Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-30
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The
Bridal Race.
By haude Swain Evans.
CopyrIchtcb. 1917 inv g II sutcI,nc
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

as he stood ready TO mount Black
Nance after having delivered his sis.
tcr's wedding invitation to Farmer Die
trich's family.
81 can't" answered Frlcda Dietrich.
with regret in her eyes and voice IA
thcr has promised Anil Mycr that
shall ride with him.
you wouldn't do thar. Frieda?"
pleaded Wilhelm. rye never told YOU
so. but rs long back MS 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. Frcdn? Tell
lnc that YOU won't" cntrcatcd VII.
helm.
I'D like to ride with YOU. Wilhelm,
but can't. I must 10 as father says"
and The tears wclled to I'ricda's eyes
rs she turned ana went into the house
Detection and gloom took possession
of Wilhelm as he rode away.
IL don't believe that Frieda really
cares for Mycr." lie soliloquizcd "Ie
must be ut least ten years older than
she is, hut he's got his farm clear and
money In tile 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, ana If
lie docs!" Wilhelms face looked dark
ana threatening and then pertnrbcd ms
his thoughts flashed back To winters
night when he. n half grown boy. sat
by the fireplace In STEMS large kitchen
and with bulging eyes ana open mouth
listened to old Granny Stein tell weird
stories of her fathcrlnnd. lust as WV
lilly as lie did that night Wilhelm could
see the old woman's face grow witch
like and mcanny under the 1ickerIng
freight rs she told OF Il 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 pew passion that they
travelled far away from their native
home IN hope of never meeting again.
When a twclvcmon,h passed the fire
nan' gained possession of their souls,
ana constantly and INCREASINGLY he pur-
sued them, bringing them nearer and
nearer together until lie succeeded In
driving them close enough TO cncircle
with his lightning. At first there was
great circle. but il grew smaller and
smaller until the man ana woman met.
and then In n flash and n roar they
disappeared and were never seen
again. Wilhelm knew that IL Frieda
entered the bridal race with Myer
she would he irrevocably lost TO him.
mn ft,,r eI,,
had carried the wedding invitation lie
was in the village When about TO get
I his horse for the homcward trip he re-
membcrcd that. his mother wanted
some things from Funll's grocery. In
the store he found Dietrich and Myer.
Niger had brought in some farm prod
ice and was settling with Gus Funk,
the grocer's boy
81 owe YOU II dollar ninety-scycn. hut
can't make it," said Gus. looking into
the money drawer Il have only one
, nincty-iivc In change"
/ THAT'S near cnongh. Myar" inter
ruptcd Dietrich; take it and come on
II don't know" replied Myer -
penny here and penny there and n
dollars soon gone. You put 1t down.
Gus, ana pay me the next time" in
sisted Myer. following Dietrich out.
There's stingy man for YOU" re-
marked Gus to Wilhelm. IF father
owes him an odd sum he'll always say,
Even IT up. Funk; Il few pennies don't
count and father will even ii up."
You don't have money unless YOU
watch it. Gus. my boy" responded WI
helm.
There's II limit" retorted Gus.
"Myer is an old miser. One time |
{ picked nj Il few apples from under his
trees. and he came out ana swore he'd
have me arrested. Henry Rubb came
along and paid for them. and then the
old coward said ought TO bc punish
cd anyway. and he gave me a kick
that made me sore for IL week. 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 smile on his face and no
mad 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
lie 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 MS he brushed
Nance the morning of his sisters we'd
ding day. mo. you cant have oats or
anything else until you get back. /
Know it seems mean. Nance. but you'll