| gloomy and mortified, admirinc tho
stranger for his ability, but hating him
Tor his success.
annette, my pretty prize" said tho
victor. taking her passive hand, ~ have
won you fairly"
Anneste's check became paler than
marble, sho trembled and clung closer
to her father, while her dropping eyes
sought the form OF her lover. At the
words OF the stranger Carroll's face
grew dark and determined.
Il have Won you. my pretty flower, to
make You bride-tremble not so vic.
len,ly-l mean no: myself, however
proud | might be" he added, with gal.
lantry, TO wear so tair gem ne1t my
heart. | think there is favored youth
among the competitors who has higher
claim than mine. Young. SIR" he con.
tinued, turning to tho surprised Harry,
"meshinks You were tho victor in tho
lissa betore-I strove not for the maiden,
though one could not well strive for a
fnlrer. but from love OF the manly spor,
in which | saw you engaged. You arc
the victor, and rs such, with the per.
mission OF this worthy assembly, you
receive from my hand the prize you
have 30 we'll and honorably won."
Tho youth spraug forward and
| grasped the strangers hand with grati-
tudc, and tho next moment Annette
was weeping from pure Joy upon his
breast. The place rang with the accla.
nation OF tho delighted people, and
| amid the excitement the newcomer
withdrew, remounted his horse and
rodo briskly out OF the village.
That night Harry and Annette were
married, and during the festivities many
and many bumper was drunk to tho
| health OF tho mysterious and noble
hearted stranger.
Passing on several years We find that
| Harry Carroll has become Colonel
Harry Carroll Of tho revolutionary
army. Ono evening the colonel, after
just returning from hard campaign,
was sitting with his family on tho
piazza OF his handsome country house,
when an advance courier rode up and
announced tho approach OF General
| Washington and suite, who would
crave the colonel's hospitality for tho
night. Tho necessary directions in
reference to household preparations be.
| ing given, the colonel ordered his horse
and rode forward to meet tho distin-
guished guest, whom no had mover soon,
though serviugin tho samo widely e1-
tended army.
That evening. at the table, Annette,
now tho digniiled matronly, and still
handsome Mrs. Carroll, could not keop
her cyos from tho face Of hor ilustrions
visitor. Evsry moment or two she
would steal glance at his command.
ing features aud hald.doubtingly, half
assuredly, shake her head and look
again to DO still moro puzzled. Her ab.
aenco Of mind and embarrassment at
last became evident to her husband who
inquired aGectionately il sho wero i'll.
81 suspect, colonel" said tho general,
who had boon somo timc, with quito
moaning smile, observing tho lady's cur.
ious aud puzzled scrutiny Of his foat-
uros 'That Mrs. Carroll thinks sho no.
cognizos in mo m old acquaintance.
And he smiled with mysterious air as
lo gazod upon both alternately.
The colonel stared, and faint memory
OF tho past seemed to bo revived rs no
gazod, whilo tho lady roso impulsively
from her chair, and bonding ongorly
forward over tho toa urn, with clasped
hands, and M ovo of intense eager in.
quiry tixod full upon him, stood for
moment with hor lips parted as il sho
would s1oak.
pardon, inc. my dear mndam-pardon
mo, colonol-I must put m ond to this
sconc. l have bocn:uo, by diut OF camp.
faro and hard uBage, too unwioldly TO