The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-06-19

love with Constance Eyre, sole daughter
Of Major Eyre. of the Blum s, the great
est Stickler for nice points OF TURF honor
anywhere south OF Mason ana Dixon 5
| line. The major held that a turfman's
reputation was like a wonnan's-irretriev-
ably stained by even unjust suspicion. He
| had raced himself in his younger days.
Now he bred only runners, but that kept
him fully in touch with all matters OF
the turf.
Its the ~stiifest old risk going. Be
hanged, though, if l don't take it, Jewett
said. next morning. as he walked to the
stable about daylight. Heaton stared as
thought he thought his employer stark
mad. when Jewett said to him:
cold man. we're going to try an exper-
iment. Yes, we. You have got to be in
it the same as myself. Send out Sassy
this morning to work with the slOwest
thing in the stable and make her come
in frst-eyen if the other fellows head
has to be pulled half off. When she does
come in first give her an apple, sweet and
Juicy. One apple and no more, under
stand. Tomorrow, do the same thing
only make it two apples. You must never
get beyond that. Keep it up all week,
then let her run true. If she comes first,
well and good; she gets the apples. If
she sulkS. she don't. Stick to that pro
gram until further orders, meantime Civ
inc her the chance to beat the best we've
got in STALL
II understand. sir Heaton said with
grim, vet elaborate Difference. but you
understand III DO it only because I'm
under contract. and further. that III tell
everybody what I've done and how | done
il at your special order. They'll see
straight that as the cussed ~critter wont
win. you're attaining her to lose. Maybe.
though. she'll up and die O wind collie.
Eff only she does, shan't she have CT
tust-ciass fun'rul-rosewood coffin. silver
handles, plate glass. and al O that-With
the rest err the bosses strung out behind
in mOnrnin'o :
"All that can be settled later" said
Jewett, airily. Then he galloped five
miles to breakfast at the Bluffs, and sun
himself in the light Of Constance's mer-
~ brown eyes. It was early February,
but the stir of new life was in all things.
Hard as he rode he could glimpse the
faint greening of the new grass. push
ing up through last years brown mat,
and hear. soft and faint. the dove calls
from the wood. 1t was two months to the
cuD day-it fell always early in April.
That was little enough time for his eX-
pertinent, but 4 great deal too much for
his suspense. He wanted the cup. he
wanted Constance as he had never want
cd anything before. And he had somehow
a sense that he was to win or lose both
upon tina ~fatcful. swift-conling April day.
Three hours later he sat opposite Maj.
Eyre in the library at the Bluff. smoking
a particularly soothing cigar and toasting
his feet at 4 swapping open fire. Con-
stance stood beside the south window
pottering over her plants. All morning
She had shown herself 50 particularly
enchanting Jewett had been tempted to
propose at once. The Major himself had
been unusually approachable; he had.
indeed, INDUCED in one or two blurts Of
confidence which made Jewett certain
he himself was coming TO be regarded as
one Of the family. SO he took his courage
at last in both hands,. and told Of the or
ders he had given his trainer.
The major heard him in silence, then
turned and said. Constance, lit seems
TO me YOU had better go and-and write
to your Aunt Martha. Say you will come
and stay a month with her-and that
that l myself may run up for a week at
the last"
Yes" father. Constance said sweet
lY, her eyes telegraphing to Jewett 4
whole code of danger signals. Jewett
was aghast. He sprang up to open the
door for Constance, but the major got
nimbly between. Still holding it open.
he said lriiy: 4 am going out to the
stables. Mr.. Jewett. Shall | order your
horse?'
81 viii go with you Jewett said; then
as they stepped outside: "Maior. |
cannot pretend to misunderstood you
but please give me in exact words your
reason for this dismissal"
= hardly think that is needed" the
major said stiifly. "Certainiy | do not
wish 10 say to any man in my own house
especially the one who is The heir OF my