The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-15

pressed his delight at knowing that his
Lordship had consented to act as starter,
and then faced the Captain.
"Ntw, Captain Dykely, shall we get
ready~
'Your jockey, Mr.. WhinridgeT
'ls my son Reginald. Have you any
objection to himP
every objection, Mr.. Whinridge.
When made this-I don't mind admit
ting it-stupid match, it was not with
the idea that / was going to have for an
opponent mere child"
"Child or not, he rides"
81 am no more child than he is,
papa!" exclaimed the boy. "1f l can
ride, what more does he want?"
"Hear, hearW cried the crowd.
"lf you can ride" said Captain Dykely,
with sneer.
"Dykely," interposed Lord Gules, M
must say that, according to the terms of
the match, you are bound to accept
Whinridge's Jockey, or forfeit"
every well" rejoined Dykely, sullenly,
Every well. If the baby breaks his neck
| am not to blame, mind. Let us get it
over"
There was stampede on the part of
the auditors at these wordsin the direction
of the two most formidable obstacles in
track-a made fence, at the beginning of
the straight run-in, and brook on the
far side. The boy, giving up his over
coat and hat to Hartbrook, and putting
on silk cap which he produced from his
pocket, presently appeared, like his oppo-
nent, fully equipped for action. In de-
fault Of silk he wore thin Jersey, hut
otherwise it would have been impossible
to find fault with his appearance. His
father gave him leg up and then
walked by bis side to the starting-post,
where Lord Gules was already waiting
with the flag.
"Redgy, my DEAR" said the old fellow,
in voice that WAS strangely husky, "you
heard what that brute said about your
breaking your neckY'
eyes, pa"
!, "WelI, Redgy, it made me feel that !
possibly was wrong in subjecting you to
such a risk. | should never forgive my.
Iself if anything happened to you, and ]
am sure your mother would never forgive
me. Now, Redge, although you have but
the years of child, you are not without
a mans sense-don't mind me at all. Ii
| you have any doubt, jump off, and Pll
4 throw up the match"
"Papa, you must let me ride! After
what that fellow said it would be too bad
to be prevented from showing him up.
Never fear. I'll stick on!"
| "Redge, your hand"
| The boy placed his hand in that of his
| father, who grasped the warm little palm
with fervor, and gently drawing down
| the lads head, kissed him. The man and
boy understood each other 1t was sell
dom Gustavus Whinridge was betrayed
into such an exhibition of what h would
have termed feminine weakness; but the
boy knew what this demonstration meant
far better than if it had been expressed in
the tenderest words.
| Completely out of the view and hearing
of the people, who by this time thronged
| the stand, the Squire impaired his final
orders.
"Keep with him, but not too close, for
the first mile, and then come away as
| hard as you can pelt. 1t is splendid
moon, almost as light as day, and you
ought to do the journey without the least
mistake. Now, Redge, my own deal
boy, show them what sort of metal you
are made of"
| Without another word he left his son
and Captain Dykely to amble their way
to the starting post, and mounting q
hack which Grove had In readiness, can
tered across a bit of rising ground neal
the brook, where he could obtain an ex.
cellent view of at least three parts of "the
country" About the same time
Widgeon, Captain Dykely's man, "a
durable hand at bet, and one of the
win-tie-or-wrangle fraternity" (this was
Hartbrook's unsolicited testimonial tc
character), was deep in an endeavor t.
advise Superintendent Pompert of thu
!, Thornford constabulary in the matter O
the probable behavior of restless multi
tude already gathered around the two
: ends of the water jump.
= "You see, Super, my governor, th'
Capt'in, is nervous; and the nag he's
riding is nervous; so if was you, Supe
! excuse my making so bold-Pd pos
most of men by that there brook to kee]
q the crowd quiet"
"Thank you, my man" replied the Su
perintendent, in freezing tones, 81 hsy
= made my arrangements"
20, have you, Mr.. Pompey-and- Caesar?
= rejoined Widgeon, in safe whisper, a
he turned aside and left the lofty office
to his own devices. 'Then Pll bet
i pound to a shillin' some of those boy
y therell unmake 'em. Go along, old tul
nip-tops; keep that bulPs-eye quiet, can
! your That's enough to make any hos
shy"
The remark is addressed to one of tn
Superintendent most Jealous subord
u nates-a young man new to the force
J who is acting tonight as though he COL
c sidered the plentiful production of dis
turbing fireworks part of his duty
Widgeon takes a front place by tn
T brook. Grove does likewise. Benin
Il them and group, three deep, of mer
a spectators, is Gustavus Whinridge,
C prominent object in the silver-and-gra
landscape as he stands motionless, wal
u ing for The shout that is 10 signal TIL
81 start. 1t comes at last. "They are off!
u and the Squire, his eye-sight mad
/ keenly telescope by the love he bears
s. his boy, cranes forward hungrily, AM
l. missing no incident in the battle, begir
in spirit to ride the race himself. 9TH;
e. will do, Redgy boy; that will DO! L.
IS him make the runningl Now the
is wider, Redge! Keep away from h
h. whip-hand. How gloriously that son