The Huttig news., 1911-10-21
Sturman HanCher
 vs. Hymen
By STACY E. BAKER

Mabel. the pride of the -Sturmsn seniors, was a girl whom any youth with 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 jet black and long-lashed. 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 infanued years ago against Sturman, Sr.. 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 ED of the faults of the head , of Mabers family.
 She is her fathers daughter. growled Hancher T 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 1 hated enemy's daughter was to be come his sons wife
 The hatred of Sturman for Han cher, and vice versa. extended back over dozen years. Both were gro cers In the thriving town Of TiDgs boro. Both had been fast friends. In 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 mudslipging electioneering majority of one vote.
 Sturmsn and Hancher were friends DO longer. Hancher moved out of thf 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 their embittered parents being not a whit the wiser
 Father is so set" complained the youth. But never mind, dear, l have enough money of my own. and we will be married first. and tell about 1t afterward If the governor has the nerve to object-after seeing you-you know he doesn't even know you by sight--I'll pass up his old grocery. and start one of my own
 All this brought the gratified red to the pretty cheeks of Mabel Sur man. and the light in her eyes was dent Thomas.
 Ali in due time, Tom," she soothed. There is no great hurry oil know Why, you are only 22, boy, and I am not yet 20."
 The plan Of waiting did not appeal to the iinpetuous young lover. He would like to have to go to Sturman to ask him for his daughters hand. but knowledge of the temper of the lean, wiry. East-end grocer told him what would happen if he did this.
 Time dragged on. Patience, that pearl among virtues. paled on the love-lorn pair. but still the girl would not consent to a secret marriage. Something might happen.
 Something did happen
 Sturman bought an automobiles 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 ancient rival ne invested in the goods of a competing company; yellow car. The two, although not very prof. ciept, drove their own machines.
 For awhile they kept to their own particular neck-or thewoods. but a mischievous fate one day impishly suggested to each of them that he in- wade the others territory, and awe him with his aptness in the control of his machine.
 On the same day. and at the same hour, they started. but by different routes. Patiently. lean Sturman honk-honked up and down in front of Hanchers store; consistently, fat Hancher drove his yellow monstrositv past the Sturman grocery-and all to no purpose. Sturman could not catch sight of Hancher; Hancher could not dazzle the eyes of his rival Puzzled clerks watched the manifestations.
 The Sturman store stood on a cor. ner. Hancher. turning his machine close to the curb, and with his back to the walk. failed to notice a tipsv man with number of long iron rods over his wavering shoulder. The lat. ter staggered around the corner. and the rods, suddenly turning toward the street, struck the unsee;ng Hancher on the side of his head. preeipitating him to the pavement. half uncon. scious Instantly a crowd gathered As is usual with crowds. none seemed inclined to render the luckiess one assistance. Suddenly a dainty damsel tripped out of an adjoining store.
 Let me iE 10 him." she said