The daily Alaskan., 1904-06-29
A WINTER
 PROPOSAL
toriginal.l

NlaLu oHu "NAN "o snow.
 "They have a curious custom in Lap land," I said to Clara.
 What is it?" she asked.
 ''In Lapland the crime, after murder, that is punished with the greatest severity is marrying girl against her parents wishes"
 I glanced sidewise at Clara to see how she took this statement. had been to her father to ask his permis- sion to pay my addresses to his daugh- ter. He commended my honorable ac. ton in speaking to him first but in formed me that he had other plans for her
 .'That must be splendid" she said.
 "Splendid! Why sop
 "Think of the exciting episodes be- tween lovers with an ax hanging over the mans head1
 "Then you do not approve of the interference of parents in such mat ters2'
 q didn't say that. But how are marriages arranged in that country?"
 '"When a man wants a girl-without speaking to her-he goes to her par ents and asks for her hand.'
 And suppose they refuse?"
 'aThen there is no hope for him."
 'Unless he has great courage and would rather die than lose her"
 "Certainly."
 'But supposing the parents are will ingY'
 Tn that case they inform the girl that she is sought in marriage, Possibly she may never have seen the suitor or may not even know his name. On an appointed day the girl, her parents, friends and the suitOr meet at feast and the man and maiden especially tn- terested are placed opposite each other at table, so that they can look each other over and converse"
 q wonder what they talk about" remarked Clara musingIy.
 After the banquet all go to an open space where what they cali the race for a wife takes place. The usual dis tancc Is about a quarter Of a mile, and the girl is given d start of a third of the course. If she wishes she can easily reach the goal before her suttor. In that case 1t is plain she doesn't want him. If she does want him she will make so poor race that Le can catch her"
 We walked on meditatively. l didn't know what Clara was thinking of, nor did she know what I was thinking of. Nevertheless l felt that our thoughts were not far apart,
 "Supposing," I said; "supFosing that you were a girl'-
 That's not hypothetical; it's an aN- iom."
 who had lover" "WeuT' she said softly.
 -"and that lover should propose to you the Laplanders' race for wife Would you conscntP
 ''TO marry himY
 "No, no-you know what I mean to the racer '.CE, , ey! If he wanted to ask me to be his wife in that fashion I would have no objection to giving my reply In the same way" Snow brings a singular stiffness, and as we ceased speaking all about us was as silent az we. I paused and turned to look down upon the frozen landscape, while Clara trudged on.
 What a straight piece of road" she ! called, pointing before her, her voice sounding loud above the stiffness. I went to where she was standing and looked at the bit of road she referred to. It was straight as an arrow, and l at it's farther end was a bridge
 Just the place for a foot race" I said
 To this there was no response.
 Would you like to try which of us can reach that bridge irst?' asked.
 q don't mind," she said under her breath.
 "WeI, since you are a girl, must give you a start Go as far as you like, while stay here. When you are ready, wave your hand"
 Without word she started on, but slowly, oh, so slowly. It seemed to me she would never get to the starting point. She walked half the distance, then, after as much delay as she could find an excuse for, waved her hand and started to run.
 There was a great change in her mo tions the moment the race began. In- deed she ran so fast that I thought 1t would be impossible for me to catch her, though I am a fleet runner. Was she intending to reach the bridge be fore me? No. Soon her speed began to slacken. 1 increased mine. Then she started forward again. Jagged. Once more she lessened her pace, and I, taking heart, ran on like the wind. She was within a hundred yards of the bridge, l two hundred, when she made another spurt. She came within ten feet of the goal and stopped short. When I came up with her, she turned and threw up her arms in token of surrender. 1 clasped her, and she let AF.-.,. 4.u ,,v-.,, ,v,y- gh,r11ar3