La Junta tribune., 1908-02-22
- The -
Bridal Race.
BY Naude Sw..im Evans.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
lsC., by c. H. su,chne.

VVVVVVVVVVVVV
II want you to ride In the bridal race
with me. Frieda'' said Wilhelm Rocbe
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. Pa
ther has promised Anil Myer that
shall ride with him."
You wouldn't do that. Fricda =
pleaded Wilhelm. i've never told you
so. but as 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 Will
helm.
I'D like TO ride with you. Wilhelm.
but can't. ] must do as father says"
and the tears weiled to Frieda's eyes
as she turned and went into the house.
Detection and gloom took possession
of Wilhelm ms he rode away.
~ don't believe that Fricda really
cares for Myer." he soliloquized. lie
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 II
he doesr' Wilhelms face looked dark
and threatening and then perturbcd as
his thoughts flashed back TO a winters
night when he. half grown boy. sat
by the fireplace In STEMS large Kitchen
and with bulsing eyes and open mouth
listened to old Granny Stein tell weird
stories or her fathcrland. Just as viv-
idly as he did that nigh. Wilhelm could
see the old woman's face grow witch
like and uncanny under the fickering
freight as she told OF couple who.
after winning the bridal race. had dis
regn r,led the omen and had refused I"
marry.
Love had changed to hate. and so
bitter was the new passion that they
Travelled far away from their native
home In nope OF never meeting again
When n twclvemonth 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
4 great circle. but II grew smaller and
smaller until the man and woman met
and then In n dash and roar they
disappeared and We're never seen
again. Wilhelm knew that II Frieda
| entered the bridal race with Myer
she would he 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-
mempcred 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 grocers boy.
81 owe you dollar ninety-seven. but
l cant make It," said Gus. looking into
the money drawer. Il have only one
nlncty-fve In change"
That's near enough. Myer." inter.
rupted Dietrich; take 1t and come on
II don't know" replied Myer. a
penny here and penny there and II
dollars soon gone You put 1t down.
Gus. ana pay me the next time" in
sisted Myer. following Dietrich out
"Therc's II stingy man for you" re.
marked Gus to Wilhelm. 'If father
owes him an odd sum he'll always say.
Even II mp. Funk: II few pennies don't
count and father will even II up"
You don't have money unless you
watch 1t. Gus. my boy" responded vii.
helm.
There's limit retorted Gus
"Myer is an old miser. One time /
picked up II few apples from under his
trees. and lie came out and swore he'd
have the arrested. Henry Rubb came
along and paid for them and then the
old coward said ! ought to be punish
ed anyway. and lie gave me 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 lie stayed In the store and talked
for nearly an hour. When he came
out he had smile on his face and he
had regained his usual cheerfulness.
Each day until the wedding lie 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 as he brushed
Nance the morning Of his sisters we'd
ding day. NO. you can't have oats or