Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-10-15
MARSTON'S TRIUMPH.

college Cup and county championship
Any takers? Not one,"
And it wanted but two days to that
OF the great racei l believe 1 clenched
my fists; not until that excited mo-
ment, in the crowded dressing room.
had 1 thoroughly realized that Jim
was supreme favorite-the hero OF the
occasion in all respects. He had Just
won the first trial spin--beaten me by
a clear 100 yards. and the rest by any
thing under half mile Not only
that; with all eyes upon him. he stood
staring out of the window. as IL think
ing OF something even more vital than
the coming much-discussed struggle.
4 could guess what.
well haven't you heard?" some one
struck in, enviously. "Oh, it's no
rumor. Some one-1 won't say who
overhead Ella as good as promise to
-er-marry the winner. Worth win
ming, Ell? There's going to be rare
struggled"
Jim started and flushed. That. and
the gust Of significant laughter, seemed
20 suffocate me. Hardly knowing what
intended to do, l walked out into the
quadrangle. She had said that, Jim's
retriever came bounding up. I gave it
vicious kick. and next instant Jim
was beside me, gripping my arm.
will. don't you do that again! 1t
was brutal. Why, whatever has come
over your
This almost in a whisper 1 must
have flung away, as he tried to link nv
arm, In his usual loving, impetuous
fashion a mere month before il
would have seemed incredible, but in
a moment was quivering from head to
foot with jealous heat. Not exactly
new sensation, but up to now / had
pooh-poohed ii as unnatural.
Why Jim, big-hearted and big-bodied
Jim, with a nature as sweet and for
giving as any woman's, had drawn me
70 him from the very day of his enter
ing the college. two years before; ever
since then We had been regarded as in
SEPARATES, and Il was perfectly true
that could never bear TO contemplate
q future day when his way might
branch out OF mine Something had
come between us. The race? Yes; the
race-and Ella! We. two. it was clear.
had suddenly realized that Ella. the
preceptor's daughter. was no longer a
ronp, but that the indescribabIe con-
seriousness Of new womanhood had been
for some time creeping into those
papsy-like eyes.
D That was i'll and now-well. neither
had spoken of II, and neither could say
as yet that he had any basis for his
hopes; but the inevitable shadow of
rivalry was there. all the same. And
when Jim asked that, as If dreading to
hear the answer. the situation merged
snto tragedy at one bound. The mad
de9t, wickedest thought had ieaped into
my brain.
NO lies! Did she-did she say those
lwords?" ! asked. going close, and he
stared hard. and then whitened to the
dips. That was enough. "She did!
Very good To whom?" went on.
huskiiy. Il Will know! To whom?"
! A queer pause. Jim seemed to be
fighting with some emotion. He looked
away, his lips twitching. I'll not
answer that" he said, at length. An
other pause Something might have
happened then and there. but he sud
denly caught at my arm again. "Will.
1Qn't! he whispered. For heavens
Sake, don't let the fellows know. Come
Indoors and we-we1l talk it all over. -
After it's all settled" I sneered.
BAH You'll win the race-and every
ether race. will you? Don't make too
certain!" and l walked OFF, leaving him
standing like one transfixed. A word
perhaps, would have ended it then. but
neither OF us could say it. The early
spring sun was shining, and yet tho
world seemed to have grown gray of
a sudden.
j must have walked aimlessly down
the road to the town for a time, hear
Ing and seeing nothing; and then my
heart gave great jump. Coming
slowly toward me was the daintiest
fgure in grey tweed that ever trod this
earth Ella herself, carrying some
books, and so near that it was impos-
sible to pretend not having seen her.
stood there stupidity, as her languid
laugh rippled out There was Just 9
trace, think, Of the coquette in Elias
OuS 'On1J trace.
"Oh, who won? 1 saw you all dart
out Of the wood, like so many sprites.
but-goodness, how bad he looksi
Really, Mr.. Marston, that pair of gloves
i wagered over the race
II should cry off, if 1 were you" /
put in, looking doggedly past her. Then
something sprang to my lips that
would not be kept back. Perhaps !
nave not the-er-the incentive to try
that some one else may possess. Oh
we're not all biindI" o..
= = was out. Ella stood minute. nsS
eSes widening; then the next thing ]
Ahew was that shA had swept on with.
out another VOID, and that the ground
seemed 70 Be heaving under me. What
had done7 Jeoparded my slender
chances ID one mad breath? walked
on and On, the devil Of temptation TAX
ing shape In my brain. Come
what might, be should never win.
It was long after dark before I got