The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-19

railing which inclosed the track, but a
few yards from the judges stand. felt
cons iderably nettled, | don't know
why, when l discovered by the CONVEX
sation of those about me that the cow
boy was the favorite in betting circles.
THE gong sounded and the contest
ants came upon the track. tell you,
fellows, experienced delightful sur
prise when, instead of the coarse, sun
burned girl whom my fancy had pic
tured, beheld the prettiest little west
ern flower my eyes had ever rested
upon. Her face was of a gentle, half
timid cast; her eyes a glorious, lus-
trous brown, and the luxurious growth
of almost golden hair, which fell in
loose waves over her shoulders, was a
fitting crown for such lovely little
prairie queen. AS she rode her glitter
ing, nickled wheel slowly about duying
the arrangement of the prelIg1inaries
to the race thought had never seen
a young woman whose every move
ment was nearer the very essence of
the poetry of motion and peerless
grace. ! noticed that she seemed
nervous, somewhat ratified, you know,
and as she rode slowly by the spot
where stood / could not suppress the
words of encouragement that sprang to
my lips;
"'Do not be frightened said You
will defeat him know you will
THANK YOU she replied, with a
smile that caused my susceptible young
heart to throb with pleasure. 4 hope
/ may. | will do my best
They were called to the scratch to
receive their instructions from the
judges. The distance to be ridden was
one mile, running start, and in mo-
ment they were off.
THAT great crowd leaned forward
with breathless interest as they sped
away, their wheels closely abreast, and
the interest deepened as they COM
pleted the first round and passed the
stand to enter upon the second half
mile without either having gained any
perceptible advantage. AS the quarter
pole was passed it was noticed that the
cowboy drew a trife ahead, and the
shouts of his hackers and rough COM
panions were of the most encouraging
nature. | was too far distant to be
able to see the young girls face, but
instinctively felt that it must wear a
look of pain and modification and that
her heart must have throbbed pain
fully over what seemed certain defeat.
Under the wire they flew, and the
cheers were deafening as the cowboy
passed the line fully fifteen feet in ad-
vance of his fair competitor. Had
possessed sufficient muscular power /
felt that would have experienced sim
cere pleasure in springing over the
railing and administering good
thrashing to the burly braggart when
| heard him mockingly say to her. as
they came to stop and dismounted:
eco home and wash your mammy's
dishes You can't ride little bit
my blood was fred at the haunting
remark, and holly exclaimed:
She is a far better rider than you,
and nothing but your brute strength
defeated her. | believe she could beat
you if given another trial
1.-The flood of thanks the girls eyes
poured upon me warmed my heart to
the core. The bully looked at me dis
painfully moment and sneeringly
said:
Boys. git onto the white-chokered
tenderfoot Git onto the silk-harnessed
ladies' man. Eff you think the gal kin
put it onto me in another race, mebbe
you've got some spar dust that'n prop
up yer opinion?'
Yes | have / angrily answered
Plenty of it, if the young woman will
run again.
About how much do you hold yer
opinion at?' he asked.
IAN yourself and your friends want
to throw in sight l replied.
''At this large, red-faced man, ap-
parently under the influence of liquor,
whom | afterwards learned was the
owner of the great herd of cattle over
which the braggart presided as fore
man, stepped up and said:
g If you want to cinch the tender
foot fur bet, Dick, I'll let you have
thousand
81 was mad, boys, and wouldn't have
weakened then if my life was to be the
forfeit of my obstinacy. Addressing
the young woman l asked:
"'Will you ride another mile against
him at five o'clock this afternoon%
After moments hesitation she re-
piled:
Indeed, ! will, and l knew l will
defeat him. I felt before that every
one in the crowd was against me, and
was nervous and very much frightened,
but your words have encouraged me
and ! feel that can now ride much
better.
Meet me at the Pacific hotel in an
hour and | will cover your one thou
sand dollars l said to the cattle-owner
and his foreman.
81 hastened to the town and, BOYS,
did something that | would have
scorned to do had not my anger and
been aroused to desper-
ate point | had jewelry samples with
me valued ut several thousand dollars,
and calling a wagon went to the
hotel, loaded my sample cases, and
hauled them to the leading jeweler of
the town, who was a good customer of
mine. explained to him that need
1.N,, 81 4. 4 II