The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-09
Short Stories by the Best Writers


method would be at our universities,
where athletics are so much In vogue.
Every Undergraduate would be mar
ried before the end of his course"
1t was n month after this that. hav-
ing got all out OF Spitzburger In the
line of my studies that desired, l be-
gan to think of leaving. A singular
something there was in Irene had con-
tinued to grow upon me, and-well
wanted her. Remembering what her
father had said on the subject, went
TO him and asked him for his daughter.
II will inform her of the honor you
do her." he said.
waited day for reply, and as
received none the suspense threw me
into an awful fret. At the end of the
second day, the situation being the
same, l was almost demented. On the
morning of the third, determined to
have the matter out with Irene,
asked her to go for a walk with me,
the last we would take together before
my departure. She assented and went
up TO her room for her wraps. She
was some time getting them, and when
she came down what was my surprise
to see that she had put on a skirt
reaching but little below the knees, and
instead of hat she had wrapped n
veil about her head.
/ didn't dream for awhile what this
meant, but when she led me along
path and across a stile to space used
I'm season for pasture / suspected at
once that she proposed to satisfy a
within by giving me an answer to my
proposal after the Lapland custom. l
was too hungry for it to object to the
terms and was quite ready to run for
my answer. Indeed, so impatient was
| that opened the subject myself.
"a good place for race" re-
marked.
splendid"
"And a fine morning for it too. The
mir is crisp and full of ozone"
81 love to snuff 1t in and get the
odor."
do you see that tree yonder"
1.-THE oak split into two trunks near
the ground?"
IL
it."
".ow r-uch advantage will you give
me-"
What you like"
She pulled off fur jacket and threw
it on the ground. and l saw at once
that she had Invested herself of her
corsets-indeed, there was nothing to
interfere with any movement. Her
short skirt. n tight fitting jersey and
the veil about her head made an ex-
cellent racing costume.
But these preparations appalled, me.
What could they mean but that she
desired every advantage that she might
surely beat me in the race?
81 wish no handicap" she said. 81
think i can beat you on equal terms.
l will go over to that stump, which is
about the same distance from the tree
as we are here. One race would be
little fun. Let us make it the best two
in three You give the signal"
Agreed" said, and she went Off to
the stump.
"One, two. three-gor' cried.
She ran like deer; but, spurred by
love, / kept an equal pace with her.
/ won that race.
The second race was very different
Irene permitted me at first to gain n
few yards on her, but before we had
traversed two-thirIls of the distance
she forged ahead and reached the tree
full ten feet ahead of me.
/ knew now that she could beat me
II she wished. Nevertheless | deemed
1t my proper part to do the best
could in the third and deciding race.
Burning to know my fate. / wished to
start at once. But she declined to 90
until she got her breath. While we
waited I endeavored to see something
encouraging in her eyes-somethlng to
indicate that these races were the an
swer l was expecting. But there was
nothing in her expression to indicate
that we were running for any purpose
except pastime. She studiously ig- |
nored every other consideration.
Finally. when my patience was near |
ly exhausted, she signifed q willing |
ness to start. l gave the signal, and |
for the first half the distance she |
seemed determined to win. Surely she |
could not have put forth greater eff |
fort. saw her glance aside to see
where was, and she dashed on, SEEM
ingly bound TO reach the goal before
me. But when within ten yards Of 1t.
my distance being twenty. she tripped
and fell. | ran on to the tree, touched
1t and then back TO her. Raising her,
l said impatiently:
IL suppose we must try this one
over"
NO." she said; 81 couldn't run
again"
l still held her in my arms. and.
taking this for the answer l craved, I
wound them about her, covering her
face with kisses.
Supposing that my love had been
injured by her fall, 1 proposed to car
ry her home, but she stepped out quite
readily.
How about that tripping?' asked.
She looked at the ground, but made
no reply, and l knew she had tripped
on purpose.
When we returned to the house spitz-