Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-15

field danced before me warmingiy; but
to ease up now would seem like defeat
already-On dashed.
Another shout. The gorse-common
three miles covered. And now-now
the terrifying realization that could
never do it, That breeze across the
open seemed to hold me back; | had a
fearful pain in the left side; was
stumbling now and then like a blind
man. Oh, for strength just to beat
himl He must never win that dayi
> Heavens, there he was, COM
ing on steadily, and not very far be-
hind. Did he get level with me once.
| was lost. And then-and then what
would happen? Heaven knew, | did
not want to do IT.
Another shout Five milesl Round
the holly-bushes, with a sickening
swerve, and on to the high road. On,
on with singing in my brain and mock
ing laughter in the wood on my right.
Had he made the turn? l must look.
Yes, there came the blue and white fig
ure. Another stumble-I was down:
up again, and on, reeling like a man
drunk. could never do it by fair
means
Seven milesl The pace was a crawl.
And now-oh, the sick horror of that
moment!-a growing pant and patter
behind. He was wearing me down,
three miles from home. As If it were a
matter of life and death, l set my teeth
and spurted madly on.
Eight milesl Then that pit-a-pat
behind again A moment more. and
then, but for an accident, It was all
over. " But for an accident!
Now he was near enough to gasp
out:
will! VIII! keep on; you'll never
give up! You can win; you can beat
me If you likei"
Answer, l could not; would not. One
more spasmodic effort to draw away
and then my limbs seemed to grow
stin as iron. What was he saying? I
never knew; he was forging level now.
ana that was enough An accident?
AS the blue-and-white came abreast
that madness surged up in me, and /
swung round
you sha'n'tl You sh'an't!"
What then? Why, before realized
1t, had caught him by the throat in an
insane grip. A choking gasp, a brief
blind struggle and then-then Jim Law
almost still across the roadway.
One long, incredulous stare-he had
not moved. Dead? l stood there while
that mad passion oozed out, and the
realization beat itself into my brain
Heavens! Dead-Jim, the closest and
truest friend that ever a man had in
this world! Another awful pause, and
then the sight of two white figures
painting round bend far down the
road broke the spell. / was down on
my knees beside him, my arms about
his neck, calling out in a never forgot.
ten agony: Jim! Jim-no, mol"
Thank heaven, his eyes opened lit.
tie; he muttered something. l bent
down, but he beat me back weakly
And
Go on! go on!" That was what he
whispered, feverishly. Go on!" he
persisted, family, turning his head to
look behind. I'm out of it-I meant
you should win it. Yes, yes. 1 knew
1 forgive you'll won't if you let them
catch you up! Go on! If she il
she"
The figures were scarcely 300 yards
behind now. l stood in a fever of ir-
resolution and shame. "Oh, Jiml" I
breathed; and he pulled himself up
with a moan of pain that was the
hardest punishment could have had.
GO ont" he repeated, in a wild shout
You're to win! I've slipped and
sprained a leg-go on, or they shall
knowi"
And with that cry ringing In my
ears, set off. The rest l do not re-
member-only that ran until the road
before me was a blurred chaos; ran
blindly on, as Jim had bade me. until
deafening huzza told me that l had
breasted the tape and won that years
cup. Then. l thiIk, | tainted. Yes
but no one ever knew why, save Jim,
And Jim, noble-hearted Jim-he is
to win a wife In a few weeks time
Her name is Ella. But perhaps the
most convincing proof of the lasting
good that that days race worked in
me lies in the fact that his best mans
name is to be Will-Will Marston.