The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-06-20

y
mile), you shall both start tomorrow
morning at an hour before sunrise,
each on his wheel CHR. s. is an ac-
complished HyerD and the one that
meets me first at our front gate shall
claim my hand. put you both on
honor not ito start a minute before the
hour set. You have mile the start.
of him, but he is about two degrees
east OF you, which obviates this hands
cap. have written these facts to
him, and will mail both of your letters
together. I find that by happy co
incidence the mail trains to your re
spectMe homes pass at this station at
$50 4p. M, each arriving at its destana- 4
ttgm about the same hour. You will
each get your notification about 4: g.
O'Clock. Neither will dare to start be 4
fere the time mentioned, as anything
that resembles treachery viii cause a.
forfeiture Of all claims. This may
seem hard and practical even. cruel;
but it is my only way out of this di-
llemma. zts ts ~. 3=;.y ,:s@sy = 81.
'HIf. either of you gentlemen do not
consider the prize worth the trial, L
shall be all the happier with the other;
and can't think this fair and impair.
ttial test will cause me to lose both.
Il inclose a diagram of our village,
showing the location of our street and
residence, the latter being designated
'by cross. 80 .A. l.. IS :EzE $50 - =.
Lovingly and expectantly, :
....... -. T.. .:.>5, - '.BESSIE.'
L was s>shocked and bewildered at the
:contents of the letter. After partially
recovering my wits my first impulse
was to take the midnight train, put
my wheel in the baggage car, stop at
some town near Feeder station, get
an early start, run in about 10 a. m.
and claim my prize. Then I thought
what if my hated rival should basely
impose upon me 1ifty-mile handicap!
and I mentally denounced the treach-
cry of the thing, thus unwittingly
placing myself in very delicate at
titude. My private sense of honor was
awakened, and I resolved to win Bes-
sic fairly or fail in the attempt -
spent an hour looking over such
maps as could find in my library and
studied Bessie's diagram. Then, real
izing that would need sleep, got
everything in readiness for the start,
set my alarm clock to raise its clamor
at 4 a. m. sharp. placed it on a stand
within a foot Of my pillow, and re-
; tired with an involuntary prayer Oh
my tongues end. tossed some, hut
about 10 o'clock I fell into "a sort of
phantasmal slumber. dreamed of
mounting a single wagon wheel and
riding the clumsy thing a Thousand
miles on a telegraph Wire for prize,
the same being a beautiful princess,
" hom won against hundreds of COM
petitors. But just as / was about to
take her fail. hand and lead her. to
the altar, there arose a horrible clam
or of opposition frcm my disappointed
rivals. who rushed at me in a fury
of jealousy, and would have torn me-
limb from limb, but awoke--just in
time to hear the lingering Utilization Of
my alarm clock. I sinang from my
bed and in nalf an hour was ready
for the race. F.
Still punctilious in holding to my
point of honor, l waited till an hour
before sunrise, and then sailed away
in the dim twilight and the bra cling air
Of that fated morning, on a mission as
soul-thrilling as any that ever sent
: a knight to the arena or a political
martyr to Washington. -.
made my first two leagues before
the suns imminent glory had blanched
-AS oNNSl3 .AOSOS VI lJlC
ing stars. 4. - %S Z go -. Il
I began to feel a little uneasy about
the "signs' which the first rays Of
the sun pencilled on the .feecy canvas
of the DAWN Natures scenic artist
may sometimes use his brush without
definite purpose, but for one I am
.Supelstitious to reef sails when I note
as did them a rather lavish touch OF
crimson on, the edge of the morning
But scudded along the dusty road,
not exactly under bare poles," but
under the kind Of stimulus that turns
burdens into pillows and obstacles in
to incentives .t.. . .... ....~s>s-,. :.
i made the first twenty miles with
out serious check or Interruption, bar
ring the temporary annoyance of be
Ing at one time chased a mile by a
ferocious dog, that persistently tried
to tfasten his fangs in my trousers.
: y: :. }
a. ~ .H/ ~ 49,. !, ..k H. =