The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-11-15
The -
Bridal Race.
By Maude Swain Evans.
y Copyrighted, 1907, by C. II. Sutcliffe.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Observation-Disclosures
81 want you to ride in the bridal race
with me, Frieda," said Wilhelm Roche
as he stood ready to mount Black
Nance after having delivered his sis
ters wedding invitation to Farmer Die
trichs family.
Il can't" answered Frieda Dietrich,
with regret in her eyes and voice. "Fa-
Their has promised Anil Myer that l
shall ride with him."
You wouldn't do that, Frieda"
pleaded Wilhelm. I've never told you
so, but as long back as l can remember
I've counted on your being my wife
some day. You won't ride in the bridal
race with any other man, Frieda? Tell
me that you won't" entreated Will
helm.
I'D like to ride with you, Wilhelm,
but can't. l must do as father says"
and the tears weled to Frieda's eyes
as she turned and went into the house.
Detection and gloom took possession
of Wilhelm as he rode away.
81 don't believe that F'rieda really
cares for Myer," he soliloquized. ''He
must be at least ten years older than
she is, but he's got his farm clear and
money in the bank, and of course that
talks with Dietrich. Myers got good
horses, and he stands n chance of win
ming the race with Nance out, and If
he does" Wilhelm's face looked dark
and threatening and then perturbed as
his thoughts flashed back to winters
night when he, a half grown boy, sat
by the fireplace in STEMS large kitchen
and with bullying eyes and open mouth
listened to old Granny Stein tell weird
stories of her fatherland. Just as Wv
idly as he did that night Wilhelm could
see the old woman's face grow witch
like and uncanny under the Pickering
freight as she told of couple who,
after winning the bridal race, had dis
regarded the omen and had refused to
marry.
Love had changed to hate, and so
bitter was the new passion that they
Travelled far away from their native
home in hope of never meeting again.
When Il twelvemonth passed the fire
man" gained possession of their souls,
and constantly and increasingly he pur-
sued them, bringing them nearer and
nearer together until he succeeded i'll
with his lightning. At first there was
a great circle, but it grew smaller and
smaller until the man and woman met,
and then in Il flash and a roar they
disappeared and were never seen
again. Wilhelm knew that if Frieda
entered the bridal race with Myer
she would be irrevocably lost to him.
One morning shortly after Wilhelm
had carried the wedding invitation he
was in the village. When about to get
his horse for the homcward trip he re-
membered that his mother wanted
some things from Funk's grocery. In
the store he found Dietrich and Myer.
Myer had brought in some farm prod
uce and was settling with Gus Funk,
the grocer's boy.
Il owe you a dollar ninety-seven, but
l can't make it." said Gus, looking into
the money drawer. Il have only one
ninety-five in change"
That's near enough, Myer," inter-
rupted Dietrich; take it and come on"
Il don't know" replied Myer "A
penny here and a penny there and
dollars soon gone. You put it down,
Gus, and pay me the next time" in
sisted Myer, following Dietrich out.
There's n stingy man for you" re-
marked Gus to Wilhelm. IF father
owes him an odd sum he'll always say,
Even it up, Funk; few pennies don't
count and father will even it up"
''You don't have money unless you
watch it, Gus, my boy" responded Will
helm
There's a limit" retorted Gus.
"Myer is an old miser One time l
picked up Il few apples from under his
trees, and he came out and swore he'd
have me arrested. Henry Rubb came
along and paid for them, and then the
old coward said l ought to be punish
ed anyway. and he gave me a kick
that made me sore for a week l in
tend to get even with him for that kick
some day"
Il believe you're just the fellow I'm
looking for. Gus" Wilhelm declared,
and he stayed in the store and talked
for nearly an hour. When he came
out. he had Il smile on his face and he
had regained his usual cheerfulness
Each day until the wedding he curried
and brushed Nance until her coat
shone like velvet Whenever he could
he took the church road TO his home,
and when there was no one in sight
he urged his mare to her fastest speed
and guided her through bitches and
rover all the rough places that he could
find along the road.
ITS no use pulling at my coat, old
girl" declared Wilhelm as he brushed
Nance the morning of his sisters we'd
ding day. mo, you can't have oats or
anything else until you get back. 1
know it seems mean, Nance. but you'll
get all the more by and by. Here are
some pretty ribbons for you. Blue
means first prize. Do you know that?
There, you are as pretty a mare as
ever travelled these roads. Now watch
me, old girl. See-one. two, three
four measures of oats. In they go.
No. don't putt; you can't have bite
now. They'll be there when you get
back. I'm going to hitch you to a
buggy and tie you in the yard until
I'm ready to start"
When Wilhelm arrived at the church,
he found nearly all of the hitching
places occupied. There were horses
and vehicles Of all sorts, and all were
gayly trimmed with plumes and rib
bons and bunting. Myers horse was
tied TO the post nearest the church
| porch.
Il suppose he'd have tied at the
porch If the place wasn't reserved for
| Dietrich" Wilhelm muttered as he
fastened Nance to the fence on the op-
| posite side of the road. He entered
the church few minutes before the
| bridal couple arrived.