The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02


says.
Toddles' smile is tinged with an almost
prophetic sadness.
''Whv are you not kind to-day? There
is no time like the present, Nan" he de-
clares
"NIy motto is, there will be another day
tomorrow" laughs Miss Hardness.
''Not for all of us" is the rejoinder.
capt. Robarts," calls the girl, "come
here, want to look at somebody lively.
Mr.. Chesney is in a gloomy frame of
mind"
Capt. Robarts is not slow to respond to
this invitation; and, when the riding party
starts, he retains the advantage thus
gained, and his place is beside her.
Nancy's heart misgives her; what demon
them both? Poor, handsome Toddles, he
is lover of whom any girl might feel
proud She will be kinder to him.
Alas how easily are such resolutions
formed and broken. Before evening falls
she has succeeded in making Mr.. Chesney
ten times more miserable than he ever
felt before.
Remember that you have promised to
be kind to me tomorrow" Toddles re-
minds her, fighting resOlutely with the
despair her conduct has inspired him
with.
"Yes. l don't suppose | shall see much
of you tomorrow, for you will be riding
IN three races.
"Three-out of eight Not many" is
his reply.
"You are going to win them all, Ihope"
she cries sharply; Il should never forgive
you if you did not"
observation-disclosures" he ex-
claims, with a curious catch in his voice.
''Of course l do; you are riding Capt.
Robart's horses! ~
Thank you for telling me YOUR reason.
might otherwise have been vain enough
to imagine that you were interested in
my personal success" Gilbert Chesney
laughs wildly.
But he is deeply hurt, and the girl
knows it. Later on, when they are all
bidding one another good night" in the
vestibule, Nancy lays a small hand on his
coat sleeve.
"If you win, Todd, s, I'll give you your
pick OF my program at the dance in the
evening"
"If l win-for Robarts. Thank YOU"
he says.
The heavens are kind to-day aud shed a
broad smile of sunshine over the Drayton
race-course. There coaches, carriages, and
''regimental drags" are drawn up in a
close line; well-dressed women are prom
enading the course; others remain seated
in their carriages, while everywhere men
disport themselves. full of eager surmises
and certainty with regard to the probable
winners of the coming races.
Capt. Robarts horses seem to be favor
ties, and, if carefully ridden, are reported
as likely winners
us steeplechasing really dangerous?'
inquiries the soft voice OF an ignorant fair
one.
"There is certain amount OF danger 10
| be apprehended, of course. but, consider
ing the risk incurred there are compare
lively few accidents
ooh! l hope nobody will be hurt to-
| day" eXclaims the soft voice again.
Mr.. Chesney, with a light covert.coat
| thrown over the gaudy colors he is wear
| ing, turns 20 speak to the girl.
Capt Robarts is not riding, do not be
| alarmed he whispers, bending so close
to her ear that the long fair ends of his
mustache brush her pale cheek.
"Toddles-oh, Toddles-G wish you were
not riding" she cries, ignoring the sub
! jet Of his remark.
His face soitens.
"Dear little Nan. I'll be very careful"
As the day wears on, Nan is treasured.
| Toddes has won two races for Capt. Ro-
barts, and all goes merrily as a marriage
| bell.
81 say, old fellow, you must win this
last race for me. I've backed Courtier for
a couple OF thou" exclaimed Robarts, who
ia elated with success and champagne.
on do my best" Chesney promises
him.
GLOW I wish it were all over" cries
Nan, waxing nervous again.
"Why, little woman, you are quite
palew Capt. Hardness declares.
81 feel-pale."
Goodbye, Nan. 1 must 80 now" says
Toddles
She clings to his parting hand and glance
with an agony of apprehension.
"Oh-good-bye"
There is not a second to lose; he must
leave her. But in that
second the girls secret, so carefully, jeal-
ously guarded, passes into Toddle's safe
keeping.
Some Ministries, with blackened faces
and rolling white eyeballs. strike up an
accompaniment to an American song
then voice, exquisitey tender and SYM
pathetic, takes up the strain:
"she's tho only girl ] love,
| she's the only glrl i prize,
| She's the darling OF my heart,
| My pretty little dark blue eyes,.
"Have they started?" inquiries Nan,
plucking at her cousins coat sleeve.
"No, this is only preliminary canter
"What a tall, strong horse he is rid
ingl"
Capt. Hardness smiles at the revelati on
contained in that poor little pronoun.
"Toddles is all right" he responds
cheerily.
Blue and primr ose are his colors, the
girl cannot help thinking how well they
become him as he dashes past the spot
where their coach is drawn up.
''Toddles is ahead-he is winning
easily" Capt. Hardness assures the anx-
ious girl, cranlng his neck and straning
his vision in his endeavor TO follow the
fortunes of the race.
Yes; he is winning easily; and then of
a sudden, his horse is swerving at the
water Jump, he is unseated and thrown.
1t is nothing; he has never let the reins
out of his hands, and now he is mounted
again and still far ahead of the others.
He has reached the goal at last, and
then dismounts.
"For Gods sake, man, ride into the pad
dock or my horse will be disqualified ~
cries an excited voice, and Dusty" break
ing from out the ring, seizes the bride OF
the tall bright bay.
Toddles mounts-stifiiy, slowly; his
face is desperately pale and wearing a
| curious awful smile. He raises one hand