Daily Republican., 1886-09-17
The BRIGHTON REGATTA.
NJ EMILY LENNON.


"You just ought to see our Fan|
nowp' said little Dick. who was play
ing coxswain in Ned Gray's she'll
81 have no doubt she rows very
WELL" said the young crack oarsman,
patronlzipgly. "But girls aren't much
on speed. They can't make it Their
arms won't let them"
"Our Fan can," Dick persisted 10y
ally, though his patron smiled dubi-
ors smile, and sent the Lotus skim.
ming through the water with conscious
power.
why don't she come into the
racer" Ned said, amused at his own
idea. ct ere is q silver cup, you
know, and no end OF glory to the win
ner. | don't suppose Brighton ever
had such a regatta before"
II wish she would" Dick rejoined,
in good faith, and the whole CONVERSE
ton was reported TO Fan verbatim.
II suppose he thinks that is a joke,
Dicky," she said, curling her pretty
lip scornfully. What a prig Ned
Gray is getting TO be anyhow He
thinks nobody under the sun knows
how to handle the oars but himself,
I'd just like to see HIM beaten this
year. 1t would do him good"
But Ned was not dreaming OF de-
feat
On the day of the race he came down
/ in rig OF blue and scarlet, looking
very handsome, with his splendid arms
and neck bare and little skull-cap
pushed back over his curls.
The river banks were lined with
spectators, ladies in gay dresses with
bright parasols seated luxuriously in
their carriages, or in picturesque
groups on the rocks or under the trees;
gentlemen discussing the contestants
with more or less parlizanship, and
children running about excitedly, hur-
railing for everybody.
Flags were flying, bands playing,
and tugboats crowded with people Ia
bored up and down the river convey
ling passengers to various points on the
icourse.
A general prevalence of lemonade
and bunting made the scene appear
very festive.
"How do you feel about the race,
Gray?" some one asked Ned DO you
know all your mem"
! "All but one" Ned answered com
placen'ly. 81 don't know anything
about this fellow Littell. He is new.
Nobody ever heard tell of him be-
fore"
"That's his boat off there" said the
speaker, pointing to a light shell al
ready launched and floating a yellow
and black pennant.
"Let me have your glass, will you?"
Ned said eagerly, and through it lie
scanned his unknown contestant, OF
what he could see of him. for Littell
had tipped his seat overheard, and
was lying in his she'll
"IIe's got pretty nice boat" said
the gentleman who was interviewing
Ned.
II don't like his outriggers," Ned
replied, rs he returned the glass
"What is he doing out there, any
howY"
bo'Giye it up! l guess he won
ther you much"
Ned really didn't think he would
but he RETAINED from saying so.
There were not many, however
who did not feel pretty sure of the vic
tor when the Mist, with its fine single
seuller, was launched on the river
'Hurrah for youl" said Dicky La
throp, who was sitting astride huge
bough that reached out over the water
and Ned nodded good-naturedly.
"W hat are you going to Go will
that?" cried Dici<y, making fog horr
of his hands and pointing to Ned
Racine canoe which was beinl
launched after him.
Briggs is going to follow up til,
race" Ned replied, bracing himself
and then the long oar blades glanced
in the sunlight as he shot out from thu
dock,
1t was perfect day, and a pretty
sight to behold the boats out on til,
water when the oarsmen lay of thu
flag buoy waiting for the signal gun
= There were six in the single-scal
race, and they darted away like ar
rows when the race began.
! From the very start the excitement
was intense. In not half doze1
lengths, Ned's boat and one other boa
had darted ahead 1t was the new
oarsman, Littell.
"Hurfahl' shouted the crowd
while the men bent every nerve ant
muscle to the oars.
Intense excitement prevailed while
the boats distanced the eye and
doubled the course of mile and 8
halt. Gray and Littell were ahead. L
was bow and bow with them fol
awhile
"IIurrah for Littell!" was answered
| by ,houts for the old champion, and
when they were coming in the people
grew wild.
"Littell's going to beatl" criet
Dicky, in such distress that he came
,near falling off his perch. go ill.,
Ned! Hurry up Ahl-pshaw!'
| The last squirt was in favor OF the
new oarsman. Like flash his boat
darted into the line; there was ire
mendous cheer. Ned came up pretty
close, but the judges flag went up
with black and orange penant flying.
AT the same moment there was a
cry of alarm, Tor Littel's boat in com
ing in had skipped over one side of the
buoy. 1t rocked there for an instant
and then capsized, dumping its occu-
lpant very neatly into the water. II
WAS n common accident save that lit.