Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-14

and the handsome, well-mAde, rest.
less. fiery black.horse.
The comparison In favor OF Nero
drew a laugh from the crowd. butsi
small quiet man among them said z
himself, "My money is on the white.
Only a moment, !, 2, 3 the bel
tinkled, and Nero was of like the
wind
He'll beatl7 was the excited cry,
while nearly q quarter of mile be-
hind came the steady tread oi
Charger.
Twice in the lead Nero pass ed the
grand stand, and the air was filed
with hats and shouts Of Joy and
derision. Madge Cameron grew very
pale, and there was set, anxious
expression on Harold 'Graham's hand
some face, for he knew the end was
net vet; but no word spoke either of
them.
Both saw how steady the white
had gained on the black and now
the white rack of bones, had
apparently stretched himself twice
his Eatural length, and his long, lean
body seemed almost to touch the
ground. while every stroke of his
well-trained hoofs told. Save for
this steady, beat-beat on the track,
there was an almost ominous silence.
as the horses came IN neck and neck,
on the third and last heat. They
were again nearing the grand stand,
everyone was on his feet, watching
with breathless interest.
Now the white is ahead, then the
black, now neck and neck, with every
nerve strained to the uttermost, when
suddenly without warning Nero
broke and Charger, the white horse,
shot by HIM like ball from the
mouth of a cannon, and now the air
was rent with cheers, and blue with
smothered oaths.
The rack of bones had won.
As he passed with Lightning like
flash past the judges stand, the
blond Jockey rose high in his stirrups
and, dofing his cap, looked directly
at Madge Cameron and bowed.
An instant more and he lay stunned
and bleeding nearly under his horses
feet.
To some it may have seemed a
bold thing for Miss Cameron to do,
but acting under the impulse of the
moment, with feeling that some
how she was to blame for the acci-
dent, she sprang from the 'dogcart,'
Harold Graham following closely,
and hastened to the unfortunate
Jockeys side. The crowd, which
had gathered about him, quietly part
ed as Miss Cameron appeared among
them.
The white horse has been led
away.
"A relative of yours, miss ?" asked
the surgeon, who was bending over
the bleeding, unconscious form of
Guy Stoddard.
"No-yes." stammered Madge, and
Just then the jockey opened his eyes
to meet the compassionate gaze OF
her dark eyes.
This will never do. Madge,' said
Harold Graham, catching up with
her and drawing her hand through
his arm to lead her away.
The jockey saw the movement.
You've lost your wager, he gasp
ed, and reached up his hand, feebly
trying to smile.
For a moment he seemed puzzled,
and then it flashed into her mind
that he must have heard.
And you have won,' she answered,
slowly, while her cheek flushed, and
she took the outstretched hand in
hers.
Only an instant, and she y,ss back
N the 'dog.cart' and. On her way
home. Harold Graham, gnashing
MS teeth for iool, at her side.
You can not mean it?' he sad
later, when he learned the truth.
wait and see, she repllel. Before
the frosts came she promised Guy
Stodard, the blonde jockey of Grave
send, to be his wife, with the proviso
that he would never enter the race
course again, save as f.n onlooker.