Smyrna times., 1911-07-26

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 off it would
be found to be with the intellect in
stead of the legs, and i'll this case the
stranger would surely win. All sorts
of rumors were atlOat, greatly exag-
gerated from those that had before
been circulated, as to the identity of
the suitOr A few of her admirers
claimed for him a divine origin, hint
ing that he was the offspring of Mi
nerva, beside WtsOse statue he had be.
gun his discOurSts. 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 he was a freed |
man.
That the race was to be a muscular |
one was soon evident from prepara- |
tions at the stadium for the event. |
a large number of extra seats being
put in for the occasion. 1t wes 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 il she failed to
oh
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 it was ordered
that the princess should lose her head
if she did not win everybody went
wild to obtain admittance to the sta
dium where it was to take place. When
the gates were opened a thr0ng 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 a 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
x1-oS orivar, 70 11,olyo roodv tho t,riDcoSS
threw off 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 superfluOus fat.
Then came a conflict Of feeling
among the onlOOkers. Perhaps the
| princess would lose the race and her
head! Perhaps she would beat this
splendid combination Of muscles work
ing under a soft white skin. What a
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
go over the course OH 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 nc
mere threat. 1t was a matter Of life
and death with her. There was that
about the stranger to 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 if he
could.
The signal was given. and the run
ners were off like the wind. The stran
ger slowly fell behind. then maintain
ed a trifling distance. When they pass
ed the starting point after the frs
lap it was evident that both were put
ting forth every effort On the SECOND
lap the stranger continued to lose, bu
midway round began to gain. WheI
the point for the third lap was passed
the two were neck and neck. Th'
princess breath was noticed to b.
coming hard. while that of her antag
Onist was improved
The race was a long one, and wheI
the runners neared the goal they CAM
slowly, the stranger in the lead. TheI
it was seen that the princess wal
staggering. Suddenly cry arose from
the spectators. The stranger, seeing
that their eyes were turned on tn
princess, looked back and saw her lyini
on the ground. Though he was withil
hundred feet of the goal, he stopped
went back to her and lifted her in hi
arms. She was unconscious.
When the Princess Thesbla came t,
! herself. supported by her antagonist
she appeared before her father, tn
. | Irfnc Tho ,Aronnor gofH.