Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-12

racing the splendld amman, Wnlcn ne
had named Thunderbolt, from the little
town with its trotting course near by;
and if Mrs. Proud6t had chosen she
could have replenished their empty cof-
fers from the dockets of the Northerners
who every winter looked enviously at
the tea roses blooming in her garden.
wishing that they would only take
boarders at that lovely place. But Mrs.
Proudfit did not choose-to her any suf-
fering was preferable to the ignominy
of taking boarders-and the cherry satin
of the parlor furniture grew every year
more tattered and shabby, for she could;
not afford the linen to cover it.
Walter had no taste for betting, but
it was the only way of earning liveli-
hood for his mother, and from partlci-
pating regularly in races he grew to
have rackish air as we'll as reputation.
But there was one little girl who could
not bear to see Walter 60 to the bad,
and that was Mock Coruth. Judge
Caruth had named his daughter from
the mock-bird of his native State, and
her voice had justified the name. But
in spite of her marvellous dover of song,
Mock-bird Caruth seemed rather clum-
sy, self asserting name, and she grew to
be called Mock, since she herself liked
it best.
Walter Proudfit loved her unfeigned-
ly; but when he told her so, Mock had
replied that she would believe him in
earnest just as soon as he sold Thunder
bolt and gave up horse racing.
"But," Mock, pleaded the young
man, and without some show of reason,
how am l to make living You have
mt any money either; and even if you
had, | would not let you support me"
"Your father was DOCTOR" suggest
ed Mock, ''and you could step right into
his practice"
"Yes, if l had a medical education,
which | haven't"
"Why don't you study ?''
81 will"
And so Walter divided his attention
between his betting book and the calf
covered volumes in his fathers study /;
but it was up hill work. If he could
only 60 to Paris, and take medical
coursel One evening, when this desire
4 -c~--si~----~-v -Iarn, u
stranger called-a gentleman who wish
ed to purchase racer. They visited
the stable together, and discussed Thun-
derbolt. The stranger offered price
which made his heart leap for joy. II
was enough to take Mock and his moth
er and himself to Europe and back, and
he remembered that some one had offer
ed to rent their house ready furnished
for year at sufficient sum to support
them modestly in Paris. He could cram
at the medical school and Mock could
have her wish. But the strangers offer
was only conditional, he would pay that
price provided he won the races fol
which he had been entered at the towr
of the same name. Walter mentally re-
vived the list of Thunderbolt's competi
tors. He had been confident before oi
success; now vague feeling came owe
him that he should fail. The stake
were too great. None of this hesitation
betrayed itself in his bearing, however
He appointed an interview for the da,
after the races. and bowed his visito
politely to the door. Nothing of this t
mother or Miss Mock until all is over
he said to Marcellino, as he explainet
why it was so much more important thai
usual that Thunderbolt should win. Th
! rest of the story | cannot help giving i
! Marcellino's own words, unrefnded a
} they were.
| 81 didn't see no 'casion for Mass
] Proudft to worrit, / was dat deadly sh
f in my own mine dat Thun' erbolt woul
pick up de stakes an | tole him 81
Oar want but one udder horse entere
: dat had any chance oh beatin', an da
s was 'Buckskin. He b'longed to M
! Lashtinger, from up in de Sandhillt
r country. Buckskin he de ugliest lookiI
f brute ebber you see. dirty yaller color
f dat's what glib him de name-wid Ii
9 tie red eye and bobtail, an heap
i meanness bout kickin' and bitin'. Bl
: dat horse could run. Eff ole Pharo'd
:. had Buckskin hitched to his chariot, he
e "a h'isted it ober de Red Sea 70 {
o waves I'D a had time to take the blac1
s in of his boots. Thun'e 'erbolt was
d sight the puttiest boss, black an shin
' He had style, sho enough but Bucksk
h had speed. an heap better pedigr
dan Thun'erbolt, though you wouldn
8 "a fought it to "a looked at him. Ho'
is somcbber, it war runnin' race, an d
il 'pends bout as much on de rider as
e boss. | weighed powerful little de
" days. an | was strong in de arms, a
r knew how to lif' Thun'erbolt ober
e track. So, dough Buckskin would
II beat him sho at regulation trot for
e steady four mile heat wild Mr.. Lashstin
,r er in de sulky, on quick squirt OBJ