Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-03-18
low He Did 1t
By LOUISE IDA ROSS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

them IL liz better 10 give the fuf0rma
ton that Franks whole front name
was Frances and she was girl The
two accomplishments were flirting aud
athletics. She lived In summer on
lake ten miles long by three to six
miles broad and could beat any other
girl near II rowing, sailing. swimming,
diving, fishing and any other sporting
accomplishment fitted for women. The
| boys were all in love with her.
Frank wasn't overscruprlous us TO
making believe that she returned their
| affection, at least to a slight degree,
| but nothing definite could be got out
| OF her by any OF them. Charlie Wig
| gins, who was year or two older
than the rest OF them and consequent
| ly harder for her TO manage, was a
cool sort OF a chap. and IL bothered her
because she couldn't tease him as she
leased the others. Near the end OF a
summer she had half promised to be
engaged to half a dozen fellows and
feared she would be obliged to be
serious with some one of them. Charlie
| came up from the city for two
weeks vacation II struck Frank that
| by giving him the most Of her time
the others would drop out of the race.
/ thinking that he was the lucky man.
Then when they found they were mis-
1 taken she could accuse them OF hav-
| ing deserted her.
Charlie fell into the trap very easily;
| but, though he didn't let Frank know
1T, he had no mind TO fall out. With
her permission, TO say nothing OF en-
/ couragement. he devoted himself to
her till just before the time when he
must leave. Then he laid his own trap.
/ Frank" he said. that little single
| sticker your father gave you In the
spring is a dandy. isn't she3"
"She can beat anything on the lake"
Except my Gertrude
"H'mi Your Gertrude's n tub. BY
the bye, who's she named forf"
That's secret
Frank slowly raised her long lashes
and gave him look.
you think she can beat my Polly.
eh?"
I'm sure OF it,"
| a wv sDu pouHu VI tauuy
| against
"Nonsensel Do you suppose l race
for triflesr'
"What stakes would you race for2'
Charlie didn't reply for some time
Then he said 1'll race my Gertrude
in wind fair for both two miles up
and two miles back. II you lose you
marry me: II you win / marry
"Whom2"
"My boat"
81 know what you mean. You'll
marry this mysterious Gertrude"
There's no knowing by what fem
thine process Frank made up her mind
TO accept the challenge She certainly
hadn't the slightest doubt that the
Polly could sail around the Gertrude
in circles. the latter being VIGOROUSLY
the most sluggish boat on the lake.
But she was trifie jealous Of this
unknown Gertrude. and Charlie was
to marry her IL he were beaten. BE
this as 1t may, the race was made up
to take place on the first day there
was a sufficient breeze Frank was to
sail the Polly and Charlie the Ger
trude
On the day of the race there was q
breeze varying from to 10 knots.
Charlie gave Frank permission to in
spect his boat, which she did, but
Charlie declined TO inspect the Polly
Most of Franks semifances as well
as many others were on hand to see
the race. but no one knew the stakes
| ~ IL
over for Frank.
A designated starter fred a pistol,
and when the boats sailed over the
line another was fired. indicating that
the race was on. AS was expected.
the Gertrude dropped astern OF her
rival from the first But when the
former had got over half and the latter
three-eighths of a mile the Gertrude
ceased to lose. The Polly turned the
stake boat a quarter of a mile ahead
when the Gertrude began 10 make a
slight gain This was astonishing, for
she didn't careen any more under
| fresher breeze. indicating she didn't
get one. She was not long In catching
the Polly and not much longer in pull
Ing ahead Of her, though this at first
was hard 10 tell. for Virgins passed
a hundred yards to her lee This was
considered very good of him. since his
boat did not blanket his rival.
Meanwhile the breeze had lost nearly
half its force. But while this made q
great deal of difference In the speed
! of the Polly II did not affect that of
the Gertrude. The latter sailed on.
slowly gaining on her rival. coming In
an eighth OF mile ahead. The win
ner was received with no especial
demonstrations. for sympathy was all
with the lady. But what was lost In
roofing was made up in surprise. Wig
gins remained In his boat till Frank
came In beside him. blushing like q
peony, at which every one wondered
Charlie stepped into her boat and
handed her ashore. saying as he did so;
Ladies and gentlemen, take both
| Drfdn and rIpaaura I'm Introducing my