Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-01
WINNING A GODDESS.

ing until we get together" Postmaster
! Haston threw away his cigar Impatient
ly and turned to the group of villagers
Maybe that's so, but 1t ought not tc
| be. Just because the cattlemen live In
| the north end and the land owners In
the south they ought not to quarrel
replied Harry Morse, son of Banker
Morse, and just home from college.
"We'l get up our own then" sug-
gested somebody, land let's meet to-
morrow night. Fourth of July Will be
here In a week"
Harry on his wheel met Led Norton,
the son OF the owner of Hat Six ranch,
on horseback day later and the two
young men rode side by side across the
level plain for a time. Harry told his
companion OF the arrangement.
That's all right" was the reply.
"The north end Is goln' to perform too,
These old fogles may fight II they want
to, but we won't be so foolish. We can't
help It. of course, but let's go In for
some fun out Of 1t anyhow"
I'm with you. We are to have a
goddess of liberty in flag dress and
u golden crown. lou can't guess who
1t Is to be-
"rhat homely Miss Lyons, of course.
She always forces herself to the front"
"Wrong-Miss Dorine Vandele."
why her father Is worth half mil
lion"
"Well. she will do anything for me-"
with satisfied air
"Oh, no, that's It, Is it," and the cat
tie king-to-be rode away. In his heart
was little bitterness, for Dorine was
to him something better than the rest
of the girls of the town, north or south.
and he did not like Mt all the tone OF
his companions expression.
SO North Mayville prepared for Its
parade and speeches, ana South May
Vile did the same Harry and Led met
often and exchanged notes as to the
progress Of the work. II was to be a
very bitter rivalry
For days the two sections of the town
were excited The tales OF the doings
OF "the other side" were related with
great exaggeration. Dorine heard them
and wondered IL her party was to be so
very much outshone.
"'rhey tell me that they are getting
up u carlcature of me-" she said to
Harry.
"They would not dare" was the eager
response. "If they did | would punish
the author myself.
"Who Is in charge OF the other side?"
Lied Norton, of course"
Dorine's color heightened, buu Harry
did not notice It. He was at last re-
warded by securing her promise that
she would act the principal parts in the
parade. He went away wondering how
he could arrange it so that he might be
near her on the glorious occasion.
At the eve Of the important day there
was n gathering In the back room Of the
Cattlemen's club. Around the table
sat six OF the largest owners of stock
on the range. They talked Of the NOR
row.
81 am in favor of knocking them out
once for ALL" Col. Norton was saying.
"That side Of the town has got to be
w'ncd out eventually or our property
will be worthless. Let's scare their old
parade out Of sight and let them see
that we are running the town"
Some objection was raised, but In the
end the worthless We're all satisfied with
n plan that promised dire trouble for
the nolghboring burg. But only the six
cattle bnrons anew OF It when the
morning dawned. The rivalry OF west
ern towns does not permit Of much
confidence or exchange Of courtesies.
There was another conference that
night, but the catucmen did not know
of II. Only two were in it--IIarry and
Led When they parted It was with a
laugh and merry call from the form
or: at will he fun for all OF EN-"
Independence day dawned with the
beauty of the prairie skies shining over
tho town, 1t was a day for the young
to rejoice In and for the old to be
thankful for. Mavville was astir early
and there was not resident who did
not feel that e was interested In the
celebration, both for the purpose of
making for his side the best showing
possible and to Guido the opposition.
The rival parades started at ten o'clock.
The two young men were tho respec-
tive marshals Of the day and each guild
cd his troops rs hest he could through
the crowds that filled the streets. The
south endcrs were gorgeous In their An
cry from the stores. The Goddess of
Liberty rode on float all by herself
aud the horses were gaylv fitted out for
the occasion with ribbons and bunting.
The north end hNd n more sedatc. but
more expensive aggregation. It had In
line all the cowboys Of the ranch own
ers and there were some fancy riders
among them who could and did make
the onlookcrs wonder ut their skill
AS the bands played and drowned out
the noise of each OPT oston company
the two marshals OF the day led the
lines toward trce-llned avenue and
then with quick turn brought them
out plump against each other In the
broad street, II was the most excit-
ing time OF the towns history. The
, men were mad and the women lndlg-
nant the children alone were happy.
They saw two parades instead Of one.
But suddenly something else hap
nered Ont OF the grove that hid a
stable sprang number Of men with
guns, 'lney leaned into the road and
fred them with deafening reports. II
was intended to brighten the south end.
ers and lid It. II also frightened the
others for the paraues We're there to-
gether.