The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-23
THE EVENING STORY
The Bridal Race.
(By Maude Swain Evans. )

Black Nance, after having delivered
his sisters wedding invitation to Far
mer Dietrichs family.
can't" answered Frieda Dietrich,
with regret in her eyes and voice.
rather has promised Anil Myer that
1 shall ride with him.
You wouldn't do that, Trieda ~
pleaded Wilhelm. I've never told you
SO. but SO long back as 1 can remem-
Der 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" en-
treated Wilhelm.
I'D like to ride with you, Wilhelm,
out L can't. I must do as father says"
and the tears welled in Frieda's eyes
as she turned and went TITO the house.
Detection and gloom took posses
SION OF Wilhelm as he rode away.
Il don't believe that Frieda 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 a chance of win
ming the race with Nance ut, and II
ne does! Wilhelm's face looked dark
and threatening, and then perturbed
as his thoughts flashed back to win
ter's night when he, half-grown boy,
sat by the fireplace in STEMS large
Kitchen, and with bulging eyes and
open mouth listened to old Granny
Stein tell weird stories of her father
land. Just as wildly as he did that
night Wilhelm could see the old wo-
mans face grow witchlike and un-
canny under the pickering freight as
she told of a couple who, after win
ming the bridal race, had disregarded
the omen and had refused to marry.
Love had changed to hate, and 50
bitter was the new passion, that
they travelled far away from their ma
tive home in hope of never meeting
again. When a twelfth month passed,
the fire man gained possession of
their souls, and constantly and unceas-
ingly, he pursued them, bringing them
nearer and nearer together until he
succeeded in driving them close
enough to encircle with his lightning.
At first there was great circle but 1t
grew smaller and smaller until the
man and woman met and then in a
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 homeward 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 pro-
duce and was settling with Gus Funk,
the grocer's boy.
II owe you a dollar ninety-seven,
but can't make it." said Gus, looking
into the money drawer, IT have only
one ninety-five in change"
That's near enough, Myer," inter
rupted Dietrich, take it and come
on
81 don't know" replied Myer, "a
penny here and a penny Their. and a
dollars soon gone. You put it down,
and the nRXf time - in
sisted Myer, following Dietrich out.
There's a stingy man for you" re-
marked Gus to Wilhelm. "If father
owes him an odd sum, he'll always
say: Even 1t up, Funk; a few pen
MES don't count and father will even
it up
"You don't have money unless you
watch it, Gus, my boy" responded
Wilhelm.
There's a limit retorted Gus.
"Myer is an old miser One time I
picked up a 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 ought to
be punished anyway, and he gave me
a kick that made me sore for a week.
I intend to get even with him for that
kick some day"
''I believe you're just the fellow I'm
looking for, Gus" Wilhelm declared
for nearly an hour. When he came
out he had a smile on his face and he
had regained his usual cheerfulnesS.
Each day until the wedding he cur
ried 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
over all the rough places that he
could find along the road.
Its no use pulling at \my coat, old
girl" declared Wilhelm as he brush ed
Nance the morning of his sisters we'd
ding day. mo, you can't have oats or
anything else until you get back. I
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
four measures of oats. In they go.
No, don't pull, you can't have a bite
now. They'll be there when YOU get
back. I'm going to hitch you to the
buggy and tie you in the yard until
I'm ready to start"
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
ana rlDDOnS ana bunting. Myer IS morse
was tied to the post nearest the church
porch.
'I 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 OPP
posite side of the road. He entered
the church a few minutes before the
bridal couple arrived.
After the last words of the cere-
mony were spoken, the little organ sent
g. T. -%- T~4t nw,6
Ann walked down the aisle toward the
door, Dietrich alone preceding them.
He was to drive them home. All the
other guests kept their seats until the
Ginning of the church bell an
nounced that the bridal party had
81 rtad deenlV rooted as Was