Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-08

| acteu bplenuiuly, WhlfllnB nef hlOnB IN Bfhnu
style, until the old lady was fairly aglee with
exhilaraton. She knew her appearance with
The Colt would create something of a sensa.
ton. She drove up to the store, tied The
Colt spread over him linen sheet on which
she had worked with her own hands the
name Notwithstanding brother to Pearl.
Before all this was done a crowd gathered
about her and scores of inquiries were ad-
dressed TO her "Is the deacon i'll ~ She
offered proper explanations, but finally got
away from the crowd and entered the store.
just then there appeared in the street a
fine-looking horse hitched TO a skeleton wag-
on. The whole turnout was suggestive of
speed. A man stepped out from the sidewalk
and addressed the driver:
deacon Spriggins' wife is in town with
the stallion. Now you loaf around here un-
til the old lady starts for home and then give
her little brush. You can beat him easy
enough, and it will turn the laugh on the
| deacon"
"Well TN not so sure about that, for the
horse is a regular trotter. Aud then / don't
like to tackle woman, for the horse might
| get the better of her"
"The better OF her? She is Just as good a
driver as the deacon and the horse is kind
although high-strung. Go for her I'll give
you $50 if you beat her. The deacon will
never give you q chance, and here is an op-
portunity to see if the horse has as much
speed as he is credited with"
"Al right that $50 settles it"
Little did the worthy dame suspect the
horrible danger that was impending. Horri-
bic it was. in truth, for the deacon would
rather have put a good-sized mortgage on
the farm than TO have The Colt defeated
His strong feeling on this point the old lady
of course knew, but she did not know the
many efforts that had been made to catch the
deacon mapping but he was so thoroughly
alive 10 the situation, and The Colt was so
ready Of foot, that there never was really a
contest, though several had attempted to
chase him and out of it all he had attained
a prodigious reputation.
Aunt Jerusha leisurely united The Colt aud
as leisurely seated horself in the wagon. For
the first time she noticed the unusual num-
ber of people standing on the sidewalks, and
all looking in the same direction.
whats the matter p she asked.
Nothing particular, was the reply. They
| just happened like to be here"
"What fne-looking trotiing horse is that
| coming down the street z" she asked.
That's the Jim Blame horse" said one
"Hes the best trotter that's been in these
parts for years"
what are you talking about ?" said an
other. Didn't Squire Ribbons offer to
match Pearl agin him for $1,000 if Deacon
| Spriggins would only let up on him on
the bargain that he should never trot the flly
another racer"
why, I'd like to see that horse" said
Aunt Jerusha. 'rll Just drive up and take
a look at him." Aud gathering up the reins
she innocently drove up street toward the OBJ
| ject of her curiosity.
"CanI believe my eyes p said a bystander.
''The driver of Jim Blame is just laying for
the old lady, and she has walked right into
the trap When she turns to come back he
will go for her and beat her right down the
street"
Just then Squire Ribbons appeared on the
scene. BEAT who? Where is Mrs Sprig-
| gins p And looking up street Uncle Ben
was struck with amazement Great heav-
ems Is it possible Z" (He took in the stu
ton at a gslce.) 'rd give 81 900 to be able
to put her on her guard"
Aunt Jerusha was seen to stop and talk a
moment of two with the driver of jim Blame,
aud then she turned leisurely to drive home.
| The Colt was in the habit of starting OF
| quite briskly with the deacon, and he did so
| in this instance. The contending trotter was
right at his wheel the pace was quite good,
| but the fair driver of The Colt seemed to be
entirely unconscious that horse-race was
impending.
Squire Ribbons could stand it no longer.
| He rushed out into the middle of the street
frantcally waving his arm, crying so loudly
that it was not only heard by the one ad-
dressed but by the entire crowd of eager
| spectators.
Come on, Jerusha come on start him
up They're going to try to beat you Come
| on come on!"
The worthy dame comprehended the stu
alton at once. tremor ran through her
frame the benevolent smile on the face
| gave place to hard, set expression, and the
crowd heard her in strong, eager voice, bid
| The Colt to Ego on !"
| The Colt astonished at being so harshly
spoken to- made a running jump or two,
dropped into trot, and was of like a whirl-
| wind.
Squire Ribbons gave yell of delight
"Five hundred dollars Jim Blame don't beat
| him Five hundred dollars he never gets to
his wheel" !" roared Uncle Ike.
The Colt opened full length on his opPo-
nent. When he made his first revolution and
as they came opposite the crowd, those were
their relative positions but The Colt was
| going at his ease, while it was plainly to be
seen that his opponent was on his tiptoes
He made break and ran up alongside of his
opponent. Squire Ribbons voice was again
| heard
''Jerusha, let go The Colts head let go
/
'em beat you for the world The deacon
would never forgive you slap him on the
back !"
Aunt Jerusha was quiet ON the occasion.
| She never lost her head even for a moment.
| The Colt no sooner felt the slap of the reins
than he shot away from his running oppo-
nent as if he had stopped. Aunt Jerusha's
bonnet dropped upon her shoulders, and was
only prevented from falling to the ground by
I Al IL
out of sight. Cheer after cheer went up
from the admiring crowd, until they had
shouted themselves hoGrse. The driver of
the defeated horse pulled up his trotter and
| logged back 10 the crowd.
| 81 don't want any more of him, he said
"He is ghost He was just playing with
me even before the old lady struck him with
the reins, and then 1 couldn't run fast
enough"
''If you fellows are dying for horse-race
I'll match my mare Pearl agin you for 81, 900
a side," roared Squire Ribbons. 'Tt was a
mean, dirty trick to attempt 10 beat the dea-
cons horse in that way, and you are set
| Of"
'But Deacon Spriggins wont let you trot
your mare" sneered the crowd.
"a thousand dollars that l can beat Jim
| Blame with my mare, thirty days from to-day,
right over this track, best three in Eve, to
harness. This offer is open for week, and
my moneys ready any time. 1 say it was a
mean, dirty trick, and you are all a set Of"
"Hold on, squire" said the owner of Jim
Blame "we'll throw up the sponge. I'll
own it was little mean, and wont match
your mare for a cent. This was all for fun,
and I'll stand treat for the whole crowd"
=. This rather pacihed Squire Ribbons, but
he did not go with the mass over to the hotel.
~ must drive over and see how the deacon's
wife got home" he muttered. "Ah, what a
game woman Jerusha is. Blast my eyes, if
could have handled The Colt better myself.
The deacon will be completely upset when he
hears of it. 1t was mean, dirty trick, and
they are all a set Of"
The deacon saw his wife turn into the road
that led to the farm. The Colt was coming
SO fast that he muttered to himself "Why
| does sha LET him 90 SO p He met her az the