The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-17
eSARSAPARIlLLA. =
By MARTHA CccULL0CH- WILLIAMS.
Copyright, 1899, by S. s. Mcclure Coz

form; a creature of whm and tricky i'm
pulse, of whom her owner and trainer
both said they could say nothing except
that the worse her trial showed her the
better her race was apt to prove her.
So there was rejoicing, keen and sim
cere, when in her 4-year-old form. Sar
saparilla proved a consistent loser 1t APP
peared she could not win, at any weights,
nor in any company. The wise men scorn-
ed Jewett for keeping her in training. 1t
was an insult alike to the turf, and the
Wynyard stable, they said. The sayings
each and several were precious in Hea-
tons sight. He collected them religously
they were said in print, you understand
and fired them at Jewett in season and
out. Jewett only smiled. Somehow he had
more faith in Extry than in all the wise
men. And Extry said: mo sire, faint
muffin de matter, ceptin' dat de ole
CONAN dom want ter try-not er little
bit She savin' herself fer sompn. No.
sir! l dunno whut hit is. But she
know. Bet yo' last dollar on dat. An
when de time come. she gwine' stretch
out her neck and take her foots under
er-an' make all de rest whar's a-run-
min look like er postage stamp side er
hundred dollar bill"
Jewett walked around the mare,
stroked her glossy, sinewy neck, felt her
clean legs, free of stain or blemish,
listened to the firm, equal beating OF her
heart, and the easy deep breathing after
a bruising gallop and agreed with his
jockey. To all Heaton's circumstances,
he had one answer.
''She has earned her oats already.
You can surely make those other beg
CARS earn her entrance money along with
their own
Partly through sentiment, but more
through within. Jewett refused to turn
her out, or retire her next season. He
entered her literally in whatevss events
were open to aged animals To the dis
credit of the turf be it said they are
none too plenty, although the scant
number includes prizes well worth win
ming The chiefest of them within Jew
ett's racing purview was the gold chal-
lenge cup, pretty bit of plate, which
came to it's winner trimming with
gold coin.
1t was a long race-2R mileS-over
course to try to the uttermost breath
won it. in all the 60 years since first it
was offered. 1t was one of the mighty few
fixtures remaining from the palmy days
before the war, when gentlemen of the
South thought nothing of matching their
checks for $4,000 a side, nor of laying
twice that sum outside, upon the pride
of their stables.
The Wynyard stable had won the cup
twice-once in its first year and again in
its last under the old Hugh Jewett. Nat
urally Randall Jewett, the nephew, who
had, in course of five years. found out
something of the sports fascination, was
eager to win it a third time. He named
three for it-Himself. a slashing black
Himyar, coming years old; Tenderfoot,
a long striding bay. remotely descended
from Lady Beel and Sarsaparilla. the de-
spised. Heaton scoffed grimly over the
last nomination. Reckon you know the
forfet's an even 500 in this here circus,
he said IT'S yer own money | amt
got mare word to say agin the waste on
it--but | do say it's 'nough ter make old
man Hugh rise up and turn over in his
coffin-the idee of that contrary critter
that wont beat COW exceptin jes as she
takes the notion, runnin in his colors, |
tell you when he lived everybody knowed
him as they knowed old John Harper
when they seen his packet on top o er
boss, they knowed it meant er boss race
frum eend ter eend.'
Even Extry's faith seemed to falter
little. de old CONAN, she des as libely
as err cricket" he said. "But--she lettin
herself git sorter fat. Whut you make
outen dat, Marse Jewett? Seem like