The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-09-25

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my head above q horse; well, haven't
had until now; if she would give me
half chance she would find was not
suoh an ass after all, but she can't seem
to think Of anyone but Philip; he is a
good enough fellow, but do notunder-
stand what she sees in him"
Mrs. Chalmers did give Billy Carstairs
half chance before very long, but it
was not entirely her doing. One day
Phil, while riding his bicycle on the lake
drive, was knocked over by q runaway
horse, and his wheel had become en-
tangled in the wheels of the road wagon
and irTetrievably wrecked. When he
was extricated, unconscious, it YVES
found that he was quite seriously hurt
enough, anyway, to lay him up for
couple of weeks and to stop his golf and
his church-going with Clara Chalmers
for some time to come. "And this"
Mir Carstrairs indignantly remarked
to his conftdant, the mirror, sis where
you do yourself proud" and forthwith
he and Mrs. Chalmers became very
good friends, while Witherington lay
upstairs nursing broken head and
grumbling that his mothers guest
would certainly take her departure
Low, with no one to go about with her
but old Carstairs.
So Billy became quite devoted in his
church-going; and submitted so tamely
to being taken out to dinners and to golf
and garden fetes that he was surprised
at himself; but with all her gracious
manners and friendly ways he noticed
how differently she accepted his atten-
| tions. With Phil she was on terms of
the most thorough understanding. She
chaffed him and challenged him, sent
him away when she was tired of his
society, and coaxed him back when she
| wished to be amused. He wished she
| would treat him with the same good
fellowship. "She seems to bottle up
her fine lady airs exclusively for Inc" :"
he commented, disconsolately. "She
needn't keep me at such a distance.
believe she is making use of me till Phil
gets welll" And having come to that
flattering conclusion, Mr.. Carstairs took
to spending long mornings at the
stables, and he took his cigar down to
| the bustling hotels in the village after
dinner when there were men calling on
Mrs. Witherington's veranda.
Carstairs came in late to dinner one
night to find that Phil had made his
first appearance downstairs, looking
rather weak and wan after his illness,
but in splendid spirits, and in q seat
next to Mrs. Chalmers.
"What do you think?" he called out
after his friend had made his apologies
| for being behind time, "Clara is talk
ing of leaving, and she has got to stop
until after the Crystal stakes-hasn't
she, Billy? You must really" he said,
| turning to her, with twinkle in his
eyes that h&d become little hollow
since the accident; sit is the last day of
the race meeting, and you must wait to
see old Carstairs' horse drive the others
| home"
"You need not be so sure, my son."
Billy answered, easily; my colt has a
| pretty fair chance. Blount has been
training him thoroughly; he is in fine
shape, and the weight just suits him."
"What horse of yours is entered ?"
Mrs. Chalmers asked.
"Sir Ronald; he is chestnut two
year-old." -
"Do you really think he stands any
| chance?"
She met his eyes squarely as she put
the question, and the color came slowly
into her cheeks.
Carstairs felt q quick thrill of pleas
ure at the interest the query implied;
he thought how doubly anxious he
would be now for his jockey to land
his horse and the $4,000 purse.
"Well, yes, think Sir Ronald will
win," he answered, lowering his gaze
to the wineglass In his fingers. "My
trainer is not so sanguine; he told me
to-day that the race was virtually ours
but for one thing-there is q dark
horse"
"Yes~ inquiringly.
"a filly that has been showing mar
velous speed In an inferior class of
horses, but with the handicap imposed,
and her present splendid condition, and
the mount she has, Blount says she will
have walk-over; all the stable says so;
I can't think why she is asked to carry
so little weight"
"And the name ?" inquired Phil.
"Her name is Princess Bonnie"
81 beg your pardon, did do that%'
asked Witherington, suddenly. Mrs
Chalmers wiped the claret from her
slim white fingers and smiled.
mo, spilled 1t; most careless OF
me- Go on, Mr.. Carstairs; and so they
believe she will win?"
"Well, that is the question:" replied
Billy.
"Blount says Ronald can't give her
five pounds and beat her, and then
Crockett, who has the mount, is the
best lightweight jockey in the east"
"Who owns Princess Bonnie? ?" asked
Phil.
"The Oakdale stable. I don't know
the name of the owner. think John
Stephens, who trains for 1t, owns most
of the string. They are a good lot OF
horses-therel that's enough, old man;
we are boring your mother and Mrs,
Chalmers to death"
AS they rose from the table Carstairs
held the door open for her to pass out
with her hostess.
"Promise you will s&ay?" he whis-
pered, with his eyes on hers. And Clara
Chalmers answered: 81 promise"
1t was an ideal day for horse race
There had been just enough rain dur.
ing the night to make the track fast
and the crisp touch of autumn in the aiI