Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-06-04
Ais Fair
By w. H. OSBORNE
Copyright. 1850. by 7. e. Mcclure.

young and hit too buoyant and she
had had too many chances To think
too seriously Of marrying. She had led
the youth of Frankfort Plains n merry
chase. There WAS not perhaps IA man,
an eligible man. who had not made
love to her or who had not attempted
il. But she had lcl them ON and then
had sent lhcm oil. They went
There was too much htiunor In Miss
Betty. too much Of wit AID laughter
to make them essay -. SECOND time pro-
pos;il. One 10y one they stood rejected
Miss Betty would merely toss her
youthful head AMI laugh and laugh
and laugh.
Two of them. however. would not
down. Mr.. John MIster:;oI was one,
and Tommy Chnahan was the 9th.
or. Mastcrson chung To her with n
bulldog trnacity. lie did IL because he
had many of the characteristics Of the
Mastcrson until no began Ia growl. and
then she would watch him rage and
storm with wide open eyes.
do that again." she would suggest,
and Masterson would do II. He could
not help II. lie CRASHED his teeth with
rage. But he always came back.
Tommy McClcnallan didn't cling 10
Miss Betty. He simply followed her
about. watching her with frank. hon.
est eyes. They walked the fields one
day. and Miss BETTY. I'm spirit OF mis-.
chief. ran away from Tommy She
hadn't ghost Of show ut that. but
Tommy let her run until she was well
tired out: then with that easy squirt of
his. which has won him medal after
medal I'm collegiate games. he sprang to
her side AMI. obeying sudden i'm.
pulse. caught her In his arms. OrtiI.
narily he would not have dared 70 do
this. but there was something about
Miss Betty's color and her sparkling
eyes that just made Tommy do II.
II couldn't help it, he gasped.
And then he stopped. For she was
looking straight into his eyes. with an
fore. Tommy thought II was worth
while. lie braccd himself and spoke
BETTY Betty-Betty." he implored
1--WE asked you now for the fifteenth
time. and I'm asking you again.
can't help II. You must marry me-
I won't take no for an answer"
Miss Betty drew herself away. She
still looked mt Tommy McClenahan.
II have promised Mr.-Mr. Mas.
terson." she said slowly. that I would
marry him
Tommy touched her on the arm.
Mono. Betty" he exclaimed. "You
can't mean it,
Miss Betty went on: THAT would
marry him II his team. the Frankforts,
won the tournament game at the coun-
~ fair. will be fair and square.
Tommy. l will go further. I promise
TO marry you II your team wins ont
and gets the prize. Mono. that's all.
I won't discuss Il. You know what
I'll do and shall do nothing else"
But. Betty" pleaded Tommy Nc
Clenahan. ''you-you know my team
can't win. II never has and 1t can't
now"
Miss Betty smiled. Then" she said
archly. 80 much the better. Tommy.
for Mr. Masterson" Tommy said
nothing further. He strobe along by
her side with his glance upon the
ground.
Its the man whose team wins the
game. Tommy" she said at parting.
by George" muttered Tommy to
himself. later. ''she knew we couldn't
win. thought she liked me better
than to-
The town of Frankfort Plains was
the county seat of Frankfort county.
Frankfort Plains was a fashionable
residence place and the county fair
was one of the fashionable events of
the year. Indeed. at all seasons the
Plains was lively place and the two
athletic clubs helped TO make 1t SO.
The two athletic clubs supported, by
grace of the pocketbooks OF few
millionaires. two good football teams.
The FRANKFORT Plains club team was
captained by John MastersOn. ESQ,
and the Waysiie Athletic club team
by Tommy McClenahan. Master.
son had people,l his team with bull
dogs like himself; MastersOn's team
had invariably won. Both men were
college graduates. The county fair
judges. also by grace Of the aforesaid
pocketbooks. had offered this year a
81 900 cash prize to the team that
won the football game In the county
fair tournament. There was never any
restriction as TO what teams should
compete. but rs the Waysiie could
lick anything I'm the county except the
Frankfort and as the Frankfort could
lick the Wayside there was little
doubt which teams would play. and
there was little doubt also which team
would win. In the midst Of the prepa.
ration for the fair Mr.. John Master.
son had proposed to Miss Betty Pen.
nington for the thirteenth time. and
Tommy had proposed for the fifteenth
time. and her ultimatum had gone
forth.
Now. 1t Is Just as well to state right
here that Miss Betty had a small
brother who hated Mr. MastersOn and