The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-01-10

"A goou place for a race 1 re-
marked
splendid"
"And fine morning for it too. The
air is crisp and full of ozone"
II love to snuff it in and get the
odor."
do you see that tree yonder"
1.-THE oak split into two trunks near
the grouud?"
Eyes. ! have a mind to race you for
it."
How much advantage will you give
me?"
what you like"
She pulled OF fur jacket and threw
it on the ground, and saw at once
that she had Invested herself of her
corsets-indeed. there was nothing to
interfere with any movement. Her
short skirt, 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?
II wish no handicap" she said. 81
think 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 of to
the stump.
Zone, two. three-go?' l 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 a
few yards on her. but before we had
traversed two-thirds of the distance
she forged ahead and reached the tree
full ten feet ahead of me.
! knew now that she could beat me
If 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 go
until she got her breath. While we
waited I endeavored to see something
encouraging in her eyes-something to
indicate that these races were the an
swer ! 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 signiied willing
ness to start | 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 it,
my distance being twenty, she tripped
and fell. ran on to the tree, touched
1t and then back to her. Raising her.
said impatiently:
81 suppose we must try this one
over"
NO." she said; II couldn't run
again"
still held her in my arms, and,
taking this for the answer crayed.
wound them about her. covering her
face with kisses.
Supposing that my love had been
injured by her fall. proposed to car
~ her home. but she stepped out quite
readily
How about that tripping?' asked.
She looked at the ground, but made
no reply. and ! knew she had tripped
on purpose.
When we returned to the house SpitZ
burger looked at us both curiously. I
knew at once that he was aware that
his daughter had given me my answer
and that she had given it in accordance
with the Lapland custom. He first
scanned her face. but receiving no sat
isfaction there bent his gaze upon
mine.
He did not require long examina
ton of my features to know that had
been made very happy. and the cause
was evident. took Irene by the hand
and. leading her to her father. told him
the story.
When came to the part where Irene
stumbled and fell he burst into laugh,
saying that she could run for hours
without stumble or missStep