Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-18

so. You bonded fellows have TO be
pretty careful of your sporting trans
actions" He frightened up again
and whispered hoarsely in my ear in
stage fashion: However, in this in
stance you had better take chance:
let some friend put it up for you; say
hundred or two lost would not damage
you much, and a few thousand gained
would be ambrosia and nectar. He
winked cunningly
Once more I told him that I could
not violate my traditions, and he
shrugged his shoulders: and away he
went at Eagle Boy speed himself,
doubtless hot on the trail of some Of
his particular cronies to whom he
could break the glad tidings. For
when Bruce had a chance 10 do his
friends what he thought was a favor
he did not let the grass grow under
his feet until he had done il. It was
one Of the traits that lay back of his
popularity. Of course sincerely
hoped he would win, but l was always
afraid that his recklessness would
some day get him into trouble
The afternoon upon which the race
was run will forever remain scared
upon my memory I had been wise
enough to put in my order long in adj
vance ct a fashionable stable. and as
a result my two-wheeI outfit was about
as neat as could be found anywhere
AS I drove up 20 Mrs Dace's with the
silver-mounted harness glittering in
the sun and the cob arching his neck
and tapping the boulevard with his
polished hoofs as daintily as a dan
cling girl, l experienced much the
same sensations as does a, schooIboy
on the first day OF his long vacation
when life as a well nigh endless prim-
rose way stretches before him in a
vista glorious to contemplate. I was
at the full tide Of youth and hope.
Charged to the full with health and
vitality, desperately in love with and
half accepted by one whom I thor
Oughly believed to be the most beau
tiful woman IN the world, shook my
fist defiantly in the teeth of the grin
ming specter Of my lack of money.
And realizing my domination for the
day the specter cringed and fed be-
fore me.
The great migration of the day was
in full movement Automobiles were
whizzing past honking like flights of
wild geese. Victorfas and traps, drags
and tallyhos streamed behind them in
an endless procession. It was life
teeming and exultant The world was
on parade dressed in its best clothes
and with its pockets lined with money,
and right royalty did it proclaim the
fact, its headache Of the morrow an
unthought-of thing
Mrs. Dace came down in a creation
l had never seen before, but which
fairly made me gasp with delight. I
shall make no attempt to describe it,
but the general impression it gave me
was Of fieecy clouds in which were
blended delicate and changeful rain
bow tints that came and fitted like
summer shadows. She seemed rather
to float than walk, and when I gave
her my hand at the curb and she arose
from it to the high seat with the light
ness of feather, I could scarcely be,
lieve that she was made of warm, firm
flesh. The aggressiveness of her beau
ty challenged nearly every eye that
we passed, the men craning their
heads for a longer look, the women
searching her enviously. In my pride
of her and the enthusiasm of the mo-
ment | whispered in her ear that she
was the most beautiful woman in all
the world and that loved her dearer
than my own life. My reward was
a smile and a fash of her wonderful
eyes
81 am glad you think so, Tom, even
though of course you are wrong. And
it is sweet of you to be so devoted to
me. am really very happy to be with
you" My fingers frightened about the
reins and my teeth clenched. In my
heart swore that she should become
mine though the heavens fell.
We turned into the crush where the
converging boulevards emptied their
streams into the rolling sea of We