Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-25
A BOAT RACE STORY.

Jack Davenantwas the stroke Of the
Cambridge university eight. He was a
man greatly to be envied. Wealthy-his
father was large mine owner in the
north - popular, good looking and
thought to be one Of the best strokes
turned out from either university for
some time. Last, but not least, he was
engaged to be married at Easter to Ruth
Meynell, as bonny lass as need be,
with whom he had been in love for some
years.
It was the afternoon before the great
event when the following telegram
reached him:
Meet me, Kings Cross, $50. DAvENANT
Jack was delighted, for it had been q
great disappointment to him when his
father had told him that business of i'm
portance would prevent his witnessing
the race. When the train glided slowly
into the station, you may be sure that
a cordial greeting was exchanged be-
tween father and son. But Jack was
startled to see how greatly altered his
fathers appearance was from what it
had been three months before.
"Well, how do you think I'm looking,
dad?" he exclaimed presently, when
they were seated in a private sitting
room in the Great Northern hotel "We
are all of us in good form, I believe, and
shall make the Oxford lot do all they
know, I'm certain There's only one
thing can't make out. Have you no.
ticed how strongly the betting goes on
Oxford? It was a to on in this even
ing's paper. If it were not absurd, I
should think that there was some plot
on to damage our boat or something,
only that's impossible. But anyhow l
can't help feeling anxious Those book
les are generally right in their odds on
this race, and there is nothing in our
respective form and times to warrant
the long Odds Do you know, feel that
Imust win this race. I'd willingly give
five years Of my life to be certain Of il"
Here Jack saw his father turn CHASTITY
pale He darted out Of the room and
was back again in minute with some
brandy, which he made his father swal-
low, and waited with intense eagerness
to hear what was the matter, anxiously
requesting to be allowed to send for a
doctor at once
"No," said his father, that is no
good. I 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 a gun. Those were
his words. But that doesn't matter,
jack" he added "Brace yourself for a
great shock, one which will try even
your strong nerves. Jack, my poor boy,
your words went through me like a
knife just now. Mine is a dreadful err
rand up here to see you today. Jack, I
have come to tell you that we are utter
" ruined. Fool-villain that I am,
have, urged with the desire to leave you
vast wealth, speculated largely and
lost. :"
At first Jack thought that his father
had taken leave of his senses The shock
was tremendous, but varsity strokes
are the material of which the leaders Of
forlorn hopes are made. His strict train
ing and strong nerves soon came to his
aid, and he tried to cheer up his father
by the usual commonplace Of hoping
that it wasn't so bad as his father dread
ed it to be. And then the thought Of the
great event in which he was to take
such prominent part on the morrow
rushed across his mind, and he couldn't
help saying:
"But if you love me, as you say you
do, how could you bring me such ghast-
" news at such time as this, when
the fact Of my knowing it one day SOON
or or later could make no earthly differ
ence to our circumstances? It was wick
eddy cruel not to keep the news till after
the race Z"
'Stop, jack" his father replied.
"You mustn't blame me unjustly. You
have sufficient reason to blame, yes,
hate, me without that Listen! / told
you loved you, and I do. It was for
you that I have acted as have done
As just said, I am doomed man. AT
the outside, ! am only given one year to
live. And time being SO short, and my
affairs so shaky, what was ! to dol
Draw closer to me, closer, 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: