The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-31
WINNER OF THE RACE.
by VIRGINIA BLAIR.

Copyright, 1907, by Homer Sprague.l
Jock" said Hugh Macdonald, "are
they men or monkeys?"
Jock, being a collie of intelligence,
cooked his ears conversationally, and
followed his master to the edge of the
bluff, where they stood looking over.
Down the road below them. driven
pell NELL by youth in hunting pink,
came a team of razor-backed hogs
Around their necks were wreaths of
huge yellow chrysanthemums, and the
long yellow ribbons with which their
driven tried Intellectually to guide them
were of shining yellow satin.
Behind them n quarter of stampeding
sheep, violet and harnessed
with violent satin, dragged after them
laughing, romping youth, also in
hunting pink.
The two contestants in the strange
race were followed by a shouting, ex-
cited crowd. A little woman in scarlet.
joining hands with two stout gentle
men, brought up the rear, and they
all disappeared around the curve to-
gether.
well. Jock" said Hugh Macdonald
its poor way to treat the pigs, and
you could take better care of the sheep
than that"
The collie wagged a responsive toll.
but his eyes were still fastened on the
road.
Hugh following their direction. said.
oh" quickly, as a girl limped into
sight.
She looked up and waved her hand
ait the minister.
Pm coming" he shouted, and Jock
led the way down the winding path.
When they reached the road they
found the girl sitting on big stone.
Il have hurt my ankle" she said. Il
made them go on without me"
Were you following that?" The min
lister jerked his head in the direction
of the motley procession.
It's cruel" the minister condemned.
Jock could take better care OF the
Sheep"
y don't believe they thought OF
that"
do they ever think?" he questioned
her.
Pm not sure" she conhded, but
they're awfully good fun"
II think it was just as good fun
when you and / used to pick wild how-
ers and row in my little boat on the
lake. Those were nice. simple times,
Ellie, before these society people came
up here to make fools of the country
folk. and your father made his money
selling land to them.
ooh, you don't know them" she ex-
cused, they are very good-hearted
One of them gave lot of money to the
poor-and were going to have ia
bleaux fer the old people of the par
ish." --. ..~
my old people are well taken care
Of" he said sternly.
Her face fell
But we want to have the tableaux,
l am going to be Juliet"
ITO whose Romeo?"
Freddie FairfaX's."
THE pig driver?"
How unpleasantly you put it," she
said. HE is awfully nice"
There was silence for a moment, and
then he said: DO you love him, Ell
lie?"
Everybody calls me Eleanor now"
she remarked irrelevantly.
do YOU love him." he insisted.
''Oh. no, l don't love any one"
His dark face was very tender as he
said, land yet / once had the great
happiness of believing that you. loved
me-and that we were, to be married
and that you were to live in the par
sonage with me. and we were to min
lister to my people, ana grow oid to-
gether in a beautiful union
She gave little cry, MY ankle
hurts" was her explanation, but her
eyes were full of tears.
He knelt beside her.
Let me take off your shoe" he said,
II can bandage it with my handker-
chief"
In silence he united the pretty low
boot, ard drew it off gently. In
silence. too, he wrapped his handker-
chief about her slim ankle.
There" he said. and looked UP at
her as he knelt, Does it hurt now, dear
heartY"
Don't" she said, and her lips trem-
bled. don't call me that"
Il shall always call you that in my
heart" he said.
Then he squared his shoulders and
stood up. s-.
'Ill help you to get home"
His arm went around her and she
chung to him, I'm afraid can't walk
1t hurts awfully."