The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-02-02

must be a case of Benedick and Eea
trice, SO thorough appeared their o
tempt for each others opinions. Theu
the putting up at IA wayside inn, with
the improvised luncheon Of ham and
eggs, REINFORCED by the contents of the
hamper which the mater had thought
fully caused to be placed in tie boot of
the carriage-how Natty and | did en-
Joy the horns Of Dorsetshire ale, the
best. we owned, that we had drunk since
leaving Oxford.
Luncheon over, we walked across the
short, springy turf to the stables. where
we found Pearce, the trainer, awaiting
our arrival. A very good sort Of fellow
he appeared. None of your grand gem
tlemen, full Of mystery and Importance,
who will hardly let an owner look at
what the horse a do, bat ii pleasant
looking, fresh c~o1nplexioned man OF
about so, as honest as Purkiss. but Il
deal shrewder. Taking Natty and mo
aside, he told us that he proposed to try
both the horses with one he had there
of a fair class. which had lately won Il
good handicap and which he considered
to be a very reliable inner
mot one of your in and out custom
ers, he said, but a horse as always
runs up to his form"
He further told us that if either of
mine could beat Pcdometer-for such
was the name of the trial horse-or run
yynfl m 70 hip, IL Nv0111 la nnn1
enough to enter for any handicap or
weight-for-age stake.
Then the horses were brought out.
Pedometer was a plain looking, bust
nesslike brown horse. wearing a band
age on his near foreleg. and looking I'M
dersized, though not really SO when you
came to stand beside him. Not at all
the sort of horse to look at that a duffer
would have risked a sovereign on at 90
to 1, but. as Natty as we'll as his train
er assured me, "a very useful sort.
Brilliant quite took the shine out of him
when he came forth, arching his neck
and stepping proudly with Haunting
flag and sleek coat cleaning in the sun
like a FURNISHED mirror. An exclama-
tion of delight burst from the lips of
the two girls, while Mrs. Fitz Travers
declared she had never seen so beauti-
full a creature. Once more visions Of
Ascot, with Ella in dark blue and gold,
foated in my foolish brain. till Natty
gave me a dig in the ribs and asked me
what | thought of the mare now.
Well, | must own | should not have
known her. She looked twice the size,
to begin with. Then she moved with
a free, corky action, quite unlike her
former sulky gait. while her bay coat
was much brighter than before, and
though | could still. count every rib
which Natty assured me was inevitable
in a horse prepared for racing-yet her
skin felt more supple and not strained
so tightly over her osseous framework
as it used to be.
IL am sure, Captain Martindale, p"
said Mrs. Fitz Travers politely, that
both your horses will easily beat that
shabby looking one which went on in
front. Indeed l dom see the least Use
in trying Them"
However. AS this was the business
which had brought US out, we thought
we might as well go through with it.
So Pearce pointed out to US a hillock
at a little distance from which we could
best see the trial, and then mounting
his white pony cantered after the horses.
The trial vas quickly over. The
course was Il mile and a half, and Pc
dometer brought them along at a merry
pace. I must own the result surprised
us all, except Natty. Brilliant, for all
his good looks and grand airs, which
had so c%aptivated the ladies, was out
paced from the start, and the other two
came On neck and neck. The last half
mile they fairly seemed to fly, but Pc
dometer had always a trife the best of
it, and knowing his business we'll made
his effort at the right moment and beat
the mare by half his W length. My
fair companions were somewhat discon-
certed, Ella in particular looking in
clined to cry, but Natty was jubilant.
What was he giving her?" he in
quired as the trainer rode up.
Nothing. They were all at even
weights"
THAT will do" said Nat.
II congratulate you, sir" Pearce
said to me. You have a good mare"
Then we looked we the stables, the
ladies being charmed with the neatness
of the saddle room and brightness of
| the steel. And the trainers wife gave
US tea, with beautiful cream, in her cot
tage, after which the wagonette picked
us up, and we drove homeward in good
time, the Benedick and Beatrice bust
ness gong on all the way, which I OBJ
serve with inward satisfaction, for.
had l been allowed to choose my own
brother-in-law, there was no man |
would have preferred to my old f, end
Natty Forwood.
We ran the mare once or twice in
minor races at the back end of the sea-
son, but though she ran fairly we'll she
did not win anything, and my prospects
were not bright. She was generally
fractions at the post, owing to her nerv-
GUS disposition, though running game
ly enough when once away. l was in