Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-06-26
ROMANCE ON TIRE RACE
COURSE.
The Old Mare and the Young
Napoleon of tIse Turf-An
Exciting Contest for Love
and Liberty,


the race i'll hand!"
''Judge Mays bay horse is no
whereof
"Hurrah, for the black horse-the
best four miller in the world!'
"The Napoleon of the American
turf! There he goes, winning at a
canter."
And ringing cheer burst out on
the Metarie race-course, rs the pow
erful black horse, with his little white
rider, swept by the winning-post
some fifty feet ahead of his nearest
competitor.
the old southern SOUTHERN laeesovtrae. lhasesets that
and there were many sad ones also.
Fortunes had been staked and lost
on that great four-mile contest, and
more than one planter cursed the
hour in which he was led to bet on
Judge Mays bay horse.
ssBctter fortune next time, father,
sail a beautiful young girl, who could
scarcely force a smile TO her glorious
black eyes.
s.Fortune will never favor usss
Agnes" replied Judge May, tall,
distinguished looking parsonage,
whose raven locks were slightly ting
ed with gray. Il have mortGa9ed
half my plantation on julius, and he
has failed me. BY Heavens, L would
! risk the other half to find horse tc
beat Neptune. See the airs OF young
Mallory. Agnes !"
.sHe Is proud of his victory, father.
Dear me, [ suppose I'll have to ht
civil to him, after he has won hal
nv fortune. Father, that man ha:
resolved to ruin you. Beware of him
and don't let him cntice you into an
other contest like this.
Father and daughter were standln!
at the corner of the grand stand, ant
right behind them was Il young maj
WHO could overhear their converse
ton.
This young gentleman was dresse
in an humble costume, somewhi
after the style of an itlnerant preacl
er: and his manner was not in keel
ING with his dress; yet there W.
something in his tones and bearln
that told of gentle breeding, as
approached the judge, saying:
"Excuse me, judge. L can find
lhoure to beat Neptune"
/ sFind horse to beat Neptune
cried a sneering voice, behind t
Judge. Miss Agnes, I'm sorry
were compelled to conquer, as dete
has cloudcd your face. Judge Ma
YOU sec \, ,ptunc is invincihie.
The speaker was an clegant-loo
. lug voting gentleman Of the Southe
Wit ssny1 "o1,-r7:." - " l"'''
with keen, piercing gray eyes, a
ilong brown hair flowing down o'
his shoulders.
The Judge saluted the owner OF t
victorious horse in a digniticd wa
while his daughter, as her eyes II
those of the humble stranger, rema
. cd: =,
= You are very fortunate, Mr.. NJ
1 Iorv. Perhaps Neptune will be C
r qurcd ere long"
t. II repeat, Judge May" said
$ humblc-Io0king stranger, "that
=. find horse to beat Neptune i'll TO
o' mile race
e "Your name. sir" demand
>. Frank Mallory, in naughty tones,
.. he turned to the young stranger.
as "Frank Ferris, sir, was the Proi
It. reply. Il presume you are Mr.. N
~ loryt"
H THAT is my name, and l am
~ owner of Neptune. How much mo
en can YOU afford to lose, Mr.. Ferris
h "Not one hundred dollars, sir;
hs vii! stake five thousand that L
w. name a horse to beat Neptune
"a. month from this day, on this trac
~ Cant you say ten thousand, 81
"a snecrcd Arthur Mallory; ''or perh
"a Judge May will back your unkn'
n. as heavily as he did his bay"
-h. Agnes Mays eyes had cncoun
.h cd the strangers once more, ana
ia addressed her father in very low tc
'hs while the young men were thus
.nn, versing.
roi by Heavens, but will, Ar
md, Mallory:" cried the judge, excl
is@r ly. "Mr. Ferris, name your hO
.us- and I'll back HIM for thirty Il
lou' sand"
tho tho Il name Blue Bell, of Memph
few said the young stranger. 'She
lInt chestnut mare. nine years old, oW
AM o' by my father, Captain Thomas
|, ris'
,th "Ia-ha-ha!" laughed young
,in tn lorv, as he turned to the judge. . -
ny. Bell OF Memphis, ,an old ches
tia mare, to beat 'Neptune'-the
'@a' @n qucring 'Neptunc'-the Napoleon
, il the turf! Judge May, L will not t
;ra' of holding you to your offer. Yo
yce yo, man, 90 home and look after
late niggers."
e. ''Wc have but one nigger b.
mthr m replied the young stranger III
talt tones, land he will ride the ma
the race"
,,n, II stand to my bargain, Mr..
atiH lory," said the judge. who had
one ed some more words with his ola
CO go, ter. Il knew this young gentlen
'OWn father in the Mexican war, and L
mac membered that he had some
@ eve horses there. One month from
seoh day this old mare will meet your
tune and 1 Will stake thirty t
aos, sand on her. Will you come
. dine with us, Mr.. Ferris?"
T The young stranger gladly ac
ID p. ed the hospitable invitation, and
er and daughter withdrew from
mt stand with him while Arthur Ms
.h;. stared after them, muttering:
''The old fool will have to NOR
airs the rest of his plantation to rails
l. money, and the young fool will
ha'n his five thousand. Judge May
he Ar be a ruined man, for 1 hold the
mortgages, and 1 will secure
OF other. The proud Agnes wi
mine yet. An old mare to bea
Neptune! They're crazy!"
natal And Arthur Mallory hastene
join his sporting companions, to
nd 70 them of the fresh contest, al
laugh at the judge and simple