The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-09-29
RACE TO DEATH.

~ n
cannot help thinking that there was
more than the usual proportion Of at
traction. But Of all the girls who COM
PEELED devotion there was nobody quite
so charming as Mary Mccartney. When
she was presented at the castle, the lord
lieutenant administered his official kiss
with peculiar unction and was after
ward heard to say that if his duties
were always as pleasant he could bear o
very frequent repetition of them. The
vice regal opinion was very cordially
re-echoed by everybody, and wherever
Mary went her progress was a scene of
triumph. The Two Hundredth was de-
voted to her to a man. One dance in an
evening was a thing to be proud Of, and
If she deigned TO give any fortunate
man two he was at once placed upon a
pinnacle of social superiority.
Finch and Seymour were her most
devoted admirers and had it all their
own way in her preference. I won't say
affections, for I believe she could only
have looked upon them IS two editions
of the salne a and they were so
loyal to each other that they appeared
to have the N special tendresse in
common with their other properties.
The Two Hundredth was about to
have its gr~eat-function Of the year-its
regimental steeplechases. All the best
Of the animals that had gone through
the hunting campaign were entered for
the various events, and the mess table
talk, which for months had run upon
scent, find, finish and the casualties Of
the chase, turned to ~handicapping,
weights and.racing conditions.
Finch and Seymour now, as ON 9TH
er occasions, took q foremost place.
Each OF them owned horses rather
above the average in quality, and each
had n entered for the regimental cup.
AS / said before, both of them were
good performers in the pigskin, and it
was more than probable that If they
started Captain Seymour's Mousetrap
ibid / tell you that Seymour had just
got his troop while Finch was senior
subaltern?) and Mr.. Finch's Sorcerer
would start as equal favorites. The two
friends did all their training and gal
AOp4AS NOSCbAU1S III n D01&GV6 blldI,
though each intended to ride his horse
out and do his best, they did not much
care how they would be placed at the
finish, SO long as one was first and the
other second.
OF course we expected all our
friends to come to our race meeting and
made plentiful provision for their en-
tertainment. Given the officers of a
cavalry regiment bent ON making holt
day; add tents, luncheon, band and a
fine spring day, and you form a series
of attractions which will collect people
from far and near, especially in Ire
land. When the day of the meeting
came, it was all that could be wished.
There was a bright sun and a soft wind,
and there had been Just a sufficient
sprinkling of rain overnight to lay tho
dust and make the drive to the course
delightful, while the few light clouds
in the horizon were not discouraging
enough to prevent our fair friends from
putting on their freshest and prettiest
toilets. Coach after coach ratified over
Carlisle bridge, each with q full. load
and each with q bit of muslin on the
box; brakes, carriages and cars innu-
merable, the jarveys doing honor to the
occasions by volleys of chat. and many
adornments on their light hearted
selves and their apparently equally gay
and light hearted, we'll bred nags. The
ace our was about eight miles from
the city in the Howth direction, and liz
the day were TO have no other pleasure
the drive down, with occasional glimpses
Of the beautiful bay of Dublin, cele-
brated in song, was enough of enjoy
ment for any one.
We arrived at the scene of action,
and the business of the day commenced.
The subalterns' cup was the first event,
and, / must say. the boys did credit to
the old Two Hundredth. The senior
subalterns were lying by for the regi-
mental cup, and the juniors had the race
to themselves. 1t was won by young
Molesworth, whose round shoulders and
unconquerably ugly seat had caused
much conflict of opinion between him
and the old riding master, but who now
showed that If he were not destined to
shine in the menage he had at n rate
indisputable nerve and enough seat and
hands to take him over q difficult conn
try. He afterward became one OF our
best men on q horse and won equestrian
honors in many ticklish places. Then
came an hours interval for lunch, but
OF course those who were going TO ride
had to put the muzzle n. 1 Just looked
into the tent before going to weigh and
saw Mary Mccartney, looking as sweet
as ever. Seymour and Finch were both
with her, and she was wishing them
good luck in their gallop. As they left
her safely in the colonel's charge /
heard her say: Now, mind, Iexpect yoh
two to beat everybody else, and I shall
be particularly nice to the one who
wins. I may even give him two dances
at the castle ball tomorrow night. |"
The Two Hundredth were pretty
business)ike In matters of sport, and
there was none of tho fuss and delay In
the weighing room that too often marks
the doings Of amateur jockeys. Punctual
to time, the starters filed out of the pad-
dock. think there were eight ~ re