The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-02-05

y Fred Floyd paus.
ed for a few mo.
ments at the gate of a house half con,
Acealed amid ivy and twining roses.
A fairy. like form FASTENED down the
gravel walk to meet him.
Fred Floyd was the postoffice clerk
of Bloomsbury, and the only support
of a widowed mother. Next to his
aged parent he loved Ethel Wayson
better than any one on earth. His
love was pure, and the beautiful girl
leaning upon the gate gazed into his
manly face as Fred stood for a few
seconds to converse with her.
81 can t'stop but few moments .
he said. "Mother is i'll, you know
and | try to spend asmuch time with
her as I possibly can; but the duties
of the office keep me in town the most
of the day" y
''Mabel Sanders is going to have a
birthday party, Fred. and you are
invited" said Ethel.
Every well; if Mother is better, I
will be only too glad to co." replied
Fred.
At that instant Mabel Sanders
rode by upon her tavorite saddle
horse, and smiled at the young folks
at the gate, who watched the fair
equestrienne as she urged her steed
forward. IT,,
Suddenly the shrill scream of the
up-train sounded close at hand as
the express dashed up to the depot.
Mabeps horse suddenly reared in
alarm and dashed away at full speed.
The fair rider, unable to check him
in his mad career, merely chung to the
pommel, expecting each moment to
to be thrown headlong from the iv-
ing animal
The noise of the escaping steam,
as the engine drew up to the depot,
added to the horses fears, and he re-
doubled his exertions to unseat the
terrified girl, who chung with de-
-spair to her 1rail support.
Suddenly passenger from the
train ran toward the coming horse.
and, dropping his small valise,
bounded out into the middle of the
road, and sprang forward in time to
seize the reins and throw the animal
back upon his Launches, and at the
same time receive the senseless form
of the beautiful rider in his out
stretched arms.
Friends soon gathered near, and
Mabel, after recovering her senses,
accepted IL seat in carriage and re-
turned home, while the stranger leis-
surely proceeded to the hotel, regis
tered, and sought his room.
= This incident was soon the town
talk, and the stranger accepted the
invitation to call and receive the
thanks of Miss Sanders. This secur-
ed for him a, passport into the socie-
ty Of Bloomsbury, and he was the lion
of the hour. He gave his name as
Harry Tracy, and it was soon ru-
mored that he was rich, and his WIS.,
1T to the town was merely to pass a
few weeks vacation during the warm
weather. He soon beca me a regular
visitor at the nome of the Sanders.
4 The evening of the birthday party
finally arrived, and ofcourse Fred and
Ethel were among the guests. Harry
Tracy obtained an introduction to
Ethel, who looked unusually charm
ing, and he paid a great deal of at
tention to her and secured an invi-
tation to call upon her. @@ 81 Ss@ i
While returning home that even
ing Fred learned from her convers a.
tion than Ethel seemed much i'm
pressed with the. handsome stranger.
Poor Fred, he began to hate the new
conner. HeWas but a poor clerk, ill
paid andWith q widowed m otherlook-
3 ing 20 him for support, while this new
arrival was reported rich. He could
ssee,t that Ethel Twas dazzled by the witty
remarks and the glib tongue Of Tracy,
and a great load settled upon the
young clerk, Is mind as he communed
with, himself n. s#=3
Next evening as he called to see
Ethel, her other came forth smiling
to greet him, and he was informed
that Ethel had gone riding with Mr..
Tracy IL.
Fred cllltched at the pa te-po st for
support He felt his hea TT S mixing,
and a great lun arosein lis throat:
Slowly and as i in q dream, he