MARATHON RACE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9365, 6 February 1909, Page 6

MARATHON RACE.

A delightful romance arising out of the Marathon race in New York between Longboat and Dorando on Tuesday, December 16th, culminated, on Thursday, December 15th, in the formal betrothal of Tom Longboat, vanquisher of Dorando, and Loretta Maracle, a beautiful black-baired Indian maiden. The couple were to be married bn December 30th. Loretta is a “college girl” and the daughter of 'wealthy parents, who live in tbe Tyendinagn Indian reservation in Ontario. She fell in love with tbe runner at first sight, but neither Longboat’s father nor the lady’s wonld agree to their marrying. Full-blooded Indians, it appears, do not believb nowadays in such youthful marriages. However, tbe oonple went hand-in-hand to tbe girl’s father, to whom Longboat said, “If I beat Dorando, 1 take Loretta. If I lose I give her op.” Tbe elder Indian granted assent in the Fenimore Cooper manner, and and said, “It is good.’’ “So,” as the girl, her black eyes radiant with contentment, explained, “Tom simply had to win. ” Dorando, tbe girl avers, heard of this Jove compact and boasted that he would make Loretta faint in despair, as Hayes’ fiancee had done 'daring tbe first race. Everyone noticed when the twentieth mile was completed and tbe issue was still seeming in doubt, though Longboat was leading, that tbe Indian suddenly paused, turning sideways, and nodded brightly. “That nod,” explained the girl, “ was intended for me. It meant I’ll win. I rushed to the railing in reponse and waved my hand, signalling ‘lf you win, I’ll marry ybn.’\ ” ‘ ‘ And, ”as Longboat exnltingly declared with a bright smile, “my sweetheart came in the nick of time and nerved me to a supreme effort which exhausted Dorando’s reserves of strength and won the race for me. ”