Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-02
Saint Narg|s Beacon.


Mortality has swung out, and 10
following close behind, third from
the pole. The wire 10 terribly near.
Whoever Wias will win by q short
head.
Suddenly something happens. A
nurse girl with her escort down
close by the fence has become too
deeply interested, and her little
charge has toddIec ont upon the
track and stands piteously helpless
right in the path of the flying RAJ
cers. Billy sees il all in an instant
the Mortified expression on the
nurse girls face, and the dazed
look OF the little toddler on the
track ahead. He can guide Settler
around her, he thinks, but nothing
can save the baby from the rushing
field behind.
What can he do? A single false
move, aud the race lie lost. II won't
be bis fault il the child is crushed,
anyway, and to win the race means
50 much ! But, someway. some.
thing in the appealing face of the
baby makes him think of the little
sister asleep in the tiny English
church-yard so far away over the
water, and-he can't help it, he
must do something. But what /?
Like fash he remember a pic
ture he once saw Of brave hussar
who snatched little child from in
front Of a flying horse. After
the Wild West show was on the
other si0e, all the lads about the
stable had practised for weeks pick
ing up articles from the ground by
dropping over the horses sides.
and he had been the best of them
ali; but this was SO vastly different!
He knew he would fail bat he
must try. With one hard pull on
the reins he drops them, and with
a cry to Settler he slips his left foot
through the stirrup and draws the
slender iron up to bis knee, kicks
his other foot clear, and throws
himself wildly to the right straight
down over the horses side. There
he hangs, by one knee, head down,
his arms outstretched and his little
body swinging wildly against the
racers side at every bound.
Settler falters in her pace and
drops back. With a wild sweep Of
his arms Billy clasps the little form
close and lifts the baby clear of the
ground as the horses hurl by. The
strain is a terrible one. and he can
only drag himself up little way.
His leg is almost broken BY the
sharp stirrup. He can onlv bend
himself up as far as possible, close
his eyes. and hold tight. lie hears
the wild shouts from the crowds as
David sweeps by, n winner. On
they go for it seems n mile, but in
reality onlv dozen rods. Seltzer
slackens and stops A dozen stable
boys are springing at her head
Some one snatches the baby from
his arms. and Billy drops down and
steals hurriedly away to n quiet
corner of the stables. 1t has all
come over him now. Settler has
lost. His dreams Of making a name
for himself are gone. Mr.. Burnett
will never allow him to ride again.
His head is whiriing yet. lie
feels deathly sick. Everything
looks black, and he wishes he were
dead.
Sinking down on the straw, he
buries his face and sobs as though
his faithful little heart would break.
"Well, young man ?"
1t is Mr.. Burnett.
Billy does not look up. I'm
sorry | lost the race, sir he sobs.
81 couldn't 'elp. you know, sir
She'd "a been killed, sir,-the
baby"
"Well | should say she would F.:
And how in the heavens name it
happened that you weren't beats
me-"
"Im sorry, sir, didn't win"
"Eh ! What ?-didn't win? Why
boy, I'D rather have my jockey to
do that thing than have my horses
win dozen races-Yes, hundred
adds young Mr.. Burnett, after
computing the matter mere care.
fully"
But the money. ~ot's been lost
mot a cent, except the purse.