The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-02-23
M0LLY'S FIRST and ONLY RACE.

NULL , fK0I hNU WLI KROt.
1t Was on Il balmy June afternoon in Il
little Massachusetts town that hard
listed, miserly, rich old Gerald Braman
walked into Farmer Josh MildetonS
farm yard, where he was busy stacking
salt hay. The farmer saw his approach
and his usual ruddy co;lntcnance whit.
cneu.
You know that you owe me $1,000 OH
this place, Middleton, and that it has
been overdue for morn two months
Now I've got chance to sell the place
for snug sum that'll leave you a few
dollars, and why not do it? You we'll
know that you CANT pay it,"
Great drops Of pcrspiration stood on
Mlddleton's forehead as he slowly
Strengthened his angular form and looked
the mSer full in The face. v
Yes. know l owe you $1,000, Gerard
Hraman, and goodness knows l wish l
| didn't. But the placell never be sold
with my consent. Why, man, it would
break mothers heart. Don't you know
all of our boys and gals wuz born here,
an We We only got John left out of seven?
NO: Gerard Braman. the good Lord will
provide some way for me to save our old
hcme if veil only give me a little more
time"
Tut, man replied Bramon. :.Your
crops have failed this year on account of
the drouth. and where under heavens can
you look for a dollar to come from.
would like to know?'
ms WAS Il staggerer for Middleton, as
he knew that his relentless creditor was
only telling the truth.
You might possibly sell the mare Mol
~ fer Il couple of hundred dollars,' went
on Braman. u don't know but would
give it myself"
This touched Middleton in a sensitive
part, fer the mare Was the idol of the
family. She was possessed OF great
burst of speed, but had never been
trained exec pit an occasional trial Oh the
read for short distances, when she inva-
riably left her competitors far in the
rear.
Much obleeged. Mr.. Braman. But
Alcilyll never leave the farm until we
al go toge;h, r. l raised her from il baby,
an she's got warm place in old Josh
Mid'lleton'S heart. Why she'd die from
htmesickness if she went where she
missed the apples. the little sweetmeats
we gives her. Any part Of the farm
where she can hear my call she'll an
SWer an come like il streak or dark
llghtnin'.'
At that moment John drove into the
yard with the mare hitched to a rickcty
CID wagon. Her nostrils were we'll open
and the thin pointed ears, narrow muZ-
Zle. wide forehead. long barrel. thin, fiat,
hony legs, and long sweeping tail bespoke
the inheritance of some pure, well-bred
strain in her blood.
Been racin agin, John?'' asked Mid
Ill ton. as he fondly eyed his pet and
stroked her nose softly.
Yes, dad. Ye see l was comm down
the turnpike when Mr.. Dexter, tibet rich
man from out West, pulled out on us
paid thousan' dollars fof. As it was Il
good stretch l let Molly go n we beat
him all boiler, didn't We Molly?''
We'll, Middleton, I'll give you until the
10Th day of July to pay me in full, and
not day longer. l mean interest and
principal. Don't forget it,
drove in, having followed John home.
Good afternoon. Mr.. Middleton, l
supposeY'
'"That's my name as some calls me, but
l like Josh better. What can l do for
your said the farmer.
Il have Il horse here with a record of
2:15. for which paid il considerable sum
of money. Now, as your mare can beat
him so easily, l want to buy her: Name
your price, and make it enough, as /
mean to have her.
Mr.. Dexter, when you drove in here,
the man who left at the same time owe
Thousand dollars to, besides some interest,
and if | can't pay him on the 25th day of
our home and everything with it-and he
-he-wanted to buy Molly. but I can't
sell her. l can't sell her-it's no use
IN pay your mortgage in full tomor-
row, Mr.. Middleton, if you'll give a bill
of sale Of the mare to ME when hand
you the papers," said the visitor, watch
ing Molly with an admiring eye.
This offer made Middleton hold his
breath. Here was chance to get out of
his old cnemy's clutches and save his
home. Back and forth the old farmer
paced, while John was crying like baby
at the thought of parting with his old
Just as the farmer had about made I'D
his mind to say yes the mare whinnied
and rubbed her nose against his already
moistened cheek. That settled if.
Throwing his brawny, barred brown arm
around her neck and patting it fondly,
he replied:
Dexter, but l can't part with her, an 1
must trust to some other way of getting
out of my trouble with Braman.''
The affection exhibited for the intelli-
gent animal touched the wealthy Chi
cagoan. When he saw that Middleton
would sooner face the mortgage than
sell his pet he knew that she was not
for sale.
Mr.. Dexter, after few moments Of
deep thought, made a proposition to the
farmer, the result of which found the
three men and the mare at a haIf-mile.
track in a town near by on the after
noon of the following day. A sulky was
procured by Mr.. Dexter, and the mare
was given three full miles under the
watch in time that caused a smile to
settle over the Westerner's face, but he
kept whatever pleased him to himself.
In a few days a nice bicycle sulky and
handsome pair Of feather weight Quarter
boots with a splendid racing harness ar
rived from Boston, and under Mr.. Dex-
ter.s experienced eye the mare was daily
trained the next week. =. -
It was the day of the great NJ. and NJ.
stake race in large city in the West.
where the, winner would receive above
$4,000. There were over thirty entries 4
in this, the greatest trotting race of the
year, and every horse but one was from
the stables of well-known men,
The jockeys and rubbers, as well as the
owners, were asking themselves who Josh
Middleton was and his mare Molly. IL
was found that q nomination had been