Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-31
Ne CECIL THURSTOI1,
sr Of "The Masqueradsr," Etc.

dogs that filled the yard, Clodagh leading
the mare. Milbanke keeping close to her
side.
what is this race for7" he asked. as they
passed through the arched gateway. "A
| mere trial Of strength"
Clodagh's eyes widened
"Oh, no." she said, that would be silly.
There are stakes. Of course-.Larry's tele-
scope against my Irish terrier. The tele-
scope belonged to Uncle Laurence and Is q
| beauty; but It's nothing at all to Mick
Mick Is pedigree DOG six months old; with viii,
ever saw. II lost him" But here she
stopped. IT'S unlucky to say that, isn't
it?' she added, quietly. "Of course, I'm not
going to lose him"
Again she turned and fondled the mare,
and moment later they came into view OF
the long, level fields that lay between the
house and the sea, and saw the erect figure
of Larry clearly silhouetted against the sky,
as he sat his cob with the ease OF the born
horseman.
It took Milbanke but few minutes to
place himself in a safe and advantageous
position on a ditch that, dividing two Of the
fields, was to form the last Jump OF the
race; and, once ensconced In this pleasant
and not uncomfortable seat, he watched the
cousins move across the fields to the point
where little Nance was waiting to arrange
the preliminaries. He saw Clodagh mount
the gray mare, observed the one or two IN
evitable false starts, then became conscious
| with quickening of interest that the race
had begun
Had he been possessed of the humorous
quality he would undoubtedly have been
drawn into smile at his own position; as
it was, he saw nothing ludicrous in the Idea
of an elderly student seated on an Irish
ditch playing umpire to a couple of chill
dren. AS the horses started he merely set
tied himself more securely In his seat, ana
drew out his handkerchief In obedience to
the instinct that some expression OF enthu-
siasm would be demanded by the winner
He could not picture himself raising
cheer as the conqueror sailed past him; but
his dignity affably bent to the idea OF
friendly wave of a handkerchief
A slight breeze was blowing In from the
sea and the intense freshness of the atmos-
phere again obtruded itself upon him as he
watched the horses swing toward him
across the fields, the thud of their hoofs
upon the grass gaining in volume with
every stride.
then slowly almost imperceptibly. Clodagh
drew away. For a couple Of seconds the
distance between the animals became no
ticeable. Then young Asshlin, urging the
chestnut, regained his lost position, and to
Milbanke's eyes the two were again abreast
as they crossed the last field
Once more he settled himself in his place
of vantage Something in the freshness Of
the morning, something in the youth and
vitality Of the competitors gave the race
an interest and attraction it would 9th
erwise have lacked With reluctant
sensation-half curiosity, half the aliens
una ccountable attraction toward conditions
of life other than his own-he found himself
straining his eyes toward the two slight
figures moving toward him across the short
grass Nearer and nearer they came, main
tanning their level positions; then, the
last ditch came clearly into view, the gray
mare seemed to gather herself together for
the short. final gallop and the jump Lean
ing forward, he saw Clodagh straighten
herself in the saddle as each stride in
creased the advantage she had gained.
Unconsciously-with the nearer pounding
of the notes.-the excitement Of the moment
touched him. But it touched him with dis
astrous results. AS the mare neared the
ditch he suddenly leaned forward, losing
the balance he had so carefully preserved.
The action was instantaneous, and it was
but the work of another instant to grasp
the sturdy weeds that topped the ditch and