The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-29
A LIVELY RUN.

but it was very strange
EVERY morning, you must know, am
walked by my lapdlady, who puts the
morning paper and other mail in at my
bedroom door. I can just reach them
from the bed, and by leaning over some
what I can pick up the letters
''This morning it was just the same. I
heard the knock and the rustic of the pa
per on the floor. I opened the door and
found the newspaper and a letter from
you
"From me?''
Eyes, from you. First I read the pa
per, of course. -
"Oh, of course, :" said he.
''Then tore open the envelope and read
your letter. 1t was long letter and as
illegible as ever.
"What on earth DO you mean?'' he ex-
claimed. 81 have not written any
''That is just the mystery, if you will
only wait. When I woke, I found the
newspaper on my bed, but no letter.
searched everywhere, but could not find
it. Then looked at the paper 1t had
evidently not been opened, and when 1
glanced over the headlines 1 saw that
had not read q word. Wasn't that odd?'
"What was in the letterP' he asked.
81 don't rernen bsr. -
''Too bad, . said he, with a mock sigh,
''for who knows how far the spirit may
have prompted my pen. But let me tell
SO0 sOA4GGAAB5 GAEAU AdPBOA1C4 W LIZ CF0A
more odd. Do you ever dream while you
are awaken
do you mean day dreams, when one is
reading a book or sewing?' she asked.
eyes, often
''No, not day dreams. Do you ever see
things that aren't THEREOF
''No.f
Gwen, do. Do you remember the time
ran at the games and broke the record2"
eyes. I didn't know you very we'll
then, but I remember how you came up
to US, after the race was over, when you
had rested, and remember how different
you looked in your ordinary clothes. -
The young man laughed. Every well, -
he went on. "That is the time I had my
vision.
81 was the fourth man On the outside,
you may remem Der, when we started The
fellow in black On my right believed to
be a champion runner, and I was awfully
afraid of him. Every time that looked
at him my knees felt weak. Suddenly
there came the bang of the pistol, and off
be went. I took the lead and kept it for
the first three laps. There were nine laps
to go. I could see everything as distinctly
as though it were q picture. l remem Der,
for instance, just where you sat, and that
you had a bunch of flowers on your lap,
and when 1 came around the fourth time
it was gone, and / wondered to whom you
might have given it. I remember also
how some Of my friends shouted my name
and waved their red flags frantically.
''Just az 1 was crossing the line on that
same fourth lap heard one of the judges
or timers say, That little fellow in black
is going to win the race The words were
spoken low, but I could hear them dis
tinotly. At the same time there came
pattering of feet behind me. I made a
squirt, but the pattering came nearer and
nearer, and presently q figure in black
L., IL
piece of cotton with his handicap Number,
but it Huttered SO wildly that I could dis
tinguiah only the nought. I made another
dash to get the lead again, but he kept
right ahead of me, and l saw that I would
have to save my strength for the final
squirt on the home stretch.
''We had three more laps to go.
''Just then the band began to play hid
eous march, with some high piercing notes
in the middle and loud crash toward the
end. I remember that afterward, when
we were coming homo, I heard nothing
but this march all night long as 1 lay toss
ing in nay berth in the sleeping car.
GAS I was saying, we had two more
laps to go, and still the little fellow in
black was right in front of me. Our boys
cheered and shouted to me to run faster,
and the heavy weights who were throwing
the hammer in the middle of the field
stopped 10 watch the finish Throughout
bnab Jap EfleG 10 CAbSu Wtbn uA4Et Dub
not an inch nearer did 1 get, and now
came the last lap and the final squirt, and
felt played cut before the end. When we
turned the last curve, gathered up what
little speed was left in me, clinohed my
fists, gritted my teeth and ran down the
home stretch as if it were a 100 yard dash.
There was a big din of voices and hun
dreds of flags seemed to be dancing up
and down necessarily. I myself was sur
prised that I should be able to run SO fast.
But he, too, was running like dend, and
when crossed the line he was at least
five yards ahead of me.
Somebody caught me and laid me on
my back. They sprinkled water on my
face and gave me an orange to suck. My
chum came along and shook my hand.
Others came and grasped me by the hand.
''As soon as l cared to speak I asked
who had beaten me.
g Nobody beat you said my Ohum.
You were way ahead of the rest
Where was the other man. said I,
'the little follow in black?'
{" There wasn't any fellow in black.
oh, yes-Iet me see-he was back, behind
the others; he and another who gave out
early. They must have come in more
than half a lap behind you
90 When did he fall backq I asked with
growing wonder.
90 Oh, quite at the beginning. He
wasn't in it from the start
8 Do you mean to say, asked I, that
was first all the way7'
Z" Why, certainly, old man. You were
way ahead. I guess your head feels a lit
tie queer, doesn't it?
s. No, it doesn't, said T. as I got to my
feet. only man can never be sure that
he sees straight when he is running a
race
g I always see straight, said my chum,
while I limped of to take a bath and to
Dress
Ives, that was very strange" said the
girl, taking a long breath. 81 am sure I
did not see any one ahead Of you during
that race. Have you ever seen that other
-other-lnan-again