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

that all / win goes to help spread
the gospel"
Because I want to give YOU a
chance of doing something more for
your faith" Lawson said: eve both
know that to win, you've got to beat
my mare, Roxane. It's the same as a
match-none of the other three really
count. Now, since owners. or own
ers' friends must ride, WHY should
not we two ride against each other,
and if l win, you agree to give me
Peggy without conditions; if you, I
agree to do my very best to get reli-
gion?"
impossible! Impossible! Who
ever heard of such a thing?" the par
son said-but Lawson saw his eye
sparkle and a quick flash leap into
into his cheek. The parson was es-
sentially a Christian militant. Back
in the old days he might have led a
rapturous crusade. Lawson pressed,
undismayed:
why is it impossible? Unusual L
grant-but so it is unusual to see a
minister's colors on the track, and
race-track money on the missionary
plate. L thought you ministers held
nothing too hard, if it meant saving
a soul from death"
Il do not the parson said quickly,
Lawson ran on:
1T won't be exactly easy for me-
Everybody knows me for an unbeliev-
er-as my father was before me. Ev-
erybody will be sure to say am a
rank hypocrite-pretending to care
for finding and saving my soul only
that l may get Peggy"
do you mean-would you make
the conditions public?" the parson
cried Lawson nodded.
''They would have to be- he said.
Neither of us can afford to play eX-
cept with cards above the table EX-
cuse the phrase parson-but you I'M
derstand it"
Yes; | understand" the parson
said smiling, then with keen look:
you must love my girl, Lawson. I
can not let you say you love her bet
ter than l love my God. You shall
ride for a sweetheart, l for a soul
/ may be misjudged by my fellows
the searcher of all hearts will know
that Lseek only his glory"
The Fourth of July was a stake for
4-year-olda and upward, four miles
and repeat. The repeat generally
eliminated everything not aged, even
in that good time, when horses were
bred not merely to run, but to stay.
The grass country was full of blue
blood. Sons and grandsons of Sir
Archy, of Diomed, of the great Eclipse
had come early over the mountains,
had thriven on lush blue grass, and
running limestone water, and had left
behind lusty progeny On top of
that, there had been direct English
importations, of more than one pre-
potent Derby-winning strain. Then
a good few of the pioneers who had
the luck to be friends with Mr.. JEFF
ferson, and Mr. Madison, through the
good offices of those gentlemen, when
they came to be Presidents, had
brought in u sprinkle of pure bred
Barb and Arab mares
The elder Cooke, Lawsons father,
had been among the bringers-in. Law
sons pride, RoXape, was great grand
daughter to one of the Arab mares,
and like her ancestreSs, of pure cream
white, with Silver-white name and
tail, and ivory hoofs. She stood bare
ly an inch over Is hands at the with
ers, had deep, rOOmy chest, tremen-
dous barrel and short, close-sinewed
back, dropping into comparatively
light quarters. They were but masses
of muscle, clean and firm, enwrapping
small bones as hard and compact as
flint. The ivory hoofs were alive
looking, land of u faint spread from
coronet to toe.
All her CAIN to beauty lay in head
and neck. The neck, neither long
nor short, carried the line of the
withers in the finest imaginable ia
per, out to head that in spite of
its broad basin face, had a muZzle
slender enough to drink from a quart
pot. Nostrils, pink as a dawn cloud,
and very fully opened, gave promise
of breath and stay. to match the fire
of the eyes. They were somewhat
deeply sunken, yet held in their dark
depths all the deserts mystery and
savage strength.
Blue Bonnet was taller and some
thing stouter, very dark silver roam,
fully '16 hands at the crest. A sight
lier brute never trod four good hoofs.
The most hypercritical could pick no
flaw in her-she had shoulders so per-
feet, quarters so powerful, legs so
fiat SO firm, so clean of hair. Her
neck arched delicately, and she step
ped with a proud, mincing gait, as
though she disdained the earth she
trod. IT has been said she was a Gre
ature of moods. Occasionally, but
only occasionally, they were angelic.
She was in one of her worst tenn
pers when she came out to run for the
stake. Perhaps the excitement of the
course was contagious. Certainly no
assemblage there had ever before
been wrought to such edged interest
os this present throng. Everybody
knew the side wager, and gasped or
CAPPED over its conditions. A few
choice spirits chuck.ed in sardonic
appreciation of the situation. The
most part charitably set it down that
both Lawson Cooke and parson Gen
try were madden than March hares.
They were somewhat equally
matched in spite of the years be-
tween. The parson was just rising
40; he had married early, and Peggy