The Dickinson press., 1895-06-01
A BOAT RACE STORY.

JACK Davenant was the stroke of
the Cambridge university eight. He
was a man greatly to be envied. lie
was wealthy and his father was a
large mine owner in the north; popu-
lar, good-lOOking and thought to be
one of the best strokes turned out
FRI m either university 10: some time.
Last, but not least, lie was engaged
to be married at Easter to Ruth Mcy-
nell, as bonnie Il lass us need be, Wit,
whom he had been in love tor some
years.
1t was the afternoon before the
great event when the following telc-
gam reached him:
Meet me, Kings Cross, 5:3O.--Dav-
enant."
Jack was delighted. for it had beer
a great Disappointment to linn wllcr
his father had told him that business
of importance would prevent his wit
Messing the race. When the train
glided slowly into the station you may
be sure that a cordial greeting WAS
exchanged between father and son.
But Jack was startled to see how
greatly altered his fathers appear.
ance vas from what it had been three
months before.
We'll, how do you think I'm look
ing, dady' he exclaimed, presently,
when they We're seated in a private
sitting OOH in the Great Northern
hotel. 1--WE are all OF us in good form,
l believe, and shall make the oxford
lot do all they know, I'm certain.
There's only one thing l cannot make
out. Have you noticed how strongly
the betting goes on oxford? 1t was
4 to l on in this evenings paper. Ii
it, were not absurd l should think that
there was some plot OH to Damage our
boat or something, only that is i'm.
possible. But, anyhow, 1 can't helu
feeling anxious. Those 'bookies' are
generally right In their odds on this
race and there is nothing in u re-
Spective form and times to warrant
the long odds. Do you know, 1 feel
that l must win this race. l would
willingly give five years of my life to
be certain of it."
Here Jack saw his father turn very
pale. lie darted out of the room and
was back again in Il minute with some
brandy, which lie made his father
swallow, and waited with intense
eagerness to hear what was the mat
tel, a%nxiously requesting to be allowed
to send for q doctor at once.
NO." said his father, that is no
good. L have already consulted one
about these heart seizures, which are
common enough just now. My doctor
says that any intense excitement
might carry me off like the crack Of IL
gun. Those were his words. but that
does not matter, jack" he added;
"brace yourself for a great shock, one
| which will try even your strong nerves
Jacks my poor boy, your words went
through me like a knife just now.
Mine is a dreadful errand up here to
see you to-day. Jack, l have come to
tell you that we are utterly ruined.
Fool, villain that l am, l have, urged
with the desire to leave you vast
wealth, specialized largely and lost"
AT first Jack though that his father
had taken leave of is senses. The
shock was tremendous, but varsity
strokes are the material Of which the
leaders of forlorn hopes are made.
His strict training and strong nerves
soon came to his aid, and he tried to
cheer up his father by the usual COM
m%on-places of hoping that it wasn't SO
bad as his father dreaded it to be.
And then the thought of the great
event in which he was to take such q
prominent part OIL the morrow rushed
across his mind and he could not help
saying:
but If you love me, as you say you
do, how could you bring me such dis
couraging news at such q time as this,
when the fact Of my knowing it one
day sooner or later could make no
earthly difference, SO far as l can see,
to circumstances? 1t was wicl,edly
cruel not to keep the news till after
the race"
stop, jack" his father replied; "you
must not blame me unjustly. You
have sufficient eason to blame, {
hate me, without that. Listen! I told
you l loved you, and l do. 1t was for
you that / have acted as l have done.
AS 1 just said, l am a doomed man.
At the outside I am only given one
year TO live. And time being SO short,
and my affairs so shaky, what was 1
to do? Draw closer to me, Jack. A
whisper heard would be fatal"
Jack bent down his head and his
face became as white as his fathers.
And this is what he heard:
Jack, l have put every %halfpenny
I possess, and more-E5C, OOO-on OK
ford for tO-mOrrOw's race"
For a moment Jack looked at his
father. He was fairly staggered. And
then, without Il word, he took up his
hat and left the hotel, haunted by his
fathers pale, entreating face, and
made his way to the training quarters.
The day of the race broke bright and
fair and London turned out her thous-
ands of holiday-makers as only Lon
don can. The race was finely contest
ed, throughout, and it was only in the
last quarter OF a mile that the light
blue flag forged slowly ahead, and,
after the most exciting struggle evel
witnessed, if we except the memorable
dead-heat. Cambridge won.
Ruth Meynell. who was staying with
some friends in town to witness the
race, had. no doubt, been one of the
most interested and excited of the
spectators. At the point where she
had seen the crews pass, Oxford hap
pened to be leading sc her delight
was proportionately great when the
news of the Light Blue victory
reached her.
Surely a girl was never so happily
situated! Loving and beloved, and
her swectheart-who had promised to
spend the evening with her friends
the hero (for the moment) Of the whole
civilized world.
We left Jack OH his way to the hotel
where the Cantabs We're staying. Ii
is impossible to describe his feelings
the shock had been so great. He had
loved and r]everenced his father Sc
much, and always thought Of him az
the soul of honor.