Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-07-08

athletics.
One day, to tho surprise OF all, Il
was announced that the philosopher
had made application for the prin-
cess hand and had offered to abide
by the conditions she had laid down
for her suitors. The city was at once
thrown into great excitement One
said that the race would be given 10
the stranger Intentionally, another
that when 1t should come or II would
be found to be with the intellect In
stead of the legs. and In this case the
stranger would surely win. All sorts
Of rumors were ahoat, greatly exag-
gerated from those that had before
been circulated, as to the identity OF
the sutton. A few Of her admirers
claimed for him a divine origin. hint
ing that he was the offspring OF MI
nerva, beside whose statue he had be-
gun his discourses. and that his moth
or had put In his head the words OF
wisdom that came from his mouth.
At the other extreme were those who
upheld the theory that he was freed
man.
That the race was to be muscular
one was soon evident from prepara-
tons at the stadium for the event.
q large number OF extra seats being
put in for the occasion. 1t was ru-
mored that the king was so incensed
at the idea OF his daughters holding
such a contest with an unknown per-
son that he had consented to the race
only ON condition that II she failed to
win she should be beheaded Then
those who admired and loved her were
appalled, by an edict from the king
confirming this report Suppose that
by accident or temporary weakness
she should lose the race. she would
lose her head and they would lose
their princess.
Such n contest between these two
was enough to excite the citizens OF
the island, and when 1t was ordered
that the princess should lose her head
II she did not win everybody went
wild to obtain admittance to the sta
dunn where It was to take place. When
the gates were opened q throng Mt
once poured In that soon filed the In
closure, and they were closed again.
leaving a multitude without
The princess and the philosopher
stood on the starting line. the princess
with a loose cloak about her to protect
her from tho wind In lieu of the mod
ern sweater. The philosopher wore
the same baggy garments in which
| he had discoursed. When the order
was given to make ready the princess
threw or her cloak, while her antag-
onist doffed his upper garment and.
unloosening q cord about his waist,
dropped his neither covering on the
| ground.
| An exclamation Of surprise greeted
his uncovered body. He proved to be
a combination of bone and muscle.
without particle Of superfiuous fat
| Then came q conflict Of feeling
| among the onlookers. Perhaps the
princess would lose the race and her
headl Perhaps she would beat this
splendid combination of muscles work
ing under soft white skinI What
match between such a perfect man
and womanl
| The stadium was an obiong AFFAIR
sunk In the ground. with stone seats
for the spectators. The terms OF the
race were that the contestants should
20 over the course on three laps, the
goal being the starting point. where
was also the royal box. The princess
showed an exhilaration or. rather. an
| interest which clearly indicated that
/ she knew her fathers edict to be no
mere threat. 1t was a matter OF life
| and death with her. There was that
about the stranger to indicate conf
| dence. None knew whether he would
| doom to death the woman he desired
by winning the race. but the prevalent
belief was that he would win IL he
could.
The signal was given. and the run
ners were OF like the wind. The stran-
ger slowly fell behind. then maintain
ed a trifing distance. When they pass
ed the starting point after the 6rst
lap It was evident that both were put
ting forth every effort On the second
lap the stranger continued to lose, but
midway round began to gain. When
the point for the third lap was passed
| the two were neck and neck. The
princess breath was noticed to be
coming hard. while that Of her antag-
onist was improved
The race was a long one. and when
the runners neared the goal they came
slowly. the stranger in the lead Then
| II was seen that the princess was
staggering. Suddenly cry arose from
the spectators. The stranger. seeing
that their eyes were turned ON the
| princess, looked back and saw her lying
on the ground. Though he was within
a hundred feet of the goal. he stopped.
went back to her and lifted her In his
arms. She was unconscious.
When the Princess Thesbia came to
(, herself. supported by her antagonist,
she appeared before her father. the
king. The stranger said:
20 king. have not won the race
against your daughter; therefore your
royal edict does not condemn her. But
I voluntarily gave up the contest chat
I might have won; therefore have
fulfilled her condition Of marriage. II
10 time that throw OF all mystery. !
am king Of -----, one OF these qrecian
Islands. and ASK the hand Of the prin.
cess as one equal in rank with your
self"
When those standing about the royal
/ h0Y heard this thew act mn n shout