Evening star., 1900-07-07

in the county. even II 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. Wo won't split
the purse, the parson called back; Blue
Bonnet Is just really coming to herself"
''Oh, hol Hear that, Roxane!' Lawson
said, touching the white mare lightly on
the neck. Then he gave a peculiar whis-
half a length ahead. Blue Bonnet re-
spon6ed gamely to the squirt, but could not
quite catch the flying leader. They came
TO the quarter pole. locked. and ran that
way all through the next stretch. At the
half-mile post Lawson turned slightly and
said over his shoulder:
You have fought good fight. parson!
I'm almost persuaded to let you win"
The parson set his teeth and drove his
spurs up to the rowels. Blue Bonnet
swerved visibly. AS dusk deepened a fresh
wind blew down the course. cool and well
come to the hushed. waiting crowd, doubly
welcome to the tired racers, fighting this
desperate duel of breath and stay. They
tore forward in the teeth of 1t, tense pant
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 un-
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. Lawson Cooke
would be no lukewarm Christian. He
would love God he loved woman, with
all his heart. and mind. and soul, and
strength. The parson knew Isham had
spoken truth. He had watched the boy
often. lie almost prone upon Blue Bonnets
neck, and seem to drop winged words in
her ear. He had never caught the words
until today he had not known what they
were. He did know that the mare always
answered them, electrically-if she would
answer them now. she must come first.
Quicker than light all this flashed upon
him. Behind was the thought! What could
1t matter? The parson had never sworn
since the day Of his conversion Profanity
seemed to him sin peculiarly purposeless
and abhorrent In this volcanic stress he
might not be profane. Blue Bonnet under
stood certain words, only as signal to do
her desperate best. Might he not use them
in quite the same way:
Roxane led by a head-he felt Blue Bon
nets heart laborfng heavily. The finish
was barely fifty yards away. Lanterns
g.eamed either side of it. The dark massed
throng was breathless. silent, yet its un-
conscious STRINGS made a soft confused
sussurruS The parson shivered family
intutively 1t seemed he caught the rens a
thought tighter, stretched further forward
and hissed in Blue Bonnet's ear:
'D-n you. Doubled d-n you. Go on!'
After that he knew nothing until great
sobbing shout struck him, and eager, joy
GUS hands pulled him from the saddle and
set him high upon mems shoulders to bear
MIN triumphantly about the course The
bearers were young fellows, all, and Law
son Cookies chosen friends AS they
marched they chanted exuberantly, the par
son praises He was a gentleman
scholar, good fellow, a sport They
would come to hear him next Sunday-and
every Sunday when the church of the purse
was built And they would help build and
furnish it-he might depend on that
You beat me by neck, parson. How in
Offering his hand to the victor The par
son Wrung it hard. He wanted to say
The Lord was on my side" but somehow
the words stuck in his throat.
Come and ride with Peggy to church
Sunday" he said. almost apologetically.
Lawson shook his head
i don't dare-yet.'' he said
Ihe break was more eloquent than words
again the parson wrung his hand 1t was
thick dark now, the moon coming up and
whip-poor-wills calling all about, but some
now he hated the thought of going home.
A1.er sieepless night the parson got up
az dawn with white, determined face
although 1t was Sunday he did not wait
even for family prayer. but rode straight
to the Cooke homestead Lawson was Just
stirring, and on the way to the stable in
tent upon seeing how Roxane Jared The
parson stopped him at the lawn gate
Lawson he burst out. I'm a miserable
backslider but 1 can't let myself be a
thief. The purse-I won it by the deyips
help. II want you to take tit really
belongs to you-to take it quietly you
RnoW-you won't mind helping me out by
/ 'that much. hope 1 shall build the church
Just the same. you understand-but / shall
DO It out OF my own pocket
Lawson sprang forward and caught both
the parsons hands, smiling jubilantly,
though his eyes were not quite clear. There
was an odd lump in his throat too, as he
said: Not another word, parson. l have
pretty good ears for all that goes on in
a race 1 didn't mind losing the purse half
as much aS-losing my faith in your faith
Now you have made everything right again
Wen agree that each shall save his stake
But am convinced religion is a vital mat
ter-nothing less could have brought you
And am convinced that an honest man
and gentleman is not very far off the
kingdom of God" the parson broke in:
but Lawson, at least you'll ease my mind
restitution. and confessed my fault to my
brethren. I shall dare to ask my Master S
forgiveness"
Hold hard. parson." Lawson said; bet
ter keep quiet. l Understandable l doubt
If the brethren would. The wrong you did
If it was a wrong. has righted itself. AS
to the purse-why. hurry up your church
| I hope to marry Peggy the day it is dedi-
Gated"
The church stands to this good day-a
| quaint, squat. steepleless red brick struc-
country. A Lawson Cooke is among its
ruling elders, and the wall behind the
pulpit there are marble tablets to the
memory of earlier Lawson Cooke who
found Christ within its walls. and his be-
loved wife, Peggy. born Gentry.
CuriOsities of Suicide.
From the London Telegraph.
At the conclusion of recent inquest on
John Brooks, an engineer Of Upton Park
| Manor. who flung himself off the Royal
Sovereign while the vessel was nearing
Southend on her return journey from Mar
gate, Mr.. Wood. the deputy coroner, made
some remarks calculated to surprise the un-
initiated-but only the uninitiated. He said