Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-26
H1W a Darby Was Lust
AND
A Wife Won.
A TRUE STORY.
WRITTEN FOR THE pIsPATcH.l

Mr.. Jack Winters sat in his modest lodg-
ings in Georges street, Westminster, in no
very enyiable frame Of mind, tugging at his
tawny mustache in a futile endeavor to
solve some means whereby he might clear
himself with the money-lenders, who had
advanced him $4,000 on his small Irish
property. The impoverished condition OF
that country had so far diminished his rents
that he no longer saw the way to pay the
interest on the loan. To let the property go
to the hammer in the present state of things
meant ruin to him, and, in the expectation
that another wear might bring change for
the better, he had sold his favorite hunter
for a couple of hundred, and crossed over to
London TO make the best terms he could
with the mortgages.
But this was not the extent of Jack s
troubles. Detachment duty in a small
country town is the most irksome on which
a dashing sub in a crack cavalry corps may
be detailed, and it is not to be wondered at
that this particular subaltern of Her Majes-
ty's - Dragon Guards should very fire.
Quently avail himself of the hospitality Of
the Beamishes, nor that he should faH
deeply in love with witty and winsome
Olive Beamish, the Generals second
daughter and ''fower of his flock" He had
induced her to consent to an engagement.
but as he now, on this bright May morning,
looked his affairs square in the face, he saw
very little chance of his ever being in po-
sition to marry. Like most youngsters when
they enter the service, he had thought it in
cumbent on him to make book on the
principal events of the year. His was moi
an uncommon experience. Commencing at
first with a modest fiver he had gone on till
he betted in ponies and centuries, until
finally came a succession of black Mondays
at Tatt's, and he was obliged to raise money
on his property to meet his engagements.
"Can't see nv way out of the wood" So
liloouized Jack as, after glancing through
the pages of Bells Life in vain hope of an
inspiration from one or other Of the "proph-
cts" he raised his well-knit and soldierly
figure from out the depths of the armchair
and brought his six feet of bone and sinew
into an erect position on the rug. Sup
pose shall have to cut the service and turn
sheep farmer in the colonies. Poor little
Olive" and Jacks eyes became cloHded as
he gazed on q miniature of the pretty girl
over in Ireland who had promised to become
his wife, and all thought of whom he would
have to give up. "Just my luck. Well, I
daresay, 1 have earned it. And, by Jove!
this is Derby Day, too. And, of course, 1
can't go, as / promised the little woman to
keep clear of temptation; and 1t will be the
first / shall have missed since Joined.
Well, if can't go, may as well stroll down
to the club and see what the fellows are do
ing" and Mr.. Winters seized his hat and
cane and was passing out when the page en-
tered with letter.
"By George, it is from Olive" exclaimed
the dragon, as he rapidly broke the cover
and brought the letter to view.
Dear Jack, it ran, 81 had such queer
dream last night, and it so impressed me
that am constrained to tell you about it
and Jack you must not laugh for, really, 1
am imbued with some of the convictions of
nv old nurse, that dreams are sometimes
sent to us for our advantage, or as warnings,
and my recollection of this particular
dream is so vivid that 1 really think there
is something in it. We were at EPSON to-
gether, and, with our party, witnessed the
race for the Derby from our box on the
grand stand. Without recounting the
whole of the dream, 1 may at once
say that the result appeared to
be an utter surprise to everyone.
The race was grand one, and
after an exciting finish the favorite was
beaten by a low sized, but rather lengthy
chestnut with Roman nose, and blaze on
his forehead, and with white stocking on
the off hind leg, looking greatly overtrained
and anything but good looking. Now,
Jack, as 1 know you are dying to go. /
hereby absolve you from your promise, but
you must not do anything rash. Ifyou see
any horse like that of my dream Just invest
rs on him, but not any more for you know
you
"Well, since the little woman says may
go l may as well run down to the club and
join some of the fellows, and as to the
dream, if 1 see any such horse I'll 60 a
fver as per commission, but don't confess
to having much faith in them myself, :" and
Jack hurried off to the Junior United Ser
vice Club and, in company with a couple of
comrades, was soon en- route for the Downs
The numbers for the big event of the year
had gone mp, the saddling bell had rung
out its warning, and the excitement in the
Enclosures was momentarily becoming more
intense, as Mr. Winters, card in hand, made
his way to the saddling paddock to inspect
the Derby runners. For a young one he
was good judge of horsehesh, and here he
was in his element, discussing the merits
and picking out the points of the favorites
for the coming race. But everything over
which his eye travelled was far too good
looking to answer in any respect to the win
ner in the dream, and, as the Jockeys were
slung onto their mounts, Jack and his COM
rade retraced their steps and took up a
position on the stand. Slowly, and with
stately step and flashing eye, the equine
aristocrats filed before the stand and then
turning, came back, sweeping up the in
cline in a preliminary canter, drawing
econisms on their appearance from all
Sides and, as Jack friend observed, "form-
ing a basket among which it was hard to
form any choice. "And now, Winters"
his mentor continued, ''if you want to put
bet on, go down and back Telemachus. He
is favorite, and you will still get three's |
about him, but Jack was watching the pro- |
gress up the course of horse that had Just |
issued from the paddock, and as he drew |
nearer he fancied he recognized in him |
something approaching a resemblance to |
Olives winner. He was a low-lying, long |
backed, rough coated horse, with an ugly |
head, white blaze on forehead and white |
stocking, with action that was far from |
pretty, and Mr.. Winters instant conclusion |
was that he was no Derby horse. |
about the animal, however, caused |
him to give him a closer scrutiny, and |
as he was sent down the course in a preliml-
nary ca1ter, Jack had a good word for the |
long, sweeping stride, and noticed that the /
quarters, let down like greyhound's, were
strong and sinewy, the legs fiat and clean,
and the fanks deep, indicating good lung
room. But the general verdict was unfaVor-
able to the horse, and jeers and laughter
greeted his jockey as he swept by. ''Thcre
goes the winner" cried one. eyes, In q
1onkey's race" cut in another
What horse is that?" inquired Jack of
his friend.
"Don't know; never saw him before. Let
me see. Tartan and black cap.' 1t must
be Daniel O'Rourke. Some rank outsider,
whose owner is starting him to give him the
prestige of being seen in good company for
)nce in his life. He is not ouoted in the