Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-06-06
GRAY EAGLE At THE FAIR,
BY F. E. c. ROBBINS.


said Henry. "And he'll come in
ahead, sure as sunsp'
''If he doesn't buck" added Horace.
won't it be rather dangerous bust.
ness for boys like you?" asked Mr.
Everett (which ef you ID to drive?''
"Oh, Horace, Of course" replied
Henry. sHe can drive as well as
any man in this town.
s'Hepry can drive as we'll as I can, % .
explained his brother, "but he sort of
lacks confidence before folks"
"You had better tell your father
what you propose to do," was Mr..
Everett's parting advice.
CON-" that'll he all right" was the
cheerful rejoinder.
Agreeably to promise, Nh. Everett,
on pleasant day early in October,
made one of the throng in attendance
at the town fair grounds. He spent
an hour or two inspecting the sleek
stock of the farmers, admiring the
handiwork of the farmers wives and
daughters, witnessing a plowiug
match, listening to the eloquence of
the lemonade venders, aud especially
noting the odd characters which are
always to be seen ON such occasions.
Then, following the movement of
the crowd, he found himself at length
at the great centre of attraction, and
he took his place in the front tier of
seats opposite the judges stand by
the ''half- track"
Thejudges had taken their positions,
and had rung the cracked bell hang
ing over the stand as signal to the
drivers in the first race to prepare for
action.
Seven more or less feet-footed
steeds were being driven on the track
for the preliminary warming up"
and as this was the "three- minute
class" Mr.. Everett looked them over
anxiously to discover if the gray colt
and his driver were among the con-
testants.
Sure enough, there they were! That
loose-iointed, shambling, rough-coated
animal, looking as if he were just out
of the pasture, was doubtless Gray
Eagle.
And the little fellow perched on a
rickety gig and clad in a uniform con
sisting of a red flannel shirt and visor
less cap, was no other than his young
friend, Horace.
Hardly had Mr.. Everett identified
one of the Raymond twins when the
other appeared at his elbow.
"How d. do, MI. Everett?" said the
draw!ing voice. 'fSay, we're in luck,
Hod and I are! They've drawn for
positions, and Gray Eagles got the
pole!"
Again the bell rang, and the scoring
began. The usual number of false
starts occurred, and Mr.. Everett no.
ticed, to his surprise, that Gray Eagle,
in spite of his uncouth appearance,
trotted in very lively way, and that
the diminutive Horace was at least as
skillful a driver as any OF his competi-
tors.
''That colt of yours has wicked
looking eye," he remarked to Henry.
eyes, he's ugly" admitted the boy,
"but Hod knows how to manage
him"
Once more the horses came down to
the wire.
"Go" shouted one of the judges,
and away they went-all but Gray
Eagle.
The excitement had proved too much
for him, aud instead of trotting, he
seemed to be executing something
like war dance. Up and down, from
right to left, forward and backward he
prauced, to the great delight of the
crowd and to the deep modification of
poor Henry.
"He's bucking, just as was afraid
OIL" said he, with tears in his eyes.
But the young driver was not dis
mayed. He had loosened the reins
when the trouble began, and for an
ipstant he let the colt take his own
course. Then, with sharp pull and
resounding cut with the whip, he
brought Gray Eagle to his feet and
sent him on his way.
The affair had taken "but few Sec
onds, but even the slowest of the
horses now strung along the track was
far ahead of the gray colt. But the
mirth of the spectators was soon
changed to amazement at that colts
performance.
Didn't T say he could trot?"
drawled Henry.
There was no doubt about it. When
Gray Eagle had made the first circuit
of the track, it was evident that he was
not to be the last in the race. But
could he possibly overtake the two
horses which, well ahead Of the others,
were contcnding for the first place?
Steadily he gained. Down the home
stretch whirled the two leaders, and
Gray Eagle was only length behind.
Then came an unearthly cry from the
Ups VI tHo JOuaS uii'oh, ohN VIC "hiE
descended on the gray colts back.
81 knew Hod was going to yell!''
said Henry, exultingly, as Gray Eagle
swept under the wire the winner by s
neck.
In the midst OF the cheering, Horace
drove up, and with a professional oil
threw the reins to Henry, who al
once went to the stable with the colt.
Now, forcing his way through the
crowd, there appeared m elderly man
with look of astonishment on his
face that was comical to see.
''Horace," he began, ''what in all
nature does this mean?"
Father, this is Mr.. Everett, that's
stopping at the tavern" said Horace,
evidently glad of. a diversion.
Hope to see you we'll, sir. But,
Horace, what you been up to? I never
was so took back in my lie as I was
when they told me down to the hal
what you were doil.s"
Horace began to explain awkwardly
enough, but his father cut him short