The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-01
Our @liu.
A Queer Race.

81 tell you I'll back my bay mare Yer
dant any distance under a mile and half
for 81 900 against any living quadruped in
the state. Now, then, money talksl"
The speaker was typical American
''sport," tall and well knit, of ruddy COM
plexion, with gray hair and mustache, and
probably 40 years of age.
He was guest at the same house as my
self last fall, in a pleasant little country
town in Iowa, whittier he, like the rest Of
US, had gone to recuperate for the winter
campaign. Our host was a genial, gener-
GUS hearted American, passionately fond of
horses and all appertaining to them, attend
ing most meetings during the season, and
breeding a little in an amateur way at his
country house, where we were then located.
He had one fault which constantly drove
his wife and pretty daughter to the verge
of distraction; that was, he could not be an
hour in any mans company who CHANGED
to interest him on any subject whatever,
without giving that individual cordial in
vitation to his house for the annual house
party in tho fall. This naturally brought
a discordant element into the circle at times,
regretted by 40 one more than himself but
no matter how discordant the element
might be, SO long as the general behavior
kept within the bounds of conventional
society, nothing was permitted to even hint
that absence was desirable. Hospitality
was sacred, and if mild curtain lecture
ensued, and perpetual black mark was in
future placed against the delinquent's name,
the other guests knew nothing whatever of
the matter.
Last fall the disturbing atom was a Col.
Ford, not bad sort of fellow in himself,
perhaps, but one decidedly out of place in
the society that surrounded him just then.
No matter what the subject under discus
sion was, he always had an opinion upon
it-a very decided, egotistical opinion, de-
livered in blatant tone with domipeer-
ing air that plainly said, "Apres celia la
deluge."
It can easily be imagined that this type,
to many people, would be particularly If
ritating, for to calmly stand being contra
dicted and out lied, upon every phase and
yarn of shooting, fishing or racing without
annoyance would rank man very near the
angels. lam, personally, very far removed
from a celestial temperament, and the col
onel, doubtlessly noting my annoyance,
appeared to seize every opening l gave to
direct his conversation to me or at me.
This continued for some time, In course of
which / discovered had firm friend and
kindred spirit in my dislike to the colonel
in my hosts pretty daughter, Miss Jennie,
a thorough American girl, full of fun and
mischief, and quite capable of carrying out
any scheme that might enter into her curly
little head.
When Col. Ford made his appearance at
Valley House, he was surprised to find
well fitted training stable, grounds laid out
into straight running tracks, round trotting
tracks, and all the paraphernalia pertaining
to an expensive hobby carried out to the
full by wealthy man. Most of us had
our own horses along with us, and the days
were passed in hunting, shooting, fishing,
riding to points of interest in the vicinity,
studying the minuti@ of the stable, or gett-
ing up running or trotting races among
ourselves just for fun and glory. The very
first night he arrived the colonel had tele-
graphed for his groom to bring along Yer
dapt, and from that time he never ceased
boring us to death about his mare, what
she had done, and what she could do, until
we were weary of the subject The mare
was certainly fine piece of horsefesh, and
had performed very creditably in public,
winning several events at Monmouth, Sara
toga and St. Louis in the preceding season;
but surely that was no excuse for her
owner forever badgering every one to make
a match with him. We had all come to
rest and enjoy ourselves, not to work our
selves to death in pursuit of pleasure.
One day at dinner, to which ! had the
good fortune to escort Miss Jennie, the
conversation turned upon very fast colt
belonging to friend Of mine living few
hundred miles north Of Valley House; | had
just concluded my remarks, when Col,
Ford burst out;
~ tell you I'll back my bay mare Yer
dant any distance under mile and half,
for 1000, against any living quadruped
in this state"
1 looked across at him rather indignant
ly, not desiring any wager upon the mat
ter, when Miss Jennie chirruped: ''Is that
SO colonel What about weighss?"
"My dear young lady, catch weights, of
course; have you match to prOpose2 If
80, I would he delightedl''
Miss Jennie laughed saucily, looked at
me, and giving me slight tap with her
foot under the table said:
II leave my c.sse in your hands. I
want to match my pig Peek-a-boo against
the coIonel's Verdant, distance 300 yards,
10 be run two weeks today on our left
track.
OF course the table roaFed with merri-
ment, the colonel turned first crimson aud