New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-05

yves, every fence having it's crowd OF par
ticular admirers. as they calculated on the
probability of fall-the fall being to an
Irishman the main interest of a race.
Having threaded my way through the
carriages, with their attendant roulette
board and niger minstrels and received at
least thirty invitations to return for lunch
con after the race, and many wishes for sue.
cess, took refuge in the saddling yard.
} where / found Chanticleer looking fit as
paint. and his owner rather anxious, but
sanguine. The first race was over, and
J around each carriage and trap luncheon
} | parties gathered and enjoyed themselves: |
remained on the stand chewing the cud of
bitter fancies, for l could see Egremont
laughing and chatting gaily with Adela.
who was the centre of pleasant knot.
At length the saddling bell sounded. and
l returned to the carriage for my whip.
Whats the matter, Brandon p said Mr..
Meredyth,. you look more like going to
drive hearse than to ride Chandelier.
Come, have glass of wine.''
Egrement was talking TO Adeia. 'Wish
me success" ! heard him whisper. Of
course. she said yes. for as he turned away
saw lin take her glove from her lap and
slip it into mis- breast. I drank nv cham.
payne at gulp. Another please. Thanks"
And, as quickly. ! swallowed that. Mr..
Mtredyth looked little astonished. AS
Adela handed me the whip. she whispered
What is the matter! 2 She looked sad. and
l thought. pitving. at which my pride re-
VOTED. ! made no answer, but hurried
away to the dressin room.
| Seventeen horses came to the pos: for the
principal event. / was one of the last ont
OF the weighiDg-yard, and as | emerged.
Warhawk was cantering by the stand. AS
he went by with grand swinging stride.
he was accompanied by a mUrner of adml-
ration. Egremont's white Jacket and red
| 90, fras odd oil u-,.1 II. lor
a Jet black. shining like satin.
That's racer" said French. as he
walked beside me, giving me those inevita-
| bic last directions. Watch him, bu. don't
ride at him until the last mile, for he is faster
at his fences than you are. and Cnantic!eer
does not like being passed. Some Of these
| fools will make the running. Keep about
fourth unit! you get over the double in the
second round. then let him GONE, j: he
| will"
! Good luck 70 your honor. and rafe
home" said the groom. with a last affection
ate pat on the horses neck as he turned him
| for his canter.
Chandelier wa, a bright chestnut. hot
| tempered. like all his color. As he went
| along swinging his head about. and pulling
hard, saw that had rough work before
| me, for already he was excited by the
crowd and the noise.
l avoided looking at the Meredyths' car
rage as passed. Why should look for
passing glance. when Egremont carried her
gage glamour in his breast. but I heard
Toms CHEEKY voice. Good luck. Chanti-
cleer, and it sounded like good omen.
Are you ready. gentlemen! Gc.'
We are off; Oft with a rush and plunge
and a thunder of hoofs that browns Tor us
even the shout that leaps from d multitude
at a start.
Chanticleer, plum ging forward. swing ing
his head and tearing al his bit. gives mo no
time to look right or LETT as We sweep past
the stand in our first rush. see a cloud o!
gray. pink. blue. black and green before
and around me, and wonder. rs ". come at
the flrst fence. how We can possibly jump
packed in this flying cloud. Chanticieer.
wild at al! times. is mad now. with a
horses tail whisking in lis face. :. horse on
his right hand and on his left, preciuding
the possibility Of swerving. while | have a |
dim consciousness of a young one behind |
me. to insure my destruction should we |
fall. slight slackening IL The pace. see |
that blue and white balloon before subsiie |
as its wearev sits down on his horse. Ii he !
fails! Heavens. how l pray for the safety |
of that blue and wh:te-wIth q vivid |
consciousness OF the Nemesis astern.
Chandelier appear, determined: TO look |
at nothing but that horses tail. l take
pull at him. then the blue and white
jacket rises out of the line of sight and dis.
closes single bank. Quick as thought.
Chantlcieer rises to it: ! see his head for AL
instant between the cleaning hind shoes OF
the horse in front. The i;t.le balloons 10
the right and left pop up and down like
painted floats at a nibbe. and we are all
safely over. Now that the possibility of
escape has been demonstrated. am begin
ming to feel more at ease. and approach the |
next fence in a more hopeful mood. The
horses are settling into their stride. and. as
venture to look round. distinguish the
faces that surmount the little balloons
Nanslttart overloOks green one, that
would have made him the iavor;te with the
multitude had he not worn red cap; Gore
glares from above cer:sc and gray: Man
sergh. black and silver; McDe.mott. LEROY
and three or four more of our men. all
looking before them with hard-set faces
None OF the bonhommle that distinguishes
the hardest runs with hounds, where. no
matter what the pace. there j. always time
70 fling an observation 20 the accompanying
Nlmrod, to gasp."A good .un-splend!i,"
etc. Here your coI.panion riders are 40:
80 much partlcipaiors II; sp0r.. as men 70
be beaten. III. the excitement is purely
selfish. !cei that il my b'ue and white
pllo: fails. 4 can neither pull TO riga. Or |
left, but must 60 straigh. OF him; | hone. in |
that case. shall not kill him. bu. tina. i.
entirely bis affair. Ny pursuing Nelnesis Is
no doubt actuated by precisely similar feel
ings. We have passed the second fence in |
safety, and begin to straggle little. led by !
q raklng gray ridden Dy man in i. scarlet
Jacket. Warhawk goes on second, and
then comes black and silver. next Inv
blue and white leader. and then comes the
ruck. with whom l am ewipgin. along. ,
holding Chandelier with all INV might. I
The next fence is a wall: the Acarle. and I
white pop up aud down before, but the | $
black and silver, instead of checking itself |
n its downward flight. disappear. and as i
Chanticleer flies past, catch glimpse Of | I
lorse struggling to his feet and black .
and silver figure lying within zoo. Of ,
where We landed. However. there is no c
line to look round-the improtabiity of h
lls escape from the rush OF horses behind ! f
trikes me Tor moment. and think no | a
more about him. Another single is passed i.
n the same order: a small double a hur. Il
lie, the brook; and now we are com. I
asualty lovers. Two or three times have | a
eard the simultaneous Oh from the I,
rowds at the fences. rrociaiming tia. some
III the rear has come 20 grief.
It the double is a large crowd in hopeful
Expectation OF a !a.i: nor is the expectation ! q,
lsappomted. for the gray makes mistake | 81
rising. strikes the bank and disappears in | W
he on grip. where he les with his back ! Ia
roken. Warhawk has taken his fences ! j.,
and is now improving .he pace: Ia
hantlcieer has bungle! little at IA. h.
ouole: but feel him going well WITHIN nj
lnself. and range forward beside nv ;,,aa "
nd white leader. As we come into ,he 4.
-raight. Egremont makes tie pace {. crack So
r, and We are obliged % call on orr -;
orses to keep our place. The thunder u: j.
re crowd greets Us as We pass the stand. W
nd Warhawk's name IS shouted from | CO
lousands OF Threats. Chanticle.r IA. again j.
st his head-the noise is TOO much for him. ~
S pass see Adela just raise her handksy. H.