The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-10
A Triangular
Race
BY F. A. mitchell.

II
en- coming out dressed In morning cos
tune, with short skirt and boots
Waiting till she reached the gate,
Joined her Comparing notes, we learn
ed that we were both out for the sam
purpose. We Joined forces.
We had gone but a short distanc,
when Tom Bartlett struck us square II
the flank from side street
Were going for tramp into tn,
country" said Helen to Tom. Com,
along"
Thanks awfully," said Tom, looking
at me doubtfully. "They say tha
two's company, three's crowd
mot a bit OF 1.-THE more the mer
rfer," said Helen.
Now. there is lot more In this thar
appears on the surface. Bartlett and
| were rivals for Miss Stanleys affec.
lions. We believed that she was hest
tating between the two Of us. had
been trying to get her to come to a
decision, and presume Tom had been
trying to do the same thing. Tom join.
! ed us, but was too much OF n gentle
man to intrude himself for the walk
| without some hint from me that l
would not object. Reaching a corner,
he lifted his hat with a view to leav-
ing us, when said:
You have your orders from the lady.
Tom; 1t is your duty to obey them"
| saw mischief, design. devitry. In
Helen's eyes. but nothing that could
define. When we reached the open
country she drew long breaths Of ozone
into her lungs and said with exhlara.
ton:
Il feel as though must rum"
$50 do l." said Tom. Come on"
We ran abreast for several hundred
yards, then dropped into walk again.
II wonder" said Bartlett, why more
decisions are not arrived at by race
than by lot"
"They have custom In Lapland."
said Helen, wherein II man wishes
to marry a girl he chases her. IL she
accepts him she permits him to catch
her: II she refuses she runs for all she
is worth"
What put IT into my head to make
my next remark | know not
IF two fellows In Laplnnd want the
same GIRL" ! said. ''do they race for
herr"
II never heard anything about that
said Helen.
H. tas. tt,fA hAr Il
a spark In II that told much more than
her words. IL started flame within
me that burned recklessly. But held
back for some time before showing IL
After awhile Helen said she was pin
ing for another run.
Suppose" said deliberately. I
stopped.
Suppose whati" asked Helen.
Suppose that you take 900 yards |
start for a race. And suppose that |
Tom and separate so that each OF
the three OF us stands on the angle OF
n triangle. Then suppose you run for
L and Tom and try which can touch
you hrst"
Helen said never word. but ! saw
by that spark In her eve that she
caught my meaning
ais " a 60. Tom asked
I'm agreed ifsthe lady is"
81 don't mind" said Helen under
Ter breath.
"very well: Tom. you stay here.
20 10 that stump over there. Suppose
rou," said to Helen. advance TO that
one tree Ia the center OF the deld."
Helen and | started. leaving Tom
where he was. To equalize advan-
re between Tom and me she must
un on a straight line perpendicular
O the base line of the angles on
which Tom aud stood. | doubted II
be would do this. IL would be human
allure for her to veer toward the man
be wished 20 win. don't mean that
he race would be an acceptance Of
he winner. but II would show a pref
renee for him over the other.
when our positions were taken Helen
urned and looked NJ rs u was eNi
ent she was laying out the course
he should pursue. Then she called.
Are you rendyT" and on our response
hat we were she turned and dashed
way.
There was plenty OF room for the
sce. for the field stretched a long
-ay. with but one fence IN sight AMI
rat was open ~ many places. ! was
= far a better runner than Bartlett
no was a studious chap and seldom
ok exercise. had no desire TO win
- race unless Helen gave me an op
orfunlty. therefore I ran on e dor
0t Bartlett ran on much the same
~ For q time Helen kept on the
line: then. coming to q
i OF boggy ground. she wns Obliged
decide whether she would 20 10 the
rht ~ 20 the left ~ r. she went ~
n ~ she could before deciding. thea
rzaeeed with apparent indecisien.
lniiy turning 90 the left which short
ed ny line L
TIE moment she made her decision Z
osed up % hsr and touched her on
. shouiaer Tuning % look a. Tom
ssw that he had drepred info q wsfk
Dur fellow re bad put the same
,errrefrtiun On tire rsce asL
The result riozad AT rivalry between
m ana ne sat "a not deci8s uv
.. I wns held 10 susrense faf some
10 lorrar tEfure I received rny an
~. tut when d cane q wns satis