Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-19


more frequent Among his audiences
at the latter place the Princess Tbes-
bia was always 70 be found and lis
tened to his words with rapt atten-
ton. Later he was summoned to lee
ture to her and her suit
There was great curiosity to know
whence the stranger hailed and what
was his name. But on this subject he
would give no satisfaction. Some said
that he was from Athens, but of
many persons who had visited that
city none could be found who had
ever heard him discourse or had even
seen him there. Others averred that
he was the son of a slave. who had de-
veloped a remarkable gift for oratory.
The stranger neither confirmed nor
denied any of these suppositions. con-
ttnuing to devote himself to instruct
ing the people and Installing into them
higher motives for their living.
1t became known that be was often
at the palace. and it began to be whis-
pered that the princess was coming
under his influence. Every one won
dered what would happen If she
should fall in love with him. Since
~ OuS hnCW VIII AC NoSs AnAo tCo0it
was the more TO be deplored. and II
it should turn out that he was, as
had been reported. the son Of a slave
a marriage between him and the prin-
cess would bring down. fgurat1vely
speaking. the royal palace on their
heads. Besides. the princess had de-
clared that she would marry no man
who could not outrun her, and this
man made no pretense whatever to
! athletics.
One day. to the surprise Of all, It
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 to
the stranger Intentionally, another
that when it should come of 1t 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 afioat, 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
er 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 be was a freed
man.
That the race was to be a muscular
one was soon evident from prepare
lions at the stadium for the event.
a 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 If 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 a 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
If she did not win everybody went
wild to obtain admittance to the sta
dunn where 1t was to take place. When
the gates were opened a throng at
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 loose cloak about her to protect
her from the 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 of her cloak, while her antag-
onist doffed his upper garment and.
unloosening a 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 a particle of superfiuous fat
Then came q conflict of feeling
among the onlookers. Perhaps the
princess would lose the race and her
headI Perhaps she would beat this
splendid combination of muscles work
ing under a soft white skin! What
match between such a perfect man
and woman!
The stadium was an oblong affair
sunk in the ground. with stone seats
for the spectators. The terms OF the
race were that the contestants should
go 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 20 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