The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-12-02
Sturman- Hancher
vs.. Hymen
BY STACY Z. BAKER
(copyrisht 1919, 81 As.ociss.d I.i..,.

$50 AO"SSSIs uAu not pre-.
vent the respective scions Of the fam.
other. S''sn
Mabel, the pride Of the sturman
seniors. was girl whom any youth
Win RED blood In his veins would be
proud to call sweetheart. She was As
pretty as the break Of June morn.
ing. Her eyes were let black and
iongiasned. She was tall, gracefully
slim, and walked with the virile
spring OF youth. Tom Hancher was
fortunate.
Tom knew this, but the peppery
soul Of Father Hancher. Unnamed
years ago against Sturman, ST.. re.
fused to discriminate between the old
grocer and his daughter.
But you don't know the girl" Tom
protested, when the old gentleman
had included the maid in his frenzied
summing up Of the faults of the head
OF MabePs family.
She is her fathers daughter
growled Hancher. Il don't need to
know more. The blood is bad"
So, once again, the confession that
trembled on the lips Of the youth
was stilled. It would have been .
most unfortunate time to explain to
this irritable parent that his most
hated enemy's daughter was to be.
come his sons wife.
The hatred Of Sturman for Han.
cher, and vice versa, extended back
over a dozen years. Both were gro
GERS in the thriving town of Tings-
boro. Both had been fast friends. I'm
fortunately, both had lived in the
same ward, and had aspired, at the
same time. to the common council.
Some one has said that politics makes
strange bed fellows. It also under.
mines strong friendships. After three
weeks of mudslinging electioneering
Sturman won the coveted laurels by q
majority Of one vote.
Sturman and Hancher were friends
no longer. Hancher moved out of the
ward. Their grocery shops were now
at opposite ends Of the city.
tom Hancher, only son, was now
his fathers partner. Mabel Sturman
only daughter, was now her fathers
bookkeeper The evenings, however
belonged solely to the young people
and they met frequently at the homes
OF mutual acquaintances with theil
embittered parents being not whit
the wiser.
+ Father is so set" complained the
youth But never mind, dear,
have enough money OF my own. ant
we will be married first, and tel
about it afterward. If the governor
has the nerve to object after seeing
you-you know he doesn't even know
you by sight-Pll pass up his old
grocery, and start one Of my own"
All this brought the gratified REQ
to the pretty cheeks of Mabel Stur
man, and the light in her eyes was
nice to see as she turned to the ar
dent Thomas.
"All in due time, Tom," she
soothed. There is no great hurry
you know. Why. you are only %
boy, and am not yet TO-"
The plan of waiting did not appeal
to the impetuous young lover. He
would like to have to go to Sturmar
to ask him for his daughters hand
but q knowledge Of the temper OF the
lean, wiry, East-end grocer told him
what would happen If he did this.
Time dragged on. Patience, thai
pearl among virtues, paled on the
love-lorn pair. but still the girl would
not consent to secret marriage
Something might happen.
Something did happen!
Sturman bought an automobile
big red touring car, at once the pride
and envy Of the neighborhood. Han
cher heard Of this. Not to be out
shone and outdone by his ancien'
rival. he invested in the goods OF
competing company; yellow car
The two, although not very prom
cient, drove their own machines.
& For awhile they kept to their owl
particular neck-or-the-woods but
mischievous fate one day impishl,
snrgested to each Of them that he Ia
vade the others territory, and awe
him with his aptness In the contro
OF his machine.
On the same day, and at the same
hour. they started, but by dineren
routes. Patiently. lean SturmaI
honk-honked up and down n from
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