Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-01-23
- The
Bridal Race.
Observation-Disclosures
BY Mavde Swain Evans.


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. Fla
Their mas promised Anil Myer that
shall ride with him"
"You wouldn't do that Frieda|
| pleaded Wilhelm. I've never told you
50, 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" cntreated VIII
helm
"Td like TO ride with you, Wilhelm,
but can't. must do rs father says
and the tears welled 10 Freda's eyes
as she turned and went into the house
Detection and gloom tool, possession
| of Wilhelm as he rode away.
II don't believe tnat 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, aud of course that
| talks with Dietrich Myers got good
! horses. and he stands a chance of win
| ming the race with Nance out. and II
| he does Wlhelm's face looked dark
and Threatening and then pertmbed as
! his Thoughts flashed back to a winters
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 fatlerlund. lust 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 10
| marry
| Love had changed to bate. and so
| bitter was the new passion that they
| travelled far away from their native
! home in hope of never meeting again
| When a 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
great circle. but il grew smaller and
| smaller until the man and woman met,
and then in Il fash ana a roar they
| disappeared and were never seen
again Wilhelm knew that if Frleda
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 Fuuks 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
81 owe you a dollar ninety-seven. but
| can't make it, said Gus, looking into
the money drawer Il have only one
! ninety-fye in change"
That's near enough. Myer," inter
rupted Dietrich; take il and come on"
II don't know" replied Myer. "a
penny here and Il penny there and
dollars soon gone. You put it down.
| Gus, and pay me the next 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; few pennies don't
count and father will even it up"
You don't have money unless Won
watch it, Gus. my boy" responded vii
helm.
There's limit" retorted Gus.
"Myer is an old mlser. One time |
picked up few apples from under his
trees, and he came out and swore he'd
nave me arrested. Henry Rubb came
along and paid for them, and then the
old coward said, ought to be punish.
ed anyway. and he gave me kick
that made me sore for week. | in
tend to get even with him for that kick
some day"
! believe you're just the fellow I'm
looking for, Gus" Wilhelm declared
aud he stayed i'm the store and talked
Tor 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 he curried
and brushed Nance until her coat
shone like velvet Whenever he couId
he took the church road to his home.
and when there was no one in sight
he urged his mare to her fastest spead
and guided her through bitches and
over all the rough places that he could
lind along the road.
It's no use pulling at my coat old
girl declared Wilhelm as he brushed
Nance the morning of his sisters wed.
ding day. no, you can't have oats or
anything else until you get back.
know it seems mean. Nance. but vouT
get all the more by and by Here are
some pretty ribbons for you. Blue
means first prize Do you know tbatq
mere you are as pretty a mare as
ever Travelled these roads. Now watch
me- old girl See-oue. two. three
-FOUR measures Of oats In they %
No. don't Dutfs ..gt, .,vf.