The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-07-15

SyU. NC teSoR1iA - Ousy V-htB
mass Of showing humanity Lo-
rAine's driver still rode uneoucerned
and indifferent. Jake dreaded the
momsnt when be would act, ~h~n
he'd send the bay for the death
struggle. The boys heart beat like
drum. his breath came in gasps.
his throat Vas dry. ''Cum on little
nig,' he heard no more. for the bay
vas pulling away, and the rushing
away. and the rushing air Was an
organ hurricane playing . thousand
tunes in his ears. The sunshine
flashed . thousand kaleidoscope
cOlors before his eyes' He seemed
to be flying, but whether backward
or forward he knew not. Cum on
little'-but he barely caught the
sound, SO far away did Loraine's
rider appear to be. Another roar.
Three miles. The track WAS . small
white line stretched in the air. Jake
heard the shouts Of tho riders behind
him. the slashing OF many whips n
the keen instruments of torture fell
on straining fl&nks. His own mare
scudded before the field Of noise be-
hind her like . sea bird the hurri-
canes roar, and yet she seemed to
get no nearer the demon bay that
few fearlessly along. She pulled on
her bit! Instinct seemed to tell her
she must 60 now or never. "Not yit,
ole Nlstis, not yit!' said her ashen-
faced driver As he bent to her stride
and patted her sweat covered neck.
At the last hall! It seemed to Jake
they had gone q days journey-that
time had stopped and eternity had
begun since he shot away on that
frepzied ride. How many long
miles yet lay between him, it seemed,
and where Miss Anne sat, pale and
statue-like, in the blurred bank OF
humanity under the grand stand.
The last quarter. Jake raised in
his stirrups. Nov ole Mistis. go!'
he fairly shouted, as he gave her
full head for the first time. The
mare responded with q gallant leap
another and another-but NO nearer
did she come to the bay. Lorraine
had been turned loose, too, and in
creased the distance between them
with demoniacal swiftnes.! Like q
death. stab the thought went through
Jake's mind, for the first time, that
he could not win. The tears gushed
to his eyes, the blood seemed to con-
geal in his very heart; he clutched
the saddle to retain his seat. Lo-
raine was just ahead; they were now
at the last eighth. Frenzied-frau-
-blinded-and bewildered, Jake
knew not what he did. In despair
he raised his whip, it flashed a mo-
ment in the sunlight, then went
whistling across the track. He had
thrown 1t away! Bat look Lo-
raine now fairly few! He seemed to
know the time had come. His own
marei She was falling back. He
knew it, he felt it-he was beateni
Overcome with grief and shame, he
forgot all about Lorraine. BE
thought only of the old home. cf his
love for his master, of Miss Anne, OF
his idolatrous worship of the mare,
mingled with the fact that he had
ruined them all. A clay path flashed
under the mare 8 nose, and then he
thought of Jim Weatherall s words
of his promised freedom. Crazed
with fear and shame he guided the
mare in the path, let out all his rein,
and flung himself forward on hel
neck, clinging to her name like an
limp ON q flying cloud. Thrustine
two brown heels into her fanks, he
burst out crying, and in tones thai
moved even the victorious rider oi
Lorraine, he sobbed: "Ole Mistls
ole Mistis! Dis am Jake-little jake
Go home. ole Mistis. Go home, olt
Mistis!! Fo home!!!"
To the surprise of the spectator
who now looked on the victory o.
Lorraine rs complete, the mare an
swered this pathetic call with burs
of speed unheard Of on the tract
even to this day. A thousand de-
. mons of determination blaz d in he
eyes. One-two-three leaps sh
made, like q startled doe at the dealt
bleat of her fawn, and in twink
ling she had cleared the distance be
tween herself and the bay. Tn
: crowd roared in a tumult of excite
ment-men climb on one another
, shoulders-the gray mare came lik
q rocket! Loraine's driver, startle
and now thoroughly in earnest
went to his whip. 1t flashed . me
ment in the air and fell with sting
lug emphasis on the bays shoulders
, The animal swerved-that blow va
his ruin!
? A straight line, says mathematic!
! is the shortest distance between tw
4 points, and the gallant bsy, reve
o before having felt q blow, swerve
i slightly to avoid it. Only yard &
a Itwo-but yards are miles when So,
a onds are hurricanes! Only . me-
A ment of indecis,on-but indecision
a mutiny when stakes are kingdom
a Like . swallow before the blast th
y gray mare thrust her long neck nj
:. der the wire-and the race was VOL
s| A moment later the crowd Z
is shouting, frenzied people cease
o shouting to q man. when the fis,
animal, having NO one to guide he
70 turned suddenly into the draw-ga'
b that opened on the infeld and left
o mangled rider on the track. Lat
10 they stood, . surging crowd, arour
beautiful girl seated on the grour
. and holding . bruised and bleedir
z face ON her lap, upon which her ov
Q. tears fell. The boy opened his ey
is and half unconsciously began mn
,e muir: Most home, ole MIST
,r Most home, ole Aistis! Most home
Presently . ray Of consciousne
10 came back to his lusterless orbs
ot he recognized his young mistress u
4, Exclaimed: "Oh, Miss Anne, did Y
ID wini" and interpreting correctly q
Id half joyous smile that. despite b
II tears, shsne round her mouth