The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-01-05
RACE FOR A BRIDE.

II IKE CARLTON paced restless
ly. back and forth on the plat
form ut the station of D.. He
WAS a man ~ years of age. upon whom
Nature had certainly lavished an undue
amount of good looks. but whose face
WAS married at present by a look Of
contempt for everything upon which
his glance might chance To fall. And
1t was scarcely to be wondered at. for
In just nine hours, as lime was told by
the. large, slowly ticking clock in the
waiting room al the depot. Duke Carl
ton WAS 10 be married. And here he
was forty miles from his destination.
and had just peel told by the station
agent that the trains had changed time,
llis train having left n precisely TWEEN
ty minutes before his arrival. and there
would not be another before s that
evening. Eight-the hour set for his
marriage with sweet Lula Houghton.
What would size. could she, think
What a position to put her in. Already
he imagined the crowded church, the
SEA of eager faces, the waiting bride,
and no Duke. He must reach the city
of E in time for the ceremony; but
how?
Presently he walked back to the little
ticket office where the agent was la
borlously writing.
DO You know IL there is any sort Of
conveyance around here that l could
get to take me 10 the next village? l
would pay well for one. as it is impera-
tive that should reach F. before
night"
The agent calmly finished the sen
tenee he was writing. pushed the cap
he was wearing on the hack of his head
still farther back. and having thought
fully chewed the end of his pen for
about half a minute. replied.
Il dunno. You might I've able to git
old Harmon's horse and buggy il faint
lei. lie keeps the tavern bout a stones
throw from here. an sometimes lets
his horse; but he wants IA tarnation
price. You can try him, though; that's
his chimney you see Jest over the yeller
house there Aud he rose laZily and
pointed vaguely down the street. where
II number of small houses were visible.
among which the yellow one stood out
distinctly, having been recently built
and just received It's coat OF printing.
Duke walked rapidly from the depot
and FASTENED In the direction of the
Tavern" keeping the chimney In view
as a gaurd against mistake, and soon
found himself before Il dirty. ill-kept,
,~illlooking place, from which an odor
of boiled cabbage aud onions was now
issuing. To his loud and twice repeat
cd knocking the door was finally open
ed by an untidy specimen of woman-
kind from which he would at any other
time have recoiled in disgust: but his
necessity was urgent, SO. stepping for
ward. he raised his hat II courteously
asked II he might see the proprietor.
After a prolonged stare. as II men.
tally dlgesting the word. she answered
with a half grunt:
Amt t home. but I'm is wife. ne
we amt no secrets. What du Won
want?'
Duke smiled In spite Of his perplex-
ity before he replied:
Il merely came TO see II | could IN
gage some one to take me oyer to the
village east Of here. | must reach E
tonight; | believe | can get Il carriage
there
There amt no horse to hum she
said, but Abe would take YOU over In
the mornin'. Do you want lodgln' fur
the night she added, an eager look
taking the place of the previous vacant
stare.
No. thank YOU" said Duke: III l
cannot find a vehicle Of some descrip.
ton, L suppose | must walk. for | must
certainly get there tonight. Can YOU
tell me about how far II is 10 the next
village. and which Is The nearest way,
To go?"
It's four mile and1a lalf by the rail
road. an nigh onto seven II you lake
the road, was the surly answer. as she
saw that there WAS no. eyenia remote
chance, Of ".Abe's' maklng something
in the morning. But faint many as
likes 10 go by the railway. ofscount Of
the. naFrer tunnel. though It's a deal
nearer"
Thanks. Then II take 10 the track
here and 90 straight ahead shall come
but at the village. at the end of about
fonr mfles?''
\ nod. was his answer, followed as he
taRfled away by the. words:
&.E3nr an a half. | said"
NO Duke. started III walk the four and
a half miles. concluding he must take
the shortest way he could, as he had not
q superabundance of time; there might
be SOME little delay even after he arriy-