The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-02-21

TOO cIose to Re pleasant. steals along the
beautiful daughter OF Macaroni, who
three weeks hence will be cheered 10 the
echoes ON EPSON Downs as she wins the
Oaks IN n canter.
Still CulIoden seems going well within
himself. and 4 dead silence comes over
the Ring as the favorite appears 20 be
breasting the hill like q lion, full Of run
ming. Another moment Of brea.hless
suspense-a murmur Of doubt-and then
q roar rings out from many th0Usand
threats: The favorite's in trouble!-
'Cullodeu Is beatr'
Ysinly does Lord Francis Erldon's
beautiful horse struggle gamely 90 the
last, fighting out the contest inch by
inch-dO what he will he cannot
shake of the powerful stride u the great
chestnut colt on his right. Macaronis
iying daughter has challenged him,
held her own for few strides. and then
retired; but the son Of the mighty pale
faced chestnut" Is made Of sterner stuff
than she. Both horses seem for q mo-
ment looked together, then the white
face 81 Blair AtbOls son fOrges 10 the
front; another desperate struggle, an
other stride, and the chestnut colt wins
the 1.-Two thousand" by half n length.
Cheer upon cheer breaks forth from
the ring, in noisy greeting Of the winner;
hut the downfall Of the fayOrits Is re-
ccived in sorest silence by the occupants
Df the Rowley Mile stand-scarcely q
man IN IL hut has lost on him heavily.
Still, true 20 their instinct, the ''swells'
take their defeat calmly, and even gayly,
but Calmest Of all Is the handsome,
high bred face 81 lord Francis EridOn.
And rs CullOdenis III fated owner goes
down 10 meet his beaten horse and speak
a word Of comfort 10 the crestfallen old
trainer, more than one rough voice in
the crowd eNclaims: "He'sa goOd pluCked
un, anyhow
1T was his temper did itr' almost soils
poor old Barnes. He was b-at before
ever he ran the race. my lordr'
Still, he made a good fight for II,
replies Lord Francis quietly, and pats
his horse kindly on the neck. Then he
turns ard walks away. a ruined man.
Another week has passed by, the time is
between ~ and II p. m, and Janet
Harding stands beside her dressing table
in the lu1uriOusly furnished bedroom Of
n large house in Belgrave square. ready
dressed for a hall, and occupied in a
manner usual to even the most sensible
Young ladies under those circumstances,
that Is. Iunking at herself ia the glass.
She had come up To town for this es-
pcCial fcstivity. given 10y a relative Of
her own. in whose house She j. now stay
ing: and the fcvcrish anxiety she has
displayed with regard Ia her toilet on
tins Osr,asiOn j. ~ unusual that the said
relative. an intelligent woman of the
world. has drawn certain conclusions Of
her own thercirOm, especially as Miss
Harding has asked permission, frankly,
TO send card VI invitation Ia friend Of
hers, and has openly stated. moreover,
that the friend 81 hOnored j. Lord Eran-
cis ETldun.
But, NV dear Janet" demonstrated
Lady MalIerley 10 her young cousin, Il
suppose YOU know that Francis Erldon
has come tO utter grief at last: hear
he's absolutely ruined, NV deaT-must
leave England, and all that sort Of
thingT'
Yes, know" replied Miss Harding,
,almly. That Is just why wish TO s,e
him, 20 lid him good-by."
lsahN NdtAIlit.N iDbhh
hlps she knows by experience the fatal
effects Of last ahieuN,' and she cannot
approve uf a ruined detrimental" hover
ing round her charming and wealthy
Young cousin, for whom she has already
more than one brilliant match in view.
"Well, INV dear, invite Lord Francis
If you " i>h Ia do 81, she SAYS. at length.
OF course. shall lie delighted TO see
him; in fact. only this very afternoon
Col. Pendcnnis WAS singing his praises
loudly, and saving how hOnorably lie
had paid up every farthing he lost last
week 10y that dreadful racing! Francis
Erldon NAV have his faults, | remember
the colonel said, but I'm very sorry he's
gune. We could hctter spare n better
man 80 rs he is going. Janet. 10y all
means beg him 10 come To my hall,
dear
And Mis- Harding. with an unex-
planned feeling Of remarkable kindliness
towards the OraCular Col. Pendennis,
sits down at once and pens a note 20
Lord Francis ErldOn, Turf Club, PicCa-
dilly. in which she prUfTers him Lady
Mabcrlcy's invitation, and then adds, On
her own account. tire single sentence:
Please let me speak TO you befOre you
leave England.
The answer TO Miss Harding's epistle
arrives ON the very dav of the ball itself
and Is handed TO her while assisting her
cousin in distributing 8 O'Clock tea to a
large party Of mutual friends and rela-
tons. Janet Is a very self possessed
young lady. so she takes her note and
then continues her duties with the bread
and butter, with n calm indifference
worthy Of Wcrter's famous Charlotte.
During an available moment she opens
the letter, and perIIses its somewhat
laconiC contents:
DEAR Miss HARDING:
Pray thank Lady MabeTley for her
kind invitation, which am most happy
tn accept. especially a. il offers the only
possible chance Of INV being able TO full
ill the further request mentioned in
your note. leave England tomorrow
night. Always your sincerely,
FRANCIS e. ERI.DoN."
This Is why Janet Harding stands be-
fore the mirror. and anxiOusly consults
that ever true and unhattering counsel
or, whether or no she lis looking well
tonight" Whatever crisis in life may
l,e staring n woman in the face. she is no
Y
ISOLATION and fnrtitude from the thought
that at least she i looking her hest at the
critical moment,
The mirror tells an unvarnished tale,
hut all the same Il gives hack a radiant
picture. Miss Harding's dress Is nothing
merely a fresh white bail
dress, fitting admirably; tut the dia-
monds that hang ON her neck and arms,
and cluster in her red brown hair, these
are indeed extraordinary. each glittering
dcwdrOp worth n kings ransom.
Purppsrly has Janet selected the most
jewels in her possession 90
wear tonight, though usually she Is in
nu way given 10 displaying her far famed
diamonds over much. holding il TO lie
had taste for an unmarried girl TO bedeck
herself ton freely with precious stones.
But. for certain reason of her own,
considered and well thought
ont, Janet Harding wishes all the world
tonight To realize that she is no ignorant
chit, of little value in the great game Of
life, hut with n stake of considerable
therein. which moreover she
intends tn play with firm will and an
hand.
And vet. now that she Is ready dressed
for the fray. now that the moment has
Cume when she needs all her courage,
the girls heart sinks within her. and she
muFinurs irr,-sOluiely: Dare ] do il
after all: Will h. forgive the past, or
will he not
UncunSCiuusly she Opens a hook lying
on the table before her. and glances
down the plgcs la IL nj random Almost
rs an answer 90 her thoughts she reads