The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-27
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.S
The -
Bridal Race.
Copyrighted. 1897. by c. II. sutcune.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY h&vde Swain Evans.

with me. Frieda." said Wilhelm Roche
as he stood ready to mount Black
Nance after having delivered his sis
ter's wedding invitation to Farmer Die
trich's family
Il can't" answered Frieda Dietrich,
with regret in her eyes and voice. "Fa-
Their has promised Anil Myer that
shall ride with him"
you wouldn't do that, Frieda 2"
pleaded Wilhelm. i've never told you
so. but rs long back as 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 VIII
helm
ia like to ride with you, Wilhelm,
but l can't I must do as father says"
and the teara welled to Frieda's eyes
ns she turned and went into the house.
Detection and gloom took possession
OF Wilhelm as he rode away.
II 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 chance of win
ming the race with Nance out, and If
he doesp' Wilhelm's face looked dark
and threatening and then perturbed as
| 4, D Il 70 int -
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 a 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 a 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 in
driving them close enough to encircle
with his lightning. At first there was
great circle, but it 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 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. II have only one
ninety-fve 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 a
dollars soon gone. You put it down,
Gus, and 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; few pennies don't
count and father will even it up"
You don't have money unless you
watch it. Gus, my boy" responded WI
; helm.
There's a limit" retorted Gus
"Myer is an old miser. One time ]
picked up few apples from under hi:
trees, and he came out and swore he'6
have me arrested. Henry Rubb came
along and paid for them, and then The
old coward said 1 ought to be punish
: ed anyway, and he gave me a kicl
that made me sore for a week. l In
tend to get even with him for that kicI
some day"
Il believe you're just the fellow Tn
looking for, Gus" Wilhelm declared
and he stayed in the store and talked
for nearly an hour. When he came
out he had a smile on his face and h,
had regained his usual cheerfulness
Each day until the wedding he currieC
and brushed Nance until her Goa
shone like velvet. Whenever he coulc
he took the church road to his home
and when there was no one in sigh
he urged his mare to her fastest speed
and guided her through bitches ant
over all the rough places that he coul,
find along the road.
IT'S no use pulling at my coat oil
girl" declared Wilhelm as he brushe,
Nance the morning Of his sisters wed
: ding day. mo, you can't have oats O
anything else until you get back.
J know it seems mean. Nance. but youT
get all the more by and by. Here ar
some pretty ribbons for you. Blu
! mans FIRST nrfza 80,