Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-25
great when the news Of the light blue

great Wnen Guo neWS VI euo AShs oAuo
victory reached her.
Surely girl was never so happily
situated! Loving and beloved, and her
sweetheart-who had promised to spend
the evening with her friends-the hero
(for the moment) of the whole civilized
world.
We left Jack on his way to the hotel
where the Cantabs were staying. 1t is
impossible to describe his feelings, the
shock had been so great. He had loved
and reverenced his father 80 much, and
always thought Of him as the soul Of
honor.
And now there was only one course
open for him, either to do or die, though
to help to win the race was to help his
own utter ruin. And then Ruth? What
Of her? Oh, he mustn't even think of
that. The race and winning-it must be
his only aim and object. Small wonder,
then, that it was remarked at the start
that Davenant looked "off Color
We have seen, however, that he had
literally pulled the race out Of the fire.
Strong man though he was, the severe
mental and physical strain told on him,
and he had to be lifted out Of the boat
at the finish. But he was strong as iron
and quickly recovered. How he wished
he might not For what had he to live
for now? The shouts and cheers seemed
bitter mockery. He recalled his fathers
whisper and saw again the imploring
look. Jack knew that he was beggar.
Making his recent indisposition an
excuse for not dining with the crews
that night, and refusing the many kind
offers Of companionship, he drove to the
Great Northern hotel, where the fame
Of the victory had preceded him, and
made inquiries as to his fathers move
ments His father had ordered dinner at
Z and was going northward with the
mail that night. Jack decided to wait
for him, and having had light refresh
ment sat down to smoke and reflect on
the events Of the last two days.
Presently the waiter brought him an
evening paper, and on running his eye
over the news he saw paragraph head
ed, death From Excitement at the
Boat Race. News just to hand that at
the conclusion of the race, the finish Of
which was extremely exciting, an elder
ly gentleman in full sight of the finish
was seen to stagger and fall. Medical
attendance was speedily obtained, but
life was pronounced to be extinct. The
remains were removed to the mortuary
awaiting the inquest. From letters and
papers on the deceased it is feared that
he was g. Davenant, Esq, father Of
that brilliant oarsman who today strok-
ed the Light Blues in such gallant
manner. Our readers will join with us
in expressing the hope that this may
prove to be mistake"
Jack never knew how he got through
the next few days. He did all that was
necessary in perfectly mechanical
manner. He had his fathers remains
buried in the family vault. Also he
wrote to Ruth, telling her that he could
never marry her, though it almost broke
his heart to say so. /" And then, as might
be expected, the overtaxed brain and
body gave way, and Jack Davenant lay
in his fathers stately mansion sick unto
death at the very time that Ruth Mey-
nell-not knowing Of his serious illness
and scorning to wear her heart on her
sleeve - had arranged to tour with
| friends abroad.
And SO these two young lives, which
but a few days before seemed SO full of
life and hope, were blighted as it seem
ed at their very outset.
In due time Jack pulled through. And
then, for the first time for many sad
day, the light Of hope shone upon him,
and he understood what before had been
inexplicable-namely that instead Of be-
ing the pauper he feared he was, he was
really immensely rich.
His father had certainly lost money
in the troublous times Of strikes, but not
sufficient to impair his princely fortune.
Business worry, telling upon an enfee.
bled frame, coupled perhaps with nat.
ural excitement about the race in which
his son was to take such a leading part,
had brought about that dreadful hallu.
cination from which he had suffered, for,
in fact, he had not bet one farthing on
| the event.
The most learned scientists cannot I'M.
dertake to explain the subtle working Of
the mind diseased. But it was suggested
that since those interested in the result
Of the varsity boat race" are often
guided in their hopes by the state Of
the betting it might be inferred that
Jacks father had been too intently
watching the odds. London Tit Bits.