The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-23

rOuSuS Oh lHe COURSE, SO iS W lIldke tuu
lame on the day of the race-that would
not do"
s'But the gro"ms sleep a little, especially
in the night time, don't they?"
'Why-why-I dunno We have to
work precious hard, Miss. We have to
exercise the horses and speed em, and
groom 'em like babies. Tain't surprising
| if you would drop off now and then
"Oh no; | would if I were you Tell
me whose horse is favorite for tomorrow.
"Mr Robert Lovell's Eclipse, ma'am." ="
"Who is second favorte ?"
"Mr. Lawrence Blacks Telegraph" "
| Lawrence Black !"
Miss Edith knew the name we'll enough.
He was an oldish man of good family,
great reputed wealth, but also a man OF
violent passions and evil character. He
was handsome, but Mephistophies.
He had once shown some regard for Misa
! Edith, but that Young person placed a
| blight on him so quickly that he had an
| opportunity to hate her before he could
| love her
Therefore she heard that he was to he a
rival of her lovers with little tavor-nay,
with actual distrust
She thought for moment.
| Has he got much money depending on
this race?"
Yes, ma'am SO I'm told least wise.
He thinks his horse is better than Eclipse +"
| "Does he ?"
| Then she thought for a moment more.
| "Now Pm going to ask a favor of you"
| He cast glance at Polly, who secretly
shook her head menacing at him.
| Il want t. be admitted to the stable
and to be hidden there where | can watch
Eclipse all night long, and want You to
manage to get me in and out without
being seen"
The groom gasped
| "What, ma'am ?"
She repeated it.
| Then she gave him some money
Polly glared a. him. He came to his
senses. and in a few moments he began
to make plans and after a sore puzzle he
assented after another dose Of money.
This seemed to be rather harumscarum
idea for young lady to possess, but you
only get one to love you and she will be-
come a giant for daring. invention and
action.
At ten Miss Edith, habted in thick
shawl and wraps, secretly emerged from
her house and wended her way to the
| long and lofty stables alone. As she ap-
preached, a small door opened before her
and she entered quietly.
| 1t was dark in spite of lantern hung
from the ceiling, and there was a loud
| tumult of stamping hoOfs and heavy
breathing of the horses.
The COCOON showed her grain closet
he pointed to it; she opened it. He
| showed her ventilator in the door and
pointed to a horse exactly opposite and
whispered Eclipse"
She comprehended. and stepped within
the closet and shut the door.
She peered out of the ventilatOr and
began her vigil over the beautiful animal
who was of so much Importance to her
| and hers.
Thus did the anti-racing Miss Edith be-
come an alder of horse racing.
Not movement Of the horse escaped
her eye. She became accustomed to the
dim light and could see very clearly.
Eleven o'clock passed.. then twelve,
then one; still Miss Edith gazed out with
unweared eve. She was not apprehen-
sve; she was persistent
Then two o'clock Still the stable was
undisturbed, The lantern shed down its
uncertain ray, and still the horses brcathed
loudly and now and then kicked at THEN
stalls.
Suddenly, at about half past two, two
men seemed to rise up out of the dark
ness like shadows. They cautiously ap-
preached Eclipse, who was standing up
They soothed her in whispers. Their
presently one stopped down and gently
lifted into his lap one of her hind feet
What Miss Edith next saw was developed
on the next day.
At ten in the morning the report rar
round the town that Eclipse was lamed.
Mr.. Bob, white as a sheet, ran to the
stables. The groom had told Polly; Polly
had in turn told her mistress. who was
nervous and agitated.
She called her phaeton and drove a
once to the stables
There was crowd of men rushing
hither and thither, furious with anger anC
violently denouncing Mr.. Robert Lowell
who was accused of rascality.
Miss Edith demanded to see the horse.
They led Eclipse up before her
The splendid, intelligent animal seemed
to look imploringly at her; and he held Vi
one trembling hind foot Just off the ground
/ Miss Edith whispered to Bob who wa
standing by;
t Cant you find out the cause, Bob ?'
"No," he said ''we have looked il
vain. 1t must be that she snapped SOM
of the small muscles of her leg. | shall
have to withdraw her. 1 suppose yor
+ know what that means Edith
She laughed and quickly became serious
and angry. She spoke to the groom.
"Take knife, lift up the horses lame
? foot and you will find fine bit of sill
| thread tied tight about about-well, tn
t ankle suppose"
The groom darted to the horse and die
as he was told.
"Who did it, miss? Who did it ?"
I II cannot tell you," she replied, calmly
, 81 know the gentleman, and you will ais
know him when he is safe out of tn
country. He belongs to your association
, and I saw the deed done in the stable a
: half-past two this morning. The gentle
4 man will resign his membership within
twenty-four hours"
3 That was all.
She would not say another word.
: "Come, Bob, get in with me and W
will drive home at once"
g "No, must stay" "replied Bob. 'Yo
, have saved me thus far, Edith, now wi
| iOoh dltCl ALCliPoC ulili ullC ltCC 10 OWL .
: Eclipse won three straight heats with
Y out balk or break.
! That night Bob left the club.
Men stared. Could it have been Bo
< who lamed Eclipse?
\ Then the secretary read the resigna
ton of Mr.. Lawrence Black
Everybody Kissed and ran to take Bo
by the hand.
e He has quilted horses now, and is de
voted to training children.
Solomon Pease died a great many yeal
4 ago, but he left a good name behind hin
q good, at least, for the person who was
: write his epitaph. Some poet Of his tim
y produced it after this fashion; and it ma
be found still craven on an old tombston
in New England church-yard:
Under this sod,
r And under these trees,
h Lieth the bod
- of Solomon Pease.