Richland beacon., 1880-04-24

stretch without whip or spur. Their
noses broke the line SO nearly at the
same instant, that the judge pronounced
it tie. Away went madam's carriage
down the track, and I could see her
groom sponging and blanketing, while
She caressed the animal. Then, while
the groom walked her about circuit,
madame sat in her carriage, and each
time the animal came round, it thrust
its head in at the open door for white
hands to rub its face.
This horse made me feel uneasy.
Its disposition was too like kitty's.
Jack shared my fears. You had better
give Kitty a shout on the home, he
said, Pm afraid she's beaten, if that
mare has as good bottom as Kitty had at
her age Accordingly, in the next heat.
took my place behind Madame. The
horses were passing us neck-and-neck,
and my shout Now, Kitty! Now! was
followed in Madame's clear, ringing
tones, with Now for Revenge There
was something familiar in Madame's
tones. l hardly knew why thought of
her for whom she was named, Kitty
Wells. 1t was only for an instant.
The race was ahsorbing-kittie was
beaten by head. ] felt that the race
was lost Kitty would be discouraged.
Poor Kitty! Gentlemen ! felt more
for her, at that moment, than for my
anticipated loss of mOney-the prospect
of financial ruin.
"I had bet more heavily upon her than
before. Again the vciled woman and
myself stood by the home stretch. The
horses came sweeping past neck by neck.
Now, Kittie! Now! | shouted once
more. One ear went back at my voice.
Once more for Revenge!' shouted
Madame, and followed it with clear,
ringing laugh. The voice so familiar
again, but the face was hidden. "A
very close race Madame remarked,
with as much compOsure as could as
sumo, while watched the horses near
the line.
"Yes, SIR she replied, as she stepped
into her carriage, but Revenge las
wOn'
Yes, she had, by head, and my net
was beaten. Before reached where she
stood. caught glimpse of Madame,
with her arms about her mares neck,
and the bystanders said ,he kissed her
in the face. But poor Kitty. She
stood for moment, very still, and then.
as l approached. shudderet and
staggered towards me. caught her by
the bride. as she fell on her knees.
Then her muscles relaxed and her body
came heavily to the ground. Her dull
eyes turned upon me for an instant, as
l sat down on the turf, with her head on
my lap. She seemed to say: l have
done nv best, Jim, / die trying
Another shudder, and Kitty was dead.
"The tears, gentlemen, flowed fast.
have never wept so freely since!
never expect to again. Kitty was dead
my friend-my lover. My losses were
heavy-ruinous, but didn't think of
them. ] had lost my companion. Her
friends and mine gathered around US
with sad faces, and the quiet that reigns
about the dead body of a human.
Among them stood the woman with
the veiled face. i looked up, when she
said, in musical tones and marked en-
phasis, Pm sorry. didn't mean nv
Revenge should kill Kitty Wells
al looked up-I saw. and knew her.
Madame Descartes was Kitty Wells, and
/ thought of the words that she uttered
years before: you'll rue 1t, if Hive.
But she was gone in an instant. saw
her enter her carriage and Dive rapidly
away. Then / got up, and one of my
friends said: 'Gentlemen, the truest
mare that ever passed under line j.
dead, and if to be kind and gentle, and
to do her whole duty always are christian
virtues, and if to know more than some
folks, entities her to respect, we'll bury
her respectfully ,..
"The suggestion was no sooner made
than its execution was proceeded with
Permission was granted to bury her il
the middle of the cOurse, on which sh,
had made many splendid score.