Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1910 — A THRILLING TALE [ARTICLE]

A THRILLING TALE

It was proposed at the Millerton Literary club that a prize be offered for the best short story. Some one suggested that It would be better to offer a prize for the worst short stocjf whereupon it was determined to give two prizes, one for the best and one for the worst At a meeting of the club the manuscripts handed in were read by the secretary. The following was In competitiou for the booby prize: ATALEOF THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS. One dark, dismal, disagreeable night In midwinter, when the June roses were in full bloom, a woman stood at the door of a cabin in the Catskill mountains. Her tattered garments fluttered in the wind, while her jewels flashed in rainbow hues In the hot noonday sun. “He cometh not” she said. - There was a creaking of horse’s bubs down the road, and a moment later the splendid figure of a young man of some seventy-five summers, mounted on an Arabian steed, with steel springs and leathern curtains, emerged from the clove.

“Oh. Algernon, why are you so late?” “Clarissa, dearest I have been delayed by a puncture In the left hind leg of my trusty steed ” “Algernon, 1 have the worst possible news for you. Father is unalterably opposed to our marriage. He has a six pounder, loaded and pointed up the chimney, ready to fire as soon as he is aware of yoiir presence.” “What, ho! Does the old dotard think to scare me?” And with one leap he landed on the roof and stood looking defiantly down the chimney. There was,a report, followed by a shriek from Clarissa, and her lover's headless trunk rolled at her feet.

Maddened l>y the sight. Clarissa was about to rush into tbfe cabin to reproach her father with the bloody deed when Algernon stopped her. “Consider.” he said. “The gun is by this time reloaded. Let ns take refuge undej the fall of the Kaaterskill.” Alas, they were too late! Just as they were about to sink behind a mountain peak the father appeared at his cabin door with a fieldglass and, pointing it deliberately at the fugitives, pulled the trigger. “Are you hurt, dearest? 5 ’ asked Algernon tenderly. “ ’Tis nothing—a mere break in the left ventricle of the heart. lam better now. And you?”

“A trifle. The old man has been sadly fooled. Both my legs and both my arms are cork.” “Then let us speed on.” Pulling the throttle wide open, they skimmed the ice merrily. Reaching a lake from which the water bad been drained to supply the neighboring residences with warmth, they looked about for a boat with which to cross. “Oh. for a mud scow!” exclaimed Clarissa.

“Here is something better.” replied Algernon, and. seizing a toboggan tied to a post, they mounted and rode up the mountain side with lightning speed. The sight from the summit was resplendent with beauty. The rising sun was sinking in the north. The full moon, a slender crescent fit to deck a lady’s brow, was at the moment passing behind Arcturus. All nature was hushed, the stillness unbroken save for the blows of a thousand artisans in a boiler shop in the valley.

The lovers were standing on the peak, pensively viewing the scene and unconscious of danger, when the pursuing father, wringing the sweat from his raven locks, reached the summit of a neighboring mountain and looked wildly about for the fugitives. Not seeing them, he drew a searchlight from his vest pocket and. pointing it directly at Algernon's heart, tired. The brave man who could not be worsted by round shot succumbed to the more subtle power of electricity. An arm and two legs caught fire and blazed with the brilliancy of pitch pine.'-Vvr “My love! My lover" shrieked Clarissa. “Must I stand here helpless and see you burn to a cinder?"

“Fear not. dear heart." replied the. iron hearted man. “1 am only vulnerable in the thorax.” With that he waded into the lake and was extinguished. Moved by Algernon's bravery and Clarissa’s tears, the old man relented. Seeing the limbless body of his would be son-in-law floating in the lake, he waded in and. seizing Algernon by the right arm and left leg. dragged him to the shore. “Give ! me your hand, noble mam” Mid Clarissa’s father. "You've burned it.” moaned Algernon. Fortunately at that moment a distinguisljpd dominie passed by. walking on an alpenstock, and consented to unite the pair In the holy bonds of matrimony. ■. 1 ■■ 5 Years have passed since the sound of these festivities ceased to leap in echoes from crag to crag. The butter-: cups and daisies lovingly nod to each other, kissed by the clouds that stoop from heaven to wrap them in a wind-, lng sheet of disagreeable fog. The shrill whistle of the locomotive floats over the mountain plains where once the only means of conveyance was heaven’s own simple meteorite. The numerous progeny of Algernon and Clarissa now scamper oyer the mountains. * * » * • * • The committee unanimously agreed; to bestow upon the author of this thrilling tale the booby prize.