The evening times., 1895-12-04

value must be paid down and everything
about II musl b~ strictiy regular. Nothing
less VIII be the tea e use"
II hardly need ask you sach a questi,n,
my iords" said the alititor. "f3ut this
secret-you will assure me that It is of NO
iAegai or dish,morahle nature?"
Most certainly VIII. Upn that point
you have my unqualified assurance" re-
Piled the marques warmly.
VERY well. my lord,' said Henry Grcd-
eve, after short reflection, upon the
strength OF that assurance I will consent
to d., business
"One thing more, gentlemen" he said.
Am 70 claim public ownership OF Prince
Charming, or MT? PersonaIly-under the
so."
Exactly" answered CharImount "I
ought tn have mentioned that. l wish the
colt to remain. pa blicly, in my name. Ihave
no desire fer anyone, except ourselves, to
learn that he has ever changed hands,"
VERY we'll" said the solicitor, with q
nod. Then I Will exercise nu rights Of
ownership"
But you are his owner-recoiiect that
you are his brna fide owner" exclaimed
Charlmount, with sudden energy.
Goodeve went downto Newmarket quietly
by himself. When the horses came Uut for
the preliminary canter he watched them
with great interest By aid OF his race card
he soon recognized Prince Charming. q
chestnut colt, with line swinging stride.
ridden by famous t,rckey In the Chari-
mount coiors-appie greenaud black sleeves
Alter few ia tse starts the flag fell. Soon
the heavy thud OF hs,ofs reached 60odeve's
ear, and the shouts and applause or tho
public, who lined the Course, were borne
nearer and nearer. He grew really ex.
cited. His heart beat fast. His breath came
in gasps. The horses were clpse up t0 him
at the finish. Some five or six seemed to
flash by In a mass with o mighty thun.
dering of hsn,fs. The Jockeys, arms and
whips worked like the sails of windmiils.
There-ah! there was the apple green
and black sleeves-to the fr,nt of the ruck.
Peoples vuices rose In storm OF shouts,
curses, cheers Gossdeye's voice invofunr
tarily mingled With them. The perspiration
st0s'd upon his forehead. He felt half saf'
focated.
Prince Charming's number was hoistcd
first.
He was soon aroused from bis absorbed
condition by the gruff voice Of a man
speaking at his elbow.
''The curse OF the Charimounts has gons
wrong at last"
"Eh? beg your pardon" observed Good
eve, turning toward the speaker, q short
red-faced man, who, frum his appearance
and dress, might probably have been .
cattle dealer.
'I wasn't speaking to you, mister" re-
torted the other rather rudeiy.
mo, know said Goodeve, too much
interested by the mans allusion to the
Charlmounts to take offense at bis words,
''but you said something about the curse
of the Cbarlmounts.' and not understanding
what you meant T."
H<& H.
curse of the Charlmounts?' interrupted the
man, regarding GoOdeve with contemptuous
surprise. Ever been at Noomarket before
mister?''
''Never. until today"
"Ah, that accounts for II, then. Well.
p'raps you don't know that never till this
blessed day has boss owned by the Chart
mount family won race on the heath
for fifty years.
mo, was not aware of that" replied
Goodeve, growing very interested.
"And 'tain't becos they've not had good
hosses," continued the dealer, impressively.
They had some OF the very best. It's be-
cos the fam'ly's been under curse as re-.
CARDS this heath
''Under a curse? How is that?''
"Well, you must know, old Tom Charl.
mount, grandfather OF the present man.
played friend OF his q dirty trick about
a Cambridgeshire fifty years ago. / don't
know all about the ins and outs, but 1t was
like this: Tom Charirnount had
his friend S hoss got at the night before the
race, and the hOss-which was considered
q cert-got beat in conscience. The friend
had planked all he was worth on the colt
and his defeat simply broke the poor beg.
gar. He blew is brains out the same night,
but not tul he's sought out old Tom Charl-
mount and solemnly cursed him. And the
result OF that curse has been that no CharL
mount has won a race on Noomarket heath
ever since.''
Henry Goodeve wasnow deeply Interested.
The true explanation of Philip Cha arimouut's
conduct was beginning 10 dawn
on him.
..But was this generally known7' he ex.
claimed. '.And did the public believe 1t?
If that was the case, i sh euld not
have expected Prince Charming 10 be made
tavorite."
''Bless you, mister" was the half-con-
'emptuous reply, prince Charming was SO
pounds telow his proper
if it hadn't been for the curse
IF the Charlmounts his price would have
,een less than half what it was"
'Did-er-doy yuu happen to know whether
dr. Charlmount himself believes in the
,urse?' asked Goodeve eagerly.
I'm sure he does. Couldn't do otherwise,
litter the sinful illluck he's had at Newman.
ret. Besides land I've heard this from a
eliable sourceh he has resorted to all kinds
II subterfuges to avoid it at different
imes-such as nominally transferring his
olts to his friends and such like lodges.
But they were never no use, bless you. and
weren't likely to be. Providence amt to
'e circumyented so easy as that"
When Charlmount came extday-in great
ubilation-to effect Prince Charmings
epurchase, he gave substantially the sams
Nplanation as Goodeye had picked up on
Newmarket heath adding at the end:
II had before tried to ay old the opera
ion of the curse by a collusive transfer Of
ly horses to some OF my friends. But no
ood came of 1t. II then occurred to me
hat a boDa..ide sale of Prince Charming
D one who knew nothing about the curse,
nd bought the colt without intending to
wade it, might perhaps work the nec-
ssary charm. The result you know"
''umph," said Goodeve. "Then you be.
eve that your little deal actually circum.
eDted Providence"
"Can you doubt it," cried Charlmount
as he handed the solicitor
is check.
Georgia Hunting Song.