The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-08

tentness.
The bell rings noisily. The race COM
mences.
The bays lead by several lengths. The
middle horse, an old favorite, liits his feet
with all the ailuring charm OF a star OF the
nations hippodrome; his companions,
brothers from the Don, thin and ardent,
run without effort After them come the
Fin'anders tearing furiouslY on the reins.
Sufficiently in the rear to astonish their
hackers are the Orioff stations, veritable
wonders OF beauty and breed.
Finally, following at long distance be-
hind their royal leaders, are the three
strange beasts with their Laplandish sled.
They run irregularly, and their little thin
bells give out a 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
landers fling out their sturdy heels with
such velocity that they look like the half
| circle OF a 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
Strengthens 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 metamor-
phosed. As though in answer to some
superhumRn command. they give one gi-
gantic leap and fairly fly. For moment
they run beside the white stations.
'The Orlois leadt" screams the multi
tude, then shudders.
Beyond the shapely heads OF the city's
favorites stretched six dark, pointed ears,
10 be followed by three heads with ear-
ing eyes, and foamIng, blood flected jaws.
With her body stretched half out OF her
box Neta watches them with fascinating
eyes. Her chest heaves, her limbs
tremble, and her face takes on the an
guish of the laboring brutes.
Don't worry" whispers Repine; "they
will lose
"They will win" she answers hoarsely.
81 know them"
THE Orloffs gain" says somebody in
the next box.
"Ah" groans Veta, 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.
TRANSPORTED by the waking of their I'M
known blood, carried away by a secret
ecstacy, with floating names and sonorous
breath, they rushed on toward the
expected goal.
They reached winners
by three lengths.
For one long moment the people rest
mute with stupefaction, literally incap-
able of applause. They stare open
mouthed at the sordid beasts that have
beaten the noblest blood of the land. then
like one man they dashed forward to look
at them, 10 ask their race and the name of
their uncouth driver.
AS the victors pass Neta leans out to
look at them. 81 must see Them" she
saws 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 astonished 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
eriul potion had galvanized tho exhausted
beasts. But il is all only memory now.
A new sensation liz on the tapis. ~
All st. Petersburg is talking Of the mar
riaze Of PRINCE Alexander Ropiae to
Princess Eissveta Palarona. s., u
II is evening. and Veta stands. for the
fret time in her husbands home. She is
alone on great veranda that half circles
the palace. She stiff wears her wedding
dress, and the stones of diamond tiara
sparkle in her hair
Mistress says a voice behind her.
She turns TO confront her husbands faith
full old servant Mistress. a present
awaits you at the palace gate. Shall L lead
you thither?" -r-s..
EYES,"
She follows him down the steps with
all the lazy insolence of fine lady who
grants favor; her long gown sweeps the
dew off the grass, and the moonli ght mir
rors itself in the soft curves of her naked
arms and shoulders.
Presently she stops, stricken by a mys-
terious influence. \ moment more and a
strange sight meets her view. They are
the winners of the Neva. With a wave
from her hand Ivan goes. The horses
whinny softly at the sound of her voice
and nose her hair and face with doglike
gentleness.
"Why are you here?" she whispers,
sudden catch in her throat that she
STILES against the emaciated cheek nearest
her.
From out OF the deep shadow comes a
trembling voice. "Why do you weep,
princess?" it says.
She sees him now for the first time, still
in his peasants garb and with head un-
covered, low before her. 1t is noble
head, with splendid lines aud beautiful
mouth. but worn and Swallowed as those
of the famished beasts beside him.
"Why are they like this, Sergius2 The
best racers in the kingdom could have
brought their price. There certainly was
no need to starve them"
eve have starved together, princess"
he answers. gently.
'Then the story that the people tell is
true?"
"Quite true"
With the skeleton creatures between
them they are silent wavering moment.
Then, with mute caress of their I'M
kempt necks, he says: 'Be kind 10 Ser
gius Hotzka's only friends. Good night,
Elisaveta Repine."
"Repine!" she had forgotten that.
as it farewell?" she asks him blindly.
FAREWELL" he repeats
The horses whinny piteously as the
gates close behind him; then turn with
dumb, questioning eyes to the pallid
woman beside them.
Brutes that they are, they tremble at
the sight of that countenance, quivering
and terrible.
"Wait," is her husky whisper.
With her face nraeapd tioht 70 tho iron