The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-29

collie or something, or she might b
pizened or lamed."
4 do not think any one would be s,
! dishonorable."
Don't yerf Wal, yer don't know tn,
scalawags about heah. Thar's plent,
would do anything ter win, and yer't
better keep yer eyes open sharp, onles
yer want to be cleaned out. No; cam
come in. Good night"
Simms was left to ponder over wha
he had heard. An honorable and un
suspicious man, he would never have
dreamed of any other cause of actor
without prompting. Now he must TAXI
measures for the safety of his horse. Ht
rode directly to the stables, and said il
the most careless manner he could as
sumo to the old, gray headed groom: 81
have made a match with this beauty
and laid heavy wagers. 1t is to be run
next Monday, and | want you to be very
careful that nothing happens to her."
"Hab her fit to run fer yer life
Mas'r," replied the negro, patting the
sleek sides of the beauty. "Dar hain't
nuthin' in dar country kin hold er can.
die to her."
" You think SO TomT'
"Sartain, sue, Mas'r. She kin jis,
show er clean par OBJ heels ter dar hull
OBJ 'em. Dey talk OBJ hossesl"
aThen we must be doubly careful oi
her; keep watch of her night and day
my boy, and if she wins, you shall have
new suit Of broadcloth.n
De bi gollyl Me sleep and eat wild
her bof, dats so, Mss'r," and the pleased
old negro began making extra prepara-
tions for the comfort of the beautiful
and blooded animal.
Satisfied in this respect his master
turned to the house to be lovingly vel
coined by his young wife.
lou have stayed late," she said
"what could have kept you? Tea has
been ready for an hour, and you know
how jealous old Marin Venus is of her
cooking"
Yes, and / am prepared to do justice
to it."
The meal finished, he told his wife
the story of the race and how much de-
pended on his winning. She chided
briefly that he should have been so fool.
isb, and then entered enthusiastically
into the spirit of the thing. Even more
SO than he did himself.
What makes you so very anxious 2''
he questioned with a smile.
,tHave you forgotten that my name
was once Lizzy Clay-that the beautiful
creature bears the very name you robbed
me of, sir" and she flashed her black
eyes proudly and fondly upon him.
"tind you think there is prestige in q
name, Lizzy?"
/" Yes, and in blood"
And if there is anything in horse
flesh your colors shall be carried in tri-
umph to the winning post, my bonny
wife"
Before retiring they made visit in
company to the stables, and could not
but laugh at the preparations for safety
that had been made by the groom. In
the stall upon either side of the mare
was huge negro, armed with axes and
clubs and two of the most savage dogs
on the plantation. Other dogs were
chained near every possible entrance to
give early warning of the coming of the
enemy, and the commander-in-chief
Tom, strutted about with an antiquated
musket, with the barrel half filled with
slugs, and in case of its explosion would
be certain death to all in the vicinity
This would in itself have appeared suf
fcient, but the negro pointed with pride
to two great horse pistols and an i'm
mense knife, thrust through an impro
vised belt.
just luf dem cum, dat's ALL" he
said, "Dey can't play no possum vic
dis chile, no how" and he strobe up and
down as if he were the Atlas that bore
the entire racing world upon his sable
shoulders.
Your pet and namesake is certainly
secure" laughed Simms, and he and hi.
wife returned to the house. "Tom hai
everything prepared for war-coult
scarcely have done more had he sus
pected an insurrection."
" Yes, and he has, like all his race, {
very poor opinion OF de white trash,
and it is not the first time he has beer
placed in such situation. You know
he was born upon my fathers planta
ton, always had charge OF. fine stock
and my father raised some of the bes
in Virgins"
" And the most beautiful and accom-
plished daughter" he answered gal
lantly.
The preparations of the negro wer
soon known far and wide. 1t could no
be otherwise with the gossip-loving race
They boasted of it upon every possible
| occasion, and it soon reached the ears o
the ll-wishers Of the mare, and was dis
cussed at lengta Ny the purely trib
| jockey, and who Sere never suspecte'
of honor. They had backed their opin
ion against Lizzy Clay, and she must b
beaten at all hazards.
But they found when approached wit
bribes that the war-like Tom was deter
mined to hold the fort" until the end
Save his master and his mistress and hi
chosen two, no one was permitted to Ell
ter the stable, and when the mare wa
exercised she was attended by a guar
of honor. Yet, though bafied, tn
enemy was not conquered. The mai
sentinel could not watch all the time
Sleep was absolutely necessary to hi
African nature, and might not his lier
tenants be tempted from duty? Their
were other things besides gold-th
peculiarities of each were known-on
was over-fond of the glass and the othe
had weakness for the sex.
i. Spies told Of the best way to max
the trial. A friend and a bottle 500
engrossed the attention of one of th
sable Hercules-there were unfailin
means of quieting the dogs, and a prett
yellow girl did not waste her smiles upo
the other in vain. So the citadel W.
left undefended, save the slumberin
Tom, and any amount of mischief migl
have been accomplished had the COZ
spiratOrs been ready.
But such was not the case. The Wis
of the twowhite men was simply to sc
chow the land lay +" and plan for the fl
/ ture. Entering the stable with gre.
care they easily avoided Tom. II
) breathing gave them emphatic warnir
{ | Of haI 81 Oh IL l..