The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-09-17
CAROLINA SPARTAN
From "Porter's Spri, Of the Times"
THE HIGH-METTLED RACER
BY CHARLES J. FOSTER
CHAPTER II.

sIOwuer and trainer Of thoroughbred racer."
Several times Mr.. Thornton proceeded
to the millers house, determined to have
an explanatioacwith Miss Henley. but each
night he resurned>home from the interview
without it. He was different individual
when on the back of Slrideaway, riding
down Dobson, in imagination, and when in
the iniller's parlor, in presence OF the b'i ght
black eyes and the long silken lashes the
flowing tresse, and rounded figure of the
belle. he determined !o postpone the ex
PLANTATION until after the Baytown races,
when he confidently believed he could ap
proach her in the light Of the racers tri.
umphs.
Two days before the races, Slrideaway,
in the highest possible condition, WAS in
stalled in stable on the outskirts Of Bay.
town village, under the care and supervision
of Tom Thornton and one Of his fathers
men. Mr.. Jolly, johns Henley, and old
Thornton. had be, heavy sums upon the
horse; indeed the latter had ,risked more
than Tom thought prudent. Mr.. Jolly had
delivered manifold instructions 10 the young
fnrmer befnr, he set out from 'home and
solemn:y warned him, mot to do nothing
without asking him" He would be ri
Baytown the night before the races, or
by caybreak on the morning thereof. The
Squire and Dr.. Ryder had also given oung
Thornton alvice aud instruction.
At six o'clock in the evening of the day
before the race, Tom took his post in the
stable, TO keep watch aud ward over Stride
away until twelve, when he was To be re-
lieved by the man he had brought with
him. Leaning out of the window, Mr..
Thornton saw Mrs. ID 'hson aud her daugh,
ter approaching. 1t was u gallant sight To
BEE; these elegant ladies made their way
among the grooms, lnungers. and gipsies,
who congregatei in that part Of the village
where the stables OF The running horses
were. Lifting up their muslin flounces,
and carrying them with stately air, they
moved along with slow, minut dancing
sort of step, incompatible to behold. And
to the intense admiration and delight of
the groons, gip>ies, &c, they exhibited
liberal proportion of the pinkest Of silk
stockings, and the whole Of their dainty
kid slippers aud sandals. The Ensign aud
the miIler's daughter came modestly behind
them. Tom met them at the threshold,
and invited them TO walk in and see the
horss. Miss Henley and the Ensign did so,
while the ex barmaid aud her daughter
remained outside, still holding up their
skirts. Ii may have been, that Mrs. Dob
son was unwilling to put an end to the en-
joyment which her fashionable toile; afford.
ed to the grooms and gipsies. Squires'
ladies, hsronels' wives and daughters, and
such like, were plenty as blackberries at
races and racing stables. The grooms and
gipsies had seen thtm often enough; they
had seen coun.esses and their daughters,
and most of Them had seen the Queen at
John Scoits stable; but they had never be-
fore seen Mrs. Dobson aud her daughter
the highest style Of elegance and fashion!
the ne plus ultra Of gentility! "Never
augh' like this"
Miss Henley surveyed the stable, which
was .iSIit and airy. scrupuously clean, and
newly wLitewaslied. Her manner was cor
dial; she laughed gaily, and chatied with
out reserve, and more than all, she praised
StriJeaway in Dobson's hearing. Indeed
she hal heard her uncle lately enlarging
upou the manifold excellence of Strideaway;
the absolute jolly, too had delivered the
ind'sputable fiat, in her hearing, that he
would win. Ne said it-believe it, Jews!
Lastly, the Squire and Dr. RYDER, in the
Ilile bar parlor at her uncle's, where they
sometimes sat down to q cold luncheon.
had talked Of Tom, in such a manner as to
convince her, that there was a vast deal of
honor and dignity in the position he occu.
pied. as "owner and trainer OF a thorough
bred racer" She was convinced that Stride |
away was good horse, Dobson to the con.
trary notwithstanding. Mr.. Dobson was
uncommonly diffident on this OCCASION; lie
appeared to be somewhat agtated and i'll
at ease. Perhaps the attentions the belle
lavshed upon the horse, and the manifest
delight Of Tom thornton, unnerveI him.
He looked pale and spite!ul; there was
furtive expression in his eye, and he never
once looked Tom 10 the face.
The belle patted the racers hip. and
stroked his glossy shoulder. 1t left no
stain upon her white silk glove; his coat
was rs clean as that Of her favorite white
cat. and as smooth as swans down. She
gathered up his skin. it was loose and fex-
BILE; she felt his flesh. it was hard rs brass.
The belle knew that these were marks Of
high racing condition, and she said With
smile, "You still think he will winl'
IL am qnite confident that he will, bar
ring an accident"
NJ do hope you will not--that zoe shall
not-be disappointed,' said she; she
Woodbourne people would be SO sorry to