The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-10

Quite true! Why do you ask?'
the parSOn said: You must know
that all L win goes to help spread
the gospel"
because 7 want to give you a
chance of doing something more for
your faith" Lawson said: both
know that to win, you've got to peat
my mare. Roxane. It's the same as a
match-none of the other three really
count. Now, sine owners. or own
ers' friends must ride, why should
not We two ride against each other,
and if | win, you agree to give me
Peggy without conditions; II you, j
agree to do my very best to get reli-
gion?.'
ever heard Of such a thing" the par
son said-but Lawson saw his eye
sparkle and a quick flash leap into
into his cheek. The parson was es-
sentially a Christian militant. Back
in the old days he might have led a
rapturous crusade. lawson pressed,
undismayed:
grant-but SO it is unusual to see a
minister's cOlOrS on the track. and
race-track money on the missionary
plate. | thought You ministers held
nothing too hard, if it meant saving
a soul from death
Il do not the parson said quickly,
Lawson ran IN:
1t won't be exactly easy for me.
Everybody knows me for an unbeliev-
er-as my father was before me. Ev-
erybody Will be sure to say | am q
rank hypocrite- pretending to care
for finding and saving my soul only
hat | may get Peggy
ID you mean-wonld you make
the conditions public?" the parson
cried. Lawson nodded.
They would nave to be-" he said.
"Neither of us can afford to play eX-
cept with cards above the table. Ex-
cuse the phrase parson-but you I'M
derStand it
YES; I understands" the parson
said smiling. then with a keen look:
you must love my girl, Lawson. |
can not let you say you love her bet
ter than | love my God. You shall
ride for a sweetheart, / for a soul.
| may be ~misjudged by my fellows
the searcher of all hearts will know
that | seek only his glory
The Fourth of July was a stake for
4-year-olds and upward, four miles
and repeat. The repeat generally
eliminated everything not aged, ever
in that good time, when horses We're
bred not merely to run, but to stay.
The grass country was full Of blue
blood. Sons and %grandsons of Sir
.Archy, of Diomed, of the great Eclipse
had come early over the mountains.
l@I I 80, 1,rl I1,,- .",r ,r1
running limestone water, and had left
behind a lusty progeny. On top OF
that, there had been direct English
inportations, of more than one pre-
potent Derby-winning strain. Then
a good few of the pioneers who had
the luck to be friends with Mr.. JEFF
f@erson, and Mr.. Madison, through the
good offices Of those gentlemen, when
they came to be Presidents, had
brought in Il sprinkle of pure-bred
Barb and Arab mares.
The elder Cooke, LaWsOn's father
had been among the bringers-in. Law
On's pride, RONane, was great grand
daughter to II Of the Arab mares
and like her anceStress, OF pure cream
white, with s~ilver-white name and
tail, and ivory hoofs. She stood bare
~ an inch over Is hands at the with
ers, had a deep, roomy chest, tremen-
| dous barrel and short. close-sinewed
back, dropping into comparatively
light quarters. They were but masses
of muscle, clean and firm, %enwrappine
small bones as hard and compact as
flint. The ivory hoofs were alive
looking, and of a faint spread from
coronet to toe.
All her cain to beauty lay in head
and neck. The neck, neither long
nor short, carried the line Of the
withers in the finest imaginable ia
per, out to a mead that in spite OF
its broad basin face, had a muzzle
slender enough to drink from a quart
pot. Nostrils, pink as a dawn cloud
and very fully opened, gave promise
of breath and stay, to match the fire
of the eyes. They We're somewhat
deeply smnken, yet held in their darI
depths all the deserts mystery anC
savage strength.
Blu Bonnie was taller and some
thing stOuter. q very dark silver roam
fully 16 hands at the crest. 4 sight
Tier brute never trod four good hoofs
The most h~ypercritical could pick nt
flaw in her-she had shoulders SO per
feet, quarters SO powerful, legs Sc
ndt, ~ LII, 81 cltd1 Ol lldiI. 11el
neck arched deIicately, and she step
ped with u proud, mincing gait, as
though she disdained the earth She
trod. 1t has been said she was a ere
allure of moods. Occasionally, bu1
only occasionally, they We're angelic
She was in one Of her worst tenn
pers when she came out to run for The
stake. Perhaps the excitement of the
curse was contagious. Certainly ne
assemblage there had ever before
been wrought to such edged interes'
os this present throng. Everybody
knew the side wager, and gasped OF
CAPPED over it's conditions. A few
choice spirits chuck.ed in sardoni(
appreciation of the situation. Tn
most part c~haritably set it down tina
both Lawson Cooke and parson Gen
try We're madden than March hares.
They We're somewhat equally
matched in spite of the years be
tween. The parsOn was just rising
40: lie had married early, and Peggy
was not yet IS. He was spare ant
Wiry. too. riding at $50 in boots anC
| brooches and his own we'll In,nyT, no