The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-11

eessors. a cry Of horror rises up from the
crowd. Leaning beck in her box veta
watches the late arrivals with fixed IN
tentneas, as III
The bell rings noisily. The race COM
Ineflces.
The bays lead by several lengths. The
middle horse, an old fayorite, lifts bis feet
with all the a1iuring charm OF a star Of the
nations hippodrorne; 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 orloff stations, veritable
wonders of beauty and breed,
Finally, following at 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 tho 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 bounding hoop. They pass the
bays. A quick swelling Of their massive
chests and they forge ahead.
"Hurrahl" shrek the people, ravished
with the success of their favorites. Atthis
up his giant frame. Pushing back the
heavy hat drawn down to his eyes, be 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 a moment they run beside
the white stations
s'The Orloffs leadtn screams the multi
tu1e, then shoulders.
Beyond the shapeiy heads Of. the city's
fayorites stretched six dark, pointed ears,
to be followed by three heads with glaring
eyes, and foaming, blood fiecked 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
lahoring brutes. Ls. ~
Don't worry" whispers Repine, 'They
viii lose"
'fThey will winl'' she answers hoarsely.
II know them" H-f5
1.-THE Orloffs gain" says somebody in the
next box.
'Ahp' 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 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. II 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 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
erful potion had galvanized the exhausted
beasts. But it is all only a memory now.
A new sensation is on the taps.
All st. Petersburg is talking of the
marriage of Prince Alexander Repine to
Princess Iilisaveta Palarona.
1t is evening, and Veta stands for the
first time in her husbands home. She is
alone on a great yeranda that half circles
the palace. She still wears her wedding
dress, and the stones of 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
thitherP"
"Yes.n
She follows him down tho steps with all
the lazy insolenee of fine lady who grants
a favor; her long gown sweeps the dew off
the grass, and tho moonlight mirrors it
self in the soft curves of her naked arms
and shoulders.
Presently she stops, stricken by mys-
terious influence. A moment more and
strange sight meets her view. They are
the winners of tho Neya. With wave
from her hand Ivan goes Tho horses
whinny softly at the sound of her vC q
and nose her hair and face with doglike
gentleness.
why are you here2" she whispers, n
sudden catch in her throat that she stiles
against the emaciated cheek nearest her.
From out of the deep shadow comes a
princessf" 1t says.
She sees him now for the first time, still
In his peasants garb and with head I'M
covered, low before her 1t is noble head,
with splendid lines and beautiful mouth,
but worn and Swallowed as those of the
famished beasts beside him.
why are they like this, Sergiusa The
best racers In the kingdom could have
brought their price. There certainly was
no need to starve them"
1--WE have starved together, princess" he
answers, gently.
'eThen the story that The people tell is
truef"
"2uite true"
With the skeleton creatures between
them they are silent wuyering moment.
Then, with mute caress of their unkempt
necks, he says; BE kind TO Sergius Hotz.
ka's only friends. Good night, Elsaveta