The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-08

ously full of running. They held their
heads low, mouths slightly open, ears
combahvely laid back ready TO savage
at the least Stacking of reins.
1T 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 coming to herself"'
O no! Hear that Roxanep' Lawson said,
touching the white mare lightly on the
neck. Then he gave peculiar whistling
chirp. Roxane answered ii by forging half
length ahead. Blue Bonnet responded
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 10 the rowels. Blue Bonnet
| sWerved visibly. AS dusk deepened a fresh
/ Wlnd blew down ehe 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 forard in the teeth of it, tense pant
ing, laboring, with eyes afiame. The last
| quarter post flashed past. As they came
! 10 the eighth a blanket might have cover
ed them. Again Lawson whistled, shrin
| 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-
Farson 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 as he
loved woman, with all his heart, and
mind, and soul, and strength. The par
son knew Isham had spoken truth. He
had watched the boy often, lie almost
prone upon Blue Bonnet's neck, and
seem to drop winged words In her ear.
He had never caught the words-until
to-day he had not known what thew
were. He did know THAI the mare al
ways 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 con-
aversion. Profanity seemed 90 him, a
| sin peculiarly purposeless and abhor-
rent In this volcanic stress he Ieaped
to the belief that some swearing might
not be profane. Blue Bonnet understood
certain words only as a signal to do her
| desperate best. Might he not use them
in quite the same way?
Roxane led by head-he felt Blue Bon
nets heart laboring heavily. The finish
| was barely fifty yards away. Lanterns
| CLEANED either side of it. The dark
massed throng was breathless. silent, yet
its unconscious STRINGS made a soft
confused sussurrus. The parson shivered
faintly-intuitively it seemed he caught
the reins a thought tighter, stretched fur
Their forward, and Kissed in Blue Bonnet
ear:
"D-n you! Double d--n you! Go on"
After that he knew nothing until a
great sobbing shout struck him, and
eager, joyous hands pulled him from the
saddle and set him high upon mems Shout.
Gers 10 bear him triumphantly about the
course. The bearers were young fellows
all, and Lawson Cookies chosen friends
AS they marched they chanted exuber-
antly, the parsons praises. He was q
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 1.-THE might
depend on that.
you beat me by a neck, parson. How
in the world did you do it?" Lawson
Scttl, OItLlilG MS Lldllu 10 the NlClOT. lie
parson wrung it hard. He wanted to say
THE Lord was on my side" but some
how the words stuck in his throat.
Come and ride with Peggy to church,
Sunday" he said, almost apologetically.
Lawson shook his head.
IT don't dare-yet," he said.
The break was more eloquent than
words. Again the parson wrung his
hand. 1t was thick dark now, the moon
| nd rx-tf y,-yN mill po
all about. but somehow he hated the
thought of going home.
After a sleepless night the parson got
up at 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.
La wson," he burst out I'm a miserable
backslider but / can't let myself be a
thief. The purse-I won it by the devils
help. II want you to take tit really
belongs to you-to take IL quietly you
know-you won't mind helping me out by
that much, I hope. I shall build the
church just the same, you understand
but I 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: mot another word parson. ]
have pretty good ears for all that goes on
in a race. I 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 I am convinced re-
ligion is a vital matchmaking less could
have brought you to me"
And am convinced that an honest man
and a gentleman is not very far off the
kingdom of God" the parson broke in;
but Lawson, at least you'll ease my mind
by taking that purse. When l have made
restitution, and confessed my fault to my
brethren, shall dare to ask my Master s
forgiveness"
Hold hard, parson," Lawson said; bet
ter keep quiet. 1 Understandable
doubt if the brethren would. The wrong
you did, if it was a wrong, has righted it,
self. As to the purse-why, hurry up
your church. I hope to marry Peggy the
day 1t is dedicated"
The church stands to this good day-a
quaint, squat. steepleless red brick struc-
ture in the heart of the peaceful grass
country. A Lawson Cooke is among its
ruling elders, and on the wall behind the
pulpit there are marble tablets to the
memory of an earlier Lawson Cooke,
who found Christ within its walls, and his
beloved wife, Peggy, born Gentry.
-e-<s-s