The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-05-29
great wh.M tho Assws Of the light blue
victory reached her.

great whom tho l.sws Of the light blue
victory reached her.
Surely q girl was never so happily
situated! Loving and beloved, and her
sweetheart-who had promised to spend
the evening with her friends-the hero
tfor the moment) of the whole civilized
world.
We left Jack OH 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 SO 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
W 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,
II 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! ror 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 a 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 a 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 i'll full sight of the finish
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 q. D%avenant, Esq, father of
that brilliant oarsman who today strok- |
ed the Light Blues in such a gallant |
manner. Our readers will join with us |
expressing the hope that this may
prove to be q mistake"
JACK never knew how he got through
the next few days. He did all that was
necessary in a 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
MS heart to say 20. And then, as might
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-
aell-not knowing Of his serious illness
scorn!ng to wear her heart on her
sleeve - had arranged to tour with /,
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
I'd at their very outset.
Undue time Jack pulled through. And
hen, for the first time for many a sad
lay, the light Of hope shone upon him,
md he understood what before had been
nexplicable-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
1ral excitement about the race in which
Ills son was to take such a leading part,
had brought about that dreadful hallu-
from which he had suffered, for,
in fact, he had not bet one farthing on
the event.
The most learned scientists cannot un-
to explain the subtle working Of
mind diseased. But it was suggested
since those interested in the result
Of the varsity boat race" are often
in their hopes blythe state of
the betting it might be inferred that
father had been too intently
watching the odds. -London Tit-Bits.