San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-28

their noStrilS immense, quivering and rose
lined; their eyes, tender, yet prominent
and full of fire, are circled by sooty ring
like those of the Asiatic women. They are
the pets of the hour. There they stand,
the nine superb creatures, controlled by a
splendid discipline that does not permit
the most timid paving of their impatient
hoofs, and with over two hundred thou
sand eyes admiring their matchless per-
lection.
Three sorry horses, emaciated and sad.
spashed with mud and covered with a
ragged harness, half string, half leather.
advance slowly into the arena: behind
-
them trails a clumsy vehicle made from
the bark of the Russian fir tree and shaped
like the LaDlander's hunting sled. With
dropping heads and dragging limbs the
weary beasts come forward and place
themselves beside their aristocratic prede-
cessors. A cry of horror rises up from the
crowd Leaning back in her box Yets
watches the late arrivals with fixed in
tentness.
The bell rings noisily. The race COM
mences.
The bays lead by several lengths. The
middle horse, IN oh favorite, lifts his feet
with all the alluring charm of star of the
nations hippodrome; his companions,
brothers from the Don, thin and ardent,
run without effort. After them come the
Finlanders tearing furiously on the reins.
Sufficiently in the rear to astonish their
hackers are the Orlof stations, veritable
wonders of beauty and breed.
Finally, following at a long distance be-
hind their royal leaders, are the three
strange beasts with their LapIandish sled.
They run irregularly, and their little thin
bells give out melancholy sound. 1t is in
this order that the sledS pass for the first
time in front OF the judges stand
Half way on the second round the Fin
!Gnders fling out their sturdy heels with
such velocity that they look like the half
circle of bounding hoop. They pass the
bays. A quick swelling of their massive
chests and they forge ahead
"Hurrah" shrek the people, ravished
with the success of their favorites. At this
moment the unknown peasant straightens
up his giant frame. Pushing back the
heavy hat drawn down to his eyes, he grips
the reins with an iron hand and gives a
curious prolonged whistle. His skeleton
horses are strangely metamorphosed. AS
though in answer to some superhuman
command, they give one gigantic leap and
fairly fly For moment they run beside
the white stations.
"The Orloffs leadp screams the multi
tude, then shudders.
Beyond the shapely heads of the city's
favorites stretched six dark pointed ears,
to be followed by three heads with glaring
eyes, and fcaming, blood flecked jaws.
With her body stretched half out of her
box Veta watches them with fascinating
eyes. Her chest heaves, her limbs tremble,
and her face takes on the anguish of the
laboring erutes.
Don't worry" whispers Repine, 'They
will lose"
'They will VIM she answers hoarsely
81 know them
"The Orloffs gain" says somebody in the
next box
"Ahp groaus yeta and bites her lip to
the blood,
Once more the peasants whistle startles
the still air, and with a prodigious effort
his horses leave the Others behind. Trans
figured by the waking of their unknown
blood carried away by secret ecstacy
with floating names and sonorous breath,
they rush on toward the expected goal.
They reach observation-disclosures by
three lengths.
For one long moment the people rest
mute with stupefaction, literally incapable
of applause. They stare open monthed at
the sordid beasts that have beaten the no.
blest blood of the land, then like one man
they dash forward to look at them, to ask
their race and the name of their uncouth
driver.
As the victors pass Veta leans out to
look at them. Il must see them" she says
aloud.
At the sound of that voice the peasant
starts. Lifting his head their eyes meet.
She pales, but that is all
Months have passed, and the extraor-
binary event that astouished the Peter
bourgeois is no more than ancient history.
Nobody has learned the identity of the
mysterious peasant Many believed him a
sorcerer. Others thought him great doc
tor of some unknown science, whose pow
erful potion had galvanized the exhausted
beasts. But it is all only memory now.
A new sensation is on the taps.
All st. Petersburg is talking of the
marriage of Prince Alexander Repine to
Princess Elisaveta Palarona.
1t is evening" and Veta stands for the
first time in her husbands home. She is
alone on great veranda that half circles
the palace. She still wears her wedding
dress, and the stones of a diamond tiara
sparkle in her hair.
Mistress" says voice behind her. She
turns to confront her husbands faithful
old servant. Mistress, present awaits
you at the palace gate. Shall lead you
thither?"
Eyes"
She follows him down the steps with all
the lazy insolence of fine lady who grants
a favor: her long gown sweeps the dew off
the grass and the moonlight mirrors it