River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-20

]
he were the Atlas that bore the entire
racing world upon his sable shoulders.
eYour pet and namesake is certainly
secure" laughed Simms, and he and his
wife returned TO the house. tom has
everything prepared for wal -could
scarcely have done more had he suspect
ed an Instruction"
"Yes, and he has, like all his race, a
very poor opinion of de white trash, and
it is not the first time he has been placed
in such situation. You know he was
born upon my fathers plantation, and
always had charge of fine stock, and my
father raised some of the best in Nir-
ginia."
"And the most beautiful and accom-
plished daughter, he answered gallantly
The preparations of the negro were
soon known far and wide. 1t could not
be otherwise with the gossip flowing race
They boosted of it on every possible oc-
casi0n, and it soon reached the ears of the
! ill-wishers of the mare, and was discussed
at length by the purely tribe jocky, and
who were never suspected of honor
They had backed their opinion against
Lizzie Clay and she must be beaten at all
! hazards.
/ But they found when approached with
/ brides that the war-like Tom was deter
mined to hold the fort until the end
/ Save his master and his mistress and his
chosen two, no one was permitted to en-
| ter the stable, and when the mare was
/ exercised she was atteued by a guard OF
honor Yet, though bafiied, the enemy
was not conquered. The main sentine
could not watch all the time. Sleep was
| absolutely necessary to his African ma.
/ ture, and might not his lieutenants be
tempted from duty! There were other
things besides gold-the peculiarities OF
each were knOwn-one was over fond OF
the glass and the other had a weakness
/ for the sex.
Spies told of the best way to make the
trial A friend and a bottle soon en-
\ crossed the attention of one of the sable
Hercules-there were unfailing means OF
/ quoting the dogs, and pretty yellow
/ girl did not waste her smiles upon the
other in vain. So the citadel was left I'M
4 defended, save the slumbering Tom, and
any amount of mischief might have
/ been accomplished had the conspirators
been ready.
/ But such was not the case. The visit
of the two white men was simply to see
show the land lay" and plan for the fu
/ ture. Entering the stable with great
care they easily avoided Tom. His
breathing gave them emphatic warning
1 of where he Law stretched upon pile OF
straw, and there was suifieiency of light
/ to enable them to see all the surround
I ings.
/ "Thats enough, whispered one to the
other as they were about to steal away.
/ 81 can easily fix it now. Well come to-
morrow night, and if this mare isn't dead
| lame when'she comes TO the scratch, you
can call me a fool"
"All right responded the other, ''and
/ then Kurnal will find that Their longest
/ pole knocks down Their persimmins arter
/ all. But, come, that old black devil may
wake up at any time"
Half an hour later Tom did wake up
Everything was as he had left 1.-THE
dogs and men watchful and the mare
bright and cheerful as if already fiaunt.
ing the garlands of victory. "Must have
been asleep" he grumbled out so loudly
that any listener could have heard. "Gol.
" eff de ole man. had cotched me! But
then the dorgs wouldn't have let any body
come within gun shot. | kin trust dem
ebry time. Dey know gist IS much what
am going on as eff dey war human
This conclusion operated badly for the
safety of his charge. Herelied too much
upon his dumb associates, and the mex
night gave way again to slumber, II
was very dark one. Moon and stars
I -, hot
if there should be any ontside watchers
and it was with a feeling of safety tha
the conspirators crawled to the door OF
the stable and entered.
That niger is sleeping soundly anC
the coast is clear" whispered the leader
"But l wish l had light. That mare il
high spirited lass and may kick my
brains OUT
GO ahead. Hurry up was growleC
in reply.
There was a quiet feeling round, pat
ting and soothing of the animal, then
sharp snort and struggle as a sharpeneC
wire was driven into the foot at thu
iuncture of the hair and hoof and 81
as to be beyond discovery But th'
noise had awakened Tom. He sprang t.
his feet with as near an oath upon hi
lips as his Methodist preclivities would
permit and called dogs and men in
breath.
Somebody's dun bin heah l smells
'umi'
But no disturbance of any kind could
be found. The deputies of Tom vowed
that they had seen no one enter To,
stables and honestly, for they had beer
completely hoodwinked. But early tht
next morning it became known tina
"Kurnal Simm's mar had dun gon lame,
in the most unaccolntable manner.
Lightning could not hare carried tbs
news faster than it spread. A Grove
rushed to learn the truth. But no on
was permitted to enter the stable.
"The mare will run-must run, well o
lame" was all the information tina
could be obtained of the owner. Il hav
invested largely and cannot back down
now
So had Others invested their sorrow
The majority began hedging, while thos
in the secret of the lameness were lou'
IL their proffers Of betting, and that Their
was something in the story, was sool
proven. Tom had beer seen leading tn
blanketed mare about and she was limp
ing badly.
But she must have bsen miraculousl,
! cured, for when the bugle sounded {
saddle up she was brought to the scor
all over winner and fit torun for man
; life. And blood told that day. Liz
] Clay did indeed show the rest a clea
pair of heels won the race without sol
i and when the beautiful WON an, ate
whom she was named crowned her wit
1 roses, she arched her neck as if KNOWN
the honor was her due.