Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-28

hits at one another that | thought it
must be case of BenediCk and Bea-
trice, so thorough appeared their con
tempt for each others opinions. Then
the putting up at a 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 i'll the boot of
the carriase-how Gatty aud | did en-
joy the horns of Durse tshire 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. y 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
his own horse, far less let him know
what tho horse can do, but pleasant
looking, fresh compleXioned man of
about 80, as honest as Purkiss, but a
deal shrewder. Taking Natty and me
aside, he told us that he proposed to try
both the horses with one he had there
of fair class, which had lately won a
good handicap and which he considered
to be Il very reliable runner.
Not 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 Pedometer-for such
was the name of the trial horse-or run
we'll up to him it would be good
enough to enter for any handicap or
weight-fOr-age stake.
Then the horses We're brought out.
Pedometer was IL plain looking, bust
nesslike brown horse, wearing 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 Il duifer
would have risked sovereign on at 20
to l, but as Natty as well as his train
er assured me, IA 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 FURNISHED mirror. An cxclama-
tion of delight burst from the lips of
the two girls, while Mrs. Fitz Travers
full a creature. Once more visions of
Ascot. with Ella i'll dark blue and gold,
fioated in my foolish brain, till Natty
gave me Il 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 horse prepared for racins-yet her
skin felt more supple and not strained
so tightly over her osseous framework
as it used to he.
Il a,n sure, Captain Martindale,
said Mrs. Fitz Travers politely, that
both your horses will easily beat that
shabby looking one which went on in
front. Indeed l don't see the least use
in trying them.
However. as this was the business
which had brought us out, we thought
we might as we'll go through with it.
So Pcarce pointed ont to us hillock
at little distance from which we could
best see the trial, and then mounting
his white pony cantcred after the horses.
The trial was quickly over. The
course was a mile and Il half, and Pc
dometer brought them along at Il merry
pace | must own the result surprised
us all, except Natty. Brilliant, for all
his good looks and grand airs, which
had so Captivated the ladies, was out
paced from tho start, and the other two
camo un neck and neck. The last half
mile they fairly seemed to fly, but Pc
dometer had always trile the best of
it, and knowing his business well made
his effort at the right moment and beat
the mare by half his own length. My
fair companions were somewhat discon-
certed, Ella in particular looking in
clined to cry, but Natty was jubilant,
What was he giving herr" he in
quired as the trainer rode up.
Nothing. They were all at even
weights. -
That will do, ," said Nat.
Il congratulate you, sir" Pearce
said to me. You have a good mare. "
Then we looked over 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 wagOnettc picked
us up, and we drove homeward in good
time, the Bcnedick and Beatrice bust
ness going on all the way. which | OBJ
served with inward satisfaction, for,
had | been allowed to choose my own
L., -, |
would have preferred to my old friend
Natty Forwood.
We ran tho marc once or twice In
minor races at the back end of the sea-
son, but though she ran fairly well 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. | was in
clined to be respondent at my want of
success, but Natty cheered me by as
serting she would improve a lot yet.
One piece of luck l had. Brilliant, who
was Il good tempered and obliging kind
of animal, was complacent enough to
take to jumping, so when he had quail
flied we put him i'll hunters fiat race,
for which he ran second, carrying -
stone, which SO pleased st. Quentin of
ours, a man with a lot of money, that
he gave me e30O for him, sum which
would see me through another year with
the mare.
CHAPTER ".
On the anniversary of dear Uncle
Geotf' s decease l would have been glad
had he never left me his horses, or,
having done SO, that had had the wis
dom to sell them all. Then l should
have been several hundred pounds to
the good, whereas now, SO far as could
see this cnnfnunded Skittlas unnld