The Wahpeton times., 1891-04-16

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three seasons. Repine follows her.
Under her little fur cap, with it's
jeweled fez, Veta's eyes look out.
serene, impenetrable. A bell sounds,
and silence falls on the waiting null
titude. From open gates stream q
dozen or more horses harnessed to
light sleds of gilded osier. They are
pure-blooded Arabians, thick-set
mustangs from thesteppes, and highly
bred Orloffs with sweeping names
white and shiny as spun glass.
The people watch these prelininaries
alphabetically. They are waiting for the
"piece de resistance" the three-horse
race, with princes as drivers. Already
four races have been run, the track is
cleared and the 500 workers take up
their task OF sweeping away the pow
dered ice beaten up by the iron hoofs.
Once more the gates open and three
splendid bays appear with the same
sled OF gilded osier, but larger and
more elegant. They are followed by
three black Finlanders, with shaggy
coats and tails that sweep theground.
The last comers are Orloff stations,
white and dazzling as the snow itself.
Their short hair glistens as though
oiled, and silver reflections shadow
their smooth tlanks and elegant necks;
their mouths are black and their nos
trils immense, quivering and roselined;
their eyes, tender, yet prominent and
full OF fire, are circled by a sooty ring
like those OF the Asiatic women. They
are the pets of the hour.
There they stand, the nine
superb creatures, controlled by q
splendid discipline that does not per-
NIT themost timid paving of their inn
patient hoofs, and with over two hun
dred thousand eyes admiring their
matchless perfection.
Three sorry horses, emaciated and
sad, splashed with mud and covered
with a ragged harness, half string, half
leather. advaced slowly into the arena;
behind them trails a clumsy vehicle,
made from the bark of a Russian fir
tree and shaped like the Laplander's
hunting sled. With dropping heads
and dragging limbs the weary beasts
come forward and place themselves
besides their aristocratic predecessors.
A cry OF horror rises up from the
crowd. Leaning back in her box Veta
watches the late arrivals with fixed in
tentness.
The bell rings noisily. The race be-
gins.
The bays led by several lengths.
The middle horse, an old favorite, lifts
his feet with all the alluring charm of
a star of the nations hippodrome.
His companions, brothers from the
Don, thin and ardent, run without ef-
fort. After them come the Finlanders
tearing furiously on the reins. Sutfi-
GENTLY in the rear to astonish their
hackers are the Orloff stations verit-
able wonders of beauty and breed.
Finally, following at a long distance
behind their royal leaders, are the
three strange beasts with their Laplan-
dish sled. They run irregular, and
their little thin belts give out mel
ancholy sound. It is in this order
that the sleds pass for the first time
in front of the Judges stand.
Hallway on the second round the
Finlanders fling out their sturdy heels
with such velocity that they look like
the halfcircle Of bounding hoop.
They pass the bays. A quick swell
ing of their massive chests and they
forge ahead.
"Hurrah!" shrieked the people,
ravished with the success OF their
favorites. At this moment the un-
known peasant straightens up his
giant frame. Pushing back the heavy
hat drawn down to .ahis eyes, he grips
the reins with an iron hand gives a
curious prolonged whistle. His skele-
ton horses are strangely metamor-
phosed. AS though in answer to some
superhuman command, they give one
gigantic leap and fairly fly. For a
moment they run beside the white
stations.
"The Orloffs leads!" screams the
multitude, 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 foaming
blood-Aecked Jaws.
With her body stretched half out of
her box Veta watches them with fas-
cinating eyes. Her chest heaves, her
limbs tremble, and her face takes on
the anguish of the laboring brutes.
.,,,, Don't worry" whispers Repine.
They will win!" she answers hoarse-
ly. ~ know them"
1.-THE Orloffs gain," says somebody
in the next box.
"Ah!" groans Veta, and bites her
lip to the blood.
Once more the PEASANTS whistles
startles the still air, and with a pro-
digious effort his horses leave the 9th
ers behind. Transtigured by the walk
ing of their unknown blood, carried
away by q secret ecstacy, with float
ingmanes and sonorous breath, they
rush on toward the expected goal.
They reach observation-disclosures
by three lengths.
For one longmoment the people rest
mute with stupefaction, utterly in
capable Of applause. They stare open
mouthed at the esordid beasts thathave
beaten the noblest 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. II must see them,"
she says aloud.
At the sound of that voice the peas
ant starts. Lifting his head, their
eyes meet. She pales, but that is all.