Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-09-07
A THRILLING TALE

SeSteu tnat III would be better 70 oUei
prize FOR the worst short story. ~her>.
upon It was determined to give TIVE
prizes. one for the best and one ia,
the worst. Al meeting of the riui
the manuscripts handed In were reaG
by the secretary. The following wls
In competition for the BOBBY prize:
4 TALE OF THE CATSKII.L NOUN.
TAINS.
One dark. dismal. disagreeable night
I'm midwiuter. when the June roses
were In full bloom. woman stood al
the door OF Il cabin I'm the Catskili
mountains. Her tattered garments tiut-
tered in the wind. while her Jewels
flashed In rainbow hues In the hot
MONDAY sun.
"He cometh not" she said.
There was a creaklng OF horses hubs
down the road. and a moment later the
splendid figure of young man of some
seventy-Gve summers. mounted on an
Arabian stecd. with steel springs and
leathcrn curtains. emerged from the
Glove
oh Algernon. why are you so late?"
"ClariSSa. dearest. l have been de
layed by puncture In the left hind
leg OF my trusty steed.''
'AlgernOn. | have the worst possible
news for you Father is unalterably
opposed to our marriage. He has six
FOUNDER. loaded and pointed up the
chimney, ready to fire as soon as he is
aware of your presence"
What. no, Docs the old dotard think
TO scare me?" And with one leap he
landed on the roof and stood looking
defantly down the chimney. There
was a report. followed by a Shrek from
Clarissa, and her lovers headless trunk
rolled at her feet
Maddened by the sight. Clarissa was
about TO rush into the cabin to re.
proach her father with the bloody
deed when Algernon stopped her.
Consider" he said. THE gun is BY
this time reloaded. Let us take ref
uge under the fall OF the Kaaterskill."
Alas. they were too latei Just as
they were about to sink behind a
mountain peak the father appeared at
his cabin door with a fieldglass and,
pointing 1t deliberately at the fugitives,
pulled the trigger.
"Are you hurt, dearest?" asked AL
gernon tenderly.
Ills nOthing-a mere break In the
left ventricle Of the heart 1 am bet
ter now. And your
"a trife. The old man has been
sadly fooled. Both my legs and both
my arms are cork"
Then let us speed on"
skinned the ice merrily. Reaching
a lake from which the water had been
drained TO supply the neighboring resi-
dences with warmth. they looked
about for a boat with which to cross.
''Oh, for a mud scowr' exclaimed
Clarissa.
Here is something better" replied
Algernon. and. Selling toboggan tied
to a post. they mounted and rode up
the mountain side with lightning
speed
The sight from the summit was re-
splendent with beauty. The rising
sun was sinking in the north. The
full moon. slender crescent fit TO
deck a lady's brow. was at the mo-
ment passing behind Arcturus. All
nature was hushed. the stiffness I'M
broken save for the blows of Il thou
sand artisans In a boiler shop In the
valley.
The lovers were standing on the
peak. pensively viewing the scene and
unconscious OF danger. when the pur-
suing father. wringing the sweat from
his raven locks. reached the summit OF
neiShboring mountain and looked
wildly about for the fugitives. Not
seeing them. he drew SearchliCht
from his vest pocket and. pointing 1t
directly at Algernon's heart. fired
The brave man who could not be
worsted by round shot succumbed to
the more subtle power OF electricity.
IN arm and two legs caught fire and
hlaZed with the brilianry or pitch
pine.
MY love. My love-" shrieked Ga
rissa Must | stand here helpless and
see You burn 10 Il cinderE"
-Fenr not. dear heart" replied the
iron hearted man. Il am only vulner-
able in the thorax." With that he
waded into the lake and was extin-
Suished
Moved by Algernon'S bravery and
Clarissa's tears. the old man relented.
Seeing the limbless body of his would
be sOn-in-law floating in the lake. he
waded in and. scizing .tl:crnon hy tht.
right arm and left leg. dragged him tu
the shore.
Give me your hand. noble man
said ClarisSa's father.
You've burned it," mOaned \ ger