New-York tribune., 1909-04-25
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
Il wish you could tell US something exciting like
a fight. Jean" remarked Jack. resigning htlseiI
to silence with visible reluctance
I've lovely story of a race replied his sister
who won? Do you know his manner cried Jack
"A her won" said JEAN "A girl She ran so
fast that man could keep up with her"
And she was never beaten?" Jacks eager facs
wore incredulous expression.
Those Greeks must have been rare old sports,''
observed Mr.. BobbIrgton. Nearly all your stories
of them. children could go in the sporting column
Of a paper"
You see. they had so much more time. Mrs.
Dickson says" explained Jean. This Greek girl.
Observation-Disclosures deserted by her father
and mother when she baby
What unnatural parents!' cried Mrs. Bob5ing-
ton who brought the poor little thing up?"
"A bear-a she bear replied the little girl.
Then. later. some hunters took her away and
they taught her all the things that boy was
taught-and she learned them, too. added Jean.
glahcing with triumph at her brother. "She could
hunt and run-how she could runI Once a king
sent word that he wanted every one who could use
bow and arrow to come and kill a dreadful Wild
boar that was doing ever so much harm in his
country Atalanta came and the hunters were
oreadfully rude TO her, and said she should not 90
with them. But the kings son took her part and
was nice to her. Between them he and ATLANTA
killed the boar
She had SO many suitors-for she was very
beautful-that she did not know how to get rid
a
she said that any suitor run a race with
her. If he could outrun her, she would marry him
If she outran him-he would have TO die. And a lot
AT last Melanion came along. She felt sorry
for him. but she did want to marry him. She
begged him not to run. but he would. However,
he was clever. He went to Aphrodite-or Venus in
Latin-and begged her to help him win his bride,
she the Goddess OF Love. Aphrodite said
she would. She gave him three golden apples and
told him what to do with them
The race began across some fields They set
OF together, and Meilanion got a little ahead But
soon he heard Atalanta's step behind him and the
next thing he knew she was in front her white
dress luttering in the breeze. They were to 20
through several fields. to stream. He made
big effort, and little way in front Of her
apples. She stopped, picked II up-perhaps she
ate It; one knows But he on. his heart full
OF hope. He didn't want to dIe-and he did want
Atalanta
soon. though, he heard her behind him Her
dress brushed him she got in front-and there
she flying along. her feet hardly touching the
ground.
Again he put forth all his strength got ahead,
and flung another apple back to her. Then he ran
on.
But. poor Meilanion, No one except the god
Mercury. was so feet as Atalanta Very soon she
passed him again. and laughed at him over her
shoulder. Now, he knew he had only one chance
left-end apple. He did his very best and
once more got ahead. though he knew his strength
failing while she seemed fresh and quite un-
tired This time he flung the apple to the right as
far he could send IT, II she did not turn aside for
It hs had no hope. And, she already had two
apples. she might care about this one.
But she did care. Away she ran-away. away