Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-09-12

this, and many wise mothers had
looked on Van Spoke as not only suita-
bic but as most desirable part for
their manageable daughters
AS George approached his uncle the
old'man greeted him kindly. "Well,"
he cried, $50 you have been out for a
spin. too. have just got back from a
run over to Springer's-a good twelve.
mile run. Cooling off little; then for
a cold plunge"
Van Spoke threw himself into a
chair and for some moments vouch-
safed no reply. Then he laid one hand
gently on his uncle's knee and said:
Uncle, you have been almost father
to me, and I want you to know how
deeply / appre-"
Come, come, George, don't get senti-
mental now" interrupted Mr.. Tires.
I'm not feeling that way by any
means Old Springer and / have ar
ranged a meeting at last. rode over
there to-day with our neighbor, Miss
Fellows. Now, don't look concerned.
It's nothing serious, assure you. She
and were children together, and SIM
ply went out for little spin. But as
was saying"
Uncle Reuben, / have something
concerning which wish to"
Just wait until l tell you about
this affair. We went to Springer's and
succeeded in arranging a meeting for
tomorrow. You know / have been
trying to fix it for years, and we had
trouble over the handicap. We settled
all that. Road race-two miles-to-
morrow-one hundred dollars side. 1
give him minutes start on me, as he
is five years older than I. Pray what
do you think of your old uncle now?"
Mr.. Tires clapped his nephew gayly
on the shoulder and then threw him
self back in his chair and laughed long
and loud.
"Uncle," began George, 81 want to
marry Ethel Wheeling, as have told
you before. 1 have come again to ask
your consent"
Reuben Tires at once became seri-
Gus. He leaned forward and replied
earnestly:
"My boy, you know what have al
ready told you. l can have no
nephew of mine tying himself for life
to light-headed creature who rides a
Whizzer. l can have no heir of mine
daily risking his life and limb for the
sake of woman. What does she say?
Has she consented to give up her
folly?"
Van Spoke sadly shook his head and
replied: No, she has not: she says
that she will not marry, to live in
constant fear of being widowed She
will not have a husband who, as she
puts it, is so lacking in mind as to ride
a buster. Uncle Reuben, love you
like father, but Ethel is all the
world to me; withdraw your hard con-
dition"
"Enough!" cried the old man.
springing to his feet, his face flushed
with anger. 1.-The impudent womanl
l tell you, George Won Spoke, it has
long been my desire to leave my
fortune to found the Tires Home for
Crippled Wheelmen-a lasting monu-
ment to my memory, to my benefi-
given up this, the darling project OF
my OLD age. Go; marry the woman if
you will; marry her and not cent of
money will you get. will cut off your
very allowance. Choose, choose for
yourself"
Mr.. Tires turned upon his heel and
strobe into the house, leaving George
~, xryif Of nd
anger.
Van Spoke thought of suicide. But
that would not win him Ethel. He
thought of giving up his fortune and
marrying her, penniless as he was.
But she would not have him under such
conditions. Torn by conflicting emo.
tions, rage and grief, love and hate,
wild envy of Sprockett, mad condemna-
ton of self, he buried his head in his
hands and wept. Several hours passed,
but still he lay there hopelessly down.
cast. The evening shadows fell, the
darkness came, the crickets and the
frogs began their melancholy chorus,
the butler announced dinner, but to il
all he was oblivious
a Then suddenly, as comes the flash OF
the lighthouse lamp across the stormy
deep to the belated seaman, came al
idea. The race of tomorrow! 1t was
as though the sun had suddenly APP.
peared in the heavens and dispelled
the darkness. The blackness of de
spair was gone. Ethel would be his
Aud Uncle Reuben-pshawl "a He had
stood many harder fall. The deer
gutter was the place that would serve
him-right at the foot of the long
slope leading to the head of Barnacle
bay. ... -.....- .... ...... .......s.
The moon was sinking low in the wes
and the earth was wrapped in dark
mess. The great house, unconscious o;
the danger which threatened it's mas
ter, lay silent in sleep when Georg'
Van Spoke silently crept from his
chamber and made his way to thu
1 ga. - - ~. I.