Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-02
SAXIFRAGE.
ICcnrrlpht. 1885. ]

him first place in all hearts as the stuy, the
bulldog grit, by which no wore down and
conquered his rivals whilc giving them
Jumps of weight. He had won at least his
weight in silver for his hackers purely on
his courage. Naturally they plunged on
him when he was named to start at al
oven impost, with the only two colts any
where near his class, In match for SIS, 00C
corner over distance OF ground.
"Play Saxifrage straight You'll have
money to burn. Same as IL you found 1t,
tho racegocrs said ono to another what
time they wcro not lamenting that tho
prowcss of their champion forced them to
give odds In place of taking them. That
was not surprising though. Tho wonder
was that even tho ncrvicst booky did not
bar Saxifrago or turn his slate in face of
the rush to back him. Many of them did
do it, but not Hawkins. He was short,
slight fellow. with u lisp and blue eyes
set In pink, cherubic countenanco. When
he won out on each race, shade Of sad.
ness was visible, but when tho ring was
| hit till good half of it went broke then
was Hawkins pattern of tranquil infan-
/ tine gayoty. 1t was his idosyncrasy to dc
astonishing things. so his writing rs
/ good as 8 to . against Saxifragc passed MS
/ merely the within Of man who felt he had
a character for ccccntricity to maintain.
Nobody remembered that n month before
n stranger at the track watching the ex.
crcisc gallops had SAID, looking after the
golden chestnut: $50 that's Saxifrage
A good locker, too but it takes more
than looks to win. Why. last week in Ken.
lucky saw dead match TO him-hcight,
color, the turn Of hair by the Same sire,
out Of n sister to his dam-and he don't
earn his oats. He can run of COURSE
must with those legs under him-but Is a
cur--thc rankcst coward. He'll start all
right enough, but let him hear hoofs be
side him, and he stops to walk. You
might cut him to pieces, and he wouldn't
do moro than trot."
Hawkins was lounging past, his hands
in his pockets Ho said not q word to the
stranger and was ostentatiously in evil
dcnce for tho ncxt week. But tall, spare
nervous, black eyed lad who had habit
of blushing when spoken TO and was Haw.
kins' elbow shadow, disappeared for that
length of time. Then Hawkins rot a tel.
cgram. 1t was signed sue and read:
Your twin brother has been found and
will meet you at the old place Run up II
you can spare n day"
looked so downcast that the man next 10
him said compasslonatcly:
ono bad ncws ! hope
at may mean trouble " Hawkins said,
his head dropping more than ever. After.
ward ho walked away, whistling softly
the air of cold Hundred"
Weather and track were perfect when
the match came Off. II drew together a
holiday throng of shouting, laughing,
pushing thousands, and Saxifragc was on
every lip. His trainer WAS in ecstasy, his
owner proudly confident. The good beast
had answered yea to the question OF his
final preparation, and in such hollow style
nobody who saw 1t could think the race
in doubt Yet with his accustomed crank
mess Hawkins even lowered odds pc!nt.
When jenkins, tho head groom who had
not left Saxifrage 's stall for 80 hours be.
fore the horse was led out for his prclimi-
nary, came up and said "Gimme so o.
that, Muster Hawkins. may as well be
Robin ye as any o. the rest, the book
maker smiled languidly as he replied
"Jcnli, you don't understand. It's mat
ter of professional pride. l shall live In
turf history as tho man who dared to lay
worth what lose"
Nobody in the surging crowd had
caught the telegraphing from the eye OF
the groom to that Of the booknakcr len.
kins sauntorcd away, clutching his ticket
Hawkins sprang down from his box
"ComcW he said, touching tho tai
lads arm. "Come! want to watch thi.
race from end to end. -
The tall lad got white. eve had better
60" he whispered. eco clean away. Re
, member, If anything cHmc OUT
! Don't be fool, Susan" Hawkins re
, turned in tho same key. Come!
, wouldn't miss it-not for half We stant
: to win."
The colts broke even the second tim,
they were sent away. As the roar Of til,
sea came the shout, "Thcy'r of !" OF
with Saxifragc leading n clear length
: Tho roar swcllcd to thunder. "Saxi
fragc! Saxifragcl Saxifragc Come on
you beauty! Beat them hands down."
Even Hawkins paled shade. His com
panion grew deathly. The bookmaker pu
: out hand. Susan, Susan, he said ten
DERBY, don't fail your husband when fail
ure means runn'
AT his words warm flush chased ava,
the wilderness. Tho dark eyes swan Will
tears, but Hawkins had no thought t.
give them. His eye was glued to the glass
Ho saw half way home the chestnut still
leading, his tail waving defiance in til,
face of his nearest foe.
God. There can't be two Saxifragcsn
he said under his breath. He might hay,
shouted il unheard in tho triumphant ba
bel about him. Suddenly he payc IL low
joyous note and dropped his glass. Blink
bonnie, the last horse, had locked the lead
} cr as they camc into the stretch. He wa
coming, coming, stretching himself as thi
CHESTNUT shortened his stride. a stunned
9 second the onloolicrs held breath; ther
broke into cries ana curses rs daylight
grew and broadcncd between tho fayorit,
and his competitors.
"SayifraSe bad last :" some ono shout
! cd amid chorus Of groanS and Kisses
J For the first timc in his life n trcmol
went over Hawkins He took his compan
ions hand and led her away, whispcring
lyon did that for me- Susan, and you
shall have you reward
They found Saxifragc dead in his stall
the next morning. jenkins always main
tanned that he died of hoartbrcak In thu
main the public agreed with him. Haw
kins had won enough money to leave of
= bookmakirg. He bought grass farm ant
, not up rs II breeder. His most successful
sire was golden chestnut known rs tho
Blood Brother to Saxifrage Hawkin,
!, bought him in Kentucky very shortly be
1, foro tho match race was lost-and won.
MARTHA MCCULLOCH WILLIAMS.