The Press., 1894-02-22

as he said, a fair course with straight run in. ; he had paid forfeit and was now at Downton Agricultural college, learning farming and paying particu- lar attention to the veterinary school, with some thought of going up for the A. V. D. wired to Natty to meet me at Templeton Junction, whence on bright spring morning we ran down to Sherburton A hired dogcart took us quickly out to Stockwood, and finding my late uncle's stud groom, Purkiss, on the premises, we at once set to work to inspect my legacy. 1 perceived inn mediately that the lawyer had been cor rect in his sur1nise. There were but six animals in all, two brood mares with their foals at foot and two horses in training. There had been an old stallion, Koh-i-noor, at the beginning of the year, but he had succumbed to old age in the preceding month. On be- holding the stud I turned away to hide my disappointment, being fully resolved to sell the remaining animals for what they would fetch
 Natty, however, after looking at the brood mares and hearing their pedigrees, went into the boxes and commenced careful examination of their occupants. These were big 3-year-old chestnut colt and plain looking bay mare of a jady and tucked up appearance, year old CT, concerning which I remarked with some bitterness that I dnred say some cab owner might give e15 for her to run III hanson.
 Natty paid no attention to this re- mark, but having felt the mare's fegs, cleverly evading the vicious kick with which she resented this liberty, he pro- ceeded to examine carefully her eyes and listened for some seconds to the beating of her heart, supposed to show off his veterinary knowledge. Then we turned to the next box, and when l saw the colt stripped felt for the first time glow of pride in my ownership, for handsomer animal l had seldom seen. Fully 16 hands, of bright chest nut color and in splendid coat, he shone, as Natty remarked, like copper kettle. This was all Natty did say of him, to the evident disappointment of Purkiss, who seemed very proud of his charge. The colts name, he told us, was Bril- liant, by the aforesaid Koh-i-noor, whose dam was the famous mare Golconda, winner of the Oaks and One Thousand Guineas, etc. As yet he had never run, but great things were expected of him when he should do so, my late uncle having esteemed him the finest colt he had ever bred. Natty, however, ex- pressed no opinion as to his merits, but having completed his examination or dered the horses out. In a few minutes they were saddled and paraded before us, Purkiss himself being on the colt and stable lad on the mare. Being ordered to gallop, the colt went away pleasantly enough, while the mare fol lowed reluctantly, laying back her ears and showing the white of her eyes as she passed us.
 "'What do you think of him?" I ask ed of my friend as we watched Brilliant
 romping along the upper stretch of the gallop. The colt was fresh and inclined to play, yet did not appear to pull over hard and seemed easy to ride. thought him splendid goer, and visions of As cot and Goodwood foated before my eyes, with Ella arrayed in dark blue
 and gold--my uncle's colors watching me as I led in the winner of the cup
 amid the cheers of the applauding null
 titude. But Natty cruelty dampened
 my ardor with the disparaging com ment:
 ''Seems to have good mouth, and
 should think a pleasant horse to ride
 ought to make good looking second
 charger for you some day, with a'chance
 of winning military steeplechase, ii you can teach him to jump.''
 So much for Ascot! At that moment
 wished I had brought one of my
 brother officers in place of Nat. Be
 fore, however, I had time to contro-