The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-12-20

VIZ "ppie green ana black
sleeves-to the front of the ruck. Peo-
pies voices rose in a storm of sbouts
curses, cheers. Goodeve's voice invol-
unfairly mingled with them. The
perspiration stood upon his forehead.
He felt half suffocated.
Prince Charming's number was bois-
ted first.
he was soon aroused from his alb
sorbed condition by the gruff voice of
man speaking at his elbow.
THE curse of the Charlmounts has
gone wrong at last"
"Eh? l beg your pardon" observed
GOODBYE, turning toward the speaker.
a short, red-faced man, who, from his
appearance and dress, might probably
have been cattle dealer.
Il wasn't speaking to you, mister"
retorted the other, rather rudelv.
mo, know" said Goodeve, too much
interested by the mans allusion to the
Charlmounts to take offense at his
words, but you said something about
the curse of the Charlmounts,' and not
understanding what you meant L"
Not understand what meant by the
curse of the Charlmounts? "interrupt-
ted the man, regarding Goodeve with
contemptuous surprise. Ever been at
Noomarket before, mister?"
Never, until to-day"
"Ah, that accounts for it, then. Well
p'raps you don't know that never till
this blessed day has boss owned by
the Charlmount family won race on
the heath for so years."
No, l was not aware of that" re-
piled GOODBYE, growing very interested.
And faint becos they've not had
good hosses," continued the dealer. i'm
pressively. "They had some of the very
best. It's becos the fam1y's been I'M
der a curse as regards his heath"
Under curse? How is that?"
well, you must know, old Tom
Charlmount, grandfather of the present
man, played a friend of his dirty trick
about Cambridgeshire so years ago. /
don't know all about the ms and outs,
but it was something like this Tom
Charlmount had his friends boss got
at the night before the race, and the
hoss-which was considered cert-got
beat in Conscience. The friend had
planked all he was worth on the colt
and his defeat simply broke the poor
beggar. He blew his brains out the
same night, but not till he's sought out
nr.tr
cursed him. And the result of that
curse has been that no Charlmount has
won a race Oh Noomarket heath ever
since"
Henry Goodeve was now deeply inter-
ested. The true explanation of Philip
Charlmount's inexplicable conduct was
beginning to dawn on him.
But was this generally known?" he
exclaimed. "And did the public be-
lieve it? Because, if that was the case,
should not have expected Prince
Charming to be made favorite."
BLESS. you, mister" was the half
contemptuous reply, "Prince Charming
was so well in-about seven pounds be-
low his proper weight-that if it hadn't
been for the curse of the Charmounts
his price would have been less than half
what it was"
"Did-er-do you happen to know
whether Mr.. Charlmount himself be-
lieves in the curse?" asked Goodeve,
eagerly.
"I'm sure he does. Couldn't do other
wise, after the sinful ill-luck he's had at
Newmarket. Besides land I've heard
this from a reliable source), he has re-
sorted to all kinds of subterfuges to
avoid it at different times-such as
nominally transferring his colts to his
friends and such like lodges. But they
were never no use, bless you, and
weren't likely to be. Providence amt
to be circumvented so easy as that"
When Charlmount came next dawn
great jublation = to effect Prince
Charming's purchase, he gave substan-
TALLY the same explanation as Goodeve
had picked. up on the Newmarket heath,
adding at the end:
II had before tried to avoid the opera
ton of the curse by collusive transfer
Of my horses to some of my friends.
But no good came of it. 1t then oc.
CURED to me that bona-fide sale of
Prince Charming to one who knew
nothing about the curse. and bought
the colt without intending to evade it,
might perhaps work the necessary
charm. The result you know"
"Humph," said Goodeve. Then you
believe that our little deal actually cir
cumvented Providence?"
"Can you doubt it?" cried Charl-
mount, emphatically, as he handed the
solicitor his check.-London Truth.