The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-08

net, one I'LL teeny cuss. She-she's
ulster dat She know whut hit means
an dee cont nobody else in dis
worl' hear hit
1T was out of the queston-still
he felt himself tempted. RoXane and
Lawson saved him. With one long,
steady LIT Lawson sent his mount
first across the finish line. Then, as
the crowd went wild, he sprang down,
before she was still, flung his arms
about her neck, and cried: Get your
breath, old girl! You'll need it all,
and more, before we are through"
The sun was almost down. Night
would come before the run off. but
no soul thought of leaving the course.
All waited for it in throbbing, fever
ish Impotence. 1t was dewy dusk,
when the two mares went out to try
the final issue. Both had recovered
wonderfully. Blue Bonnet, if no lon
ger on edge, ran true and strong.
This time RoXane rated easily at hef
quarter. The two riders might have
exchanges condolences. but neither
had thought for anything save win
ming.
After the first mile the racers ran
stride for stride. They swung to the
turns and swept the stretches like
double team. Now one, now the other
drew little away, only to drop back
in company before she had run 80
yards. Blue Bonnet,no longer champ
ed foaming bit RoXane's white
TANKS were stained with red, and
reeked a little. Both were emulously
full of running. They held their
heads low, mouths slightly open, ears
combatatively aidIback, ready to saw
age at the least Stacking of reins.
''It is certain we can beat anything
else in the county. even if we can't
beat each other" Lawson called out,
as they swung into the first quarter
of the last mile.
Il have not given up. We~won't
split the purse" the parson called
back; blue Bonnet is just really com
ing to herself"
20 no! Hear that, RoXane!" Law
son said, touching the white mare
lightly on the neck. Then he gave a
peculiarly whistling chirp. RoXane
answered it by forging half length
ahead. Blue Bonnet responded game
ly to the squirt, but could not quite
catch the flying leader. They came
to the quarter pole, locked, and ram
that way all through the next stretch.
At the half-milc post Lawson turned
slightly. and said over his shoulder:
You have fought good fight, par
son! I'm almost persuaded to let you
win"
The parson set his teeth and drove
his spurs up to the rowels. Blue Bon
net swerved visibly. AS dusk deepen
ed fresh wind blew down the course,
cool and welcome to the hushed,
waiting crowd, doubly welcome to
the tired racers, fighting this desper-
ate duel of breath and stay. They tore
forward in the teeth of it, tense, pant
ing, laboring, with eyes aflame. The
last quarter post flashed past. AS they
came to the eighth blanket might
have covered them. Again Lawson
whistled, shrill and keen. This time
Roxane staggered and rolled in her
gait as she tried to leap ahead. Blue
Bonnet held her seemingly safe--there
would be a dead heat-unless-
Parson Gentry set his teeth. If the
man in him ached for triumph, the
minister truly yearned for power unto
salvation over this superlative sinner.
Christian. He would love God as he
loved woman, with all his heart,
and mind. and soul, and strength.
The parson knew lsham had spoken
the truth. He had watched the boy
often lie almost prone upon Blue Bon
nets neck. and seem to drop winged
words in her ear. He had never
caught the words-until today he had
10 al
know that the mare always answered
them, electrically-if she would ar
sVer them now, she must come first.
Qicker than light all this flashed
upon him. Behind was the thought!
What would it matter! he parSon
had never sworn since the day Of his
conversion. Profanity seemed to him,
a sin peculiarly purposeless and alb
horrent. In this yolcaui" stress he
leaped to the belief that some swear
ing might not be profane. Blue Bon
net understood certain words only as
Il signal to do her desperate best
Might he not use them in quite the
same way?
Roxane led bv a head-he felt Blue
Bonnet's heart laboring heavily. The
finish was barely 50 yards away Lam
terms CLEANED either side Of it. The
dark massed thron2 was GREATNESS,
silent, yet its unconscious STRINGS
made soft confused suasurrus. The
parson shivered faintly-intIIitively it
seemed he caught the reins 4 thought
tighter, stretched furr!Ie' forward,
and Kissed in Blue Bonnets ear
On you. Double Dr. you! Go
ont
After that he knew nothing until
great sobbing shont struck lin,
and eager, joyous hands pulled MIN
the saddle and set him high upon
men't shoulders to bear him trlum
phantly about the course. The bear
ers were young fellZw-, ALL and Law
son Cookies chosen friends. AS they
marched they chanted eXuberantly,
the parsons praises. He was a gen
tleman. scholar good fellow. u
sport. They would come to hear hiln
next Sunday-and every Sunday when
the church of the Purse was built.
And they would help build and furn-
ish it--he might depend on that.
''YOu beat me by n necL, nnrcon