The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-23
An Incident Of
independence Day
By EuNIG BLAKE

Alice MacGregor was an American
girl with Scotch ancestry. How many
suitors there were for Miss Mac
Grcgor's hand only Miss MacGregor
knew, for she never spoke Of her Of
fers to any n Certain 1t is that
there were two whose attentions were
so marked as to be especially notice
able. These were John Kershaw, an
Englishman, who had recently come to
America. and Michael O'Connor.
Miss MacGregor, being a bit Of a CO.
quette-what girl IL not?-may have
accepted the attentions of one Of these
men as a foil for the other, but IL this
were true 1t was impossible for any
one to tell which was the foil and
which the man foiled. There were
those who declared that the lady lis
tened to both these suitors for the pur.
pose Of worrying them.
A crisis came in this triangular love
affair on the Fourth Of July. Mr.. O'Con-
nor wrote Miss MacGregor a note in
wiling her to accept Il seat in a window
above the store where he was employ
ed to witness the Fourth Of July pa
rade. Miss MacGregor replied that she
had already made a partial engage
ment for the day. She was not sure.
She would know by the evening before
the Fourth and would advise him. She
had already received an invitation from
Mr.. Kershaw to the same effect and
had written him the same answer she
had sent O'Connor.
Now, each of the rivals knew very
we'll that the partial engagement men-
toned referred to, the other. Mr.. Ker-
shaw. on the afternoon before indie
pendence day, called on Miss Mac
Gregor for n more definite reply to his
invitation. She received him kindly.
but declared that she did not think 1t
would be appropriate for an American
girl, especially N Of Scotch descent.
to celebrate Independence day with an
Englishman. There had been a be-
reditary feud between the English and
Scotch races until the crowns were
united in one king, and there had been
a long fight between the English and
Americans. Why should she, a Mac
Gregor born in America, celebrate the
Fourth Of July with an ~Englishman?
But all that has passed and gone"
protested Kcrshaw, failing to detect
that the young lady was chatting him.
Its the improperly of the thing"
she persisted.
MI. Kcrshaw left her without hav-
ing secured a consent. and later Mr..
O'Connor called. .Nf.
81 don't think, Mr.. O'Connor," said
Miss MacGregor. that it would be In
order for me to view the Fourth Of
July procession in your company"
"Why not?' asked the young man.
astonished.
Because the day celebrates the win
ming Of American independence from
Great Britain"
But I'm Irish; not British at ALL" ,
"'lreland was a part Of the mother
country that oppressed the colonies.
Besides. l had Il great-greatuncle who
fought under the Scotch-Irish banner
at the battle Of the Boyne. Your an
cestors were on the other SIDE"
Hang my ancestors! What do ]
care for a fight. that occurred
than two centuries ago."
Nevertheless, the Fourth.of July is
a day that is, or should be. near to the
heart of every American. 1t would be
hurtful to my feelings to celebrate 1t
in company with one whose ancestors
were on the other side in the fight for
independence"
But we're all of the same blood
English, Scotch. Irish and Americans"
.Family feuds are the most bitter
MI. O'Connor wasaobliged to depart
with no more comfort than his riva!
had received.
During the evening Miss MacGregor
called up each of the rivals by tele-
phone and told him that she would &C.
cupy a seat on the stand from which
the parade would be reviewed by the
governor and she would be happy to
see him there. She regretted that for
the reasons given it was not appropri-
ate that she should accept his kind In
vitation, but a bit of a chat would be
In order.
At first each Of the gentlemen was so
disgruntled at this disposition of his
invitation that he vowed he would not
20 near the reviewing stand. But curl
osity got the better Of both. Miss Mac.
Gregor would undoubtedly have an es.
cort. Who would that escort be? Not
only curiosity. but rivalry. turned the
scale.
Independence day opened bright. and
a multitude Of stars and stripes flut-
tered in the sunlight. Both Of the suit
ors took positions where they could look
upon the reviewing stand, and as soon
as they saw Miss MacGregor take her
seat they started simultaneously from
different points to go to speak to her.
reaching her at the same time. Reside
her sat a gentleman with black hair
and eyes, who. seeing the others ap-
proach to speak with Miss Mactiregor.
arose and lifted his hat with extreme
politeness.
Permit me to introduce to you. gen
tlemen," said the lady. MI. Marivan,d.
49,. l& - ~ - -