Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-03-10

Win snOcK, Wnat liberty she nad
taken with his standards. as she real
ICED that his point Of view was vast
ly different from hers. or from the one
that she had forced upon Jacqueline.
Mrs. Van Haag chatted gayly as she
sat in the box with Jacqueline, while
below them eddied and whirled the
sea of color that goes up and down
| field and grand stand when the Derby
Is to be won. The fash of the jock
eys' jackets against the green, when
the keen wind whips up the scent of
hill and field, and the tang OF strife
beats up from the human tide as II
sways and surges from club house to
grand stand and around the judges
box. came to them blurred into one
shouting, shimmering whole. as the
tap of the saddling bell is sounded.
Down in the paddock they brought
out the colt. biting. kicking rearing
and plunging; his wicked eyes aglec.-,
and he lunged away from all but tie
colonel, whose hand had coddled him
from the day he was foaled He let the
colonel quiet him. nuzzling at his
sleeve, while Jenkins was being
weighed In.
Therese Van Haag gave no sign of
the strain that was goading her to the
! limit of self-control, as she watched
the parade go down to the lineup at
the clubhouse. The green and gold
wavered here and there. Guilderoy
was shy of the net A dozen times he
wheeled away to be brought back un-
der a running fire of rebuke from the
starter. The tension grew unbearable.
She rose to her feet-Guilderoy had
! quoted, and the barrier went up, the
red flag fell and they were off.
! Therese shut her eyes. The glimmer
of color panied them; but Jacqueline.
her glasses gripped until the small fin
gers were white at the tips, followed
that shimmering fiambeau; down past
the first quarter, around the turn, and
up the oval. where the crest comes
She could see Guilderoy fighting for
the bit. Then, the others gained as he
fell back to fifth place. Then all sight
of them was lost as they vanished into
the curve that heads the home stretch.
A half minute, that is as half an hour,
and they are close, so close that she
sees Jenkins crouch, and the sorrel
fiatten out into that wonderful stride
that carries him on, on and then it is
all over as they go laundering by be-
meath her. Won by a nose length-yet
won and Guilderoy rounds up TO the
salute, still protesting with teeth and
heels. The victor's wreath they were
placing upon his neck wavered indis-
tinctly before her eyes. She saw
Jenkins slide off and start for the
weighing block. while around and be-
low her, men were hailing the Derby
winner
Jacqueline turned to the woman be-
side her; but Therese laid her hand
swiftly over hers. Hush child! |
know what you would say, and from
my heart l am glad" And she tried
to believe that she was, but the
thought would not down. They would
not need her now, the friendship
would end. She had never felt very
certain of the colonel, but Jacquelne
had become very near to her.
Therese was alone in the long room,
where the October sun slanted through
the crimsoning vines, resting lightly
upon the rich masses of her hair She
did not look up until the colonel
spoke.
You here colonel? | did not hear
you enter, but you are very welcome.
Where is Jacqueline?"
The colonel passed by the chair she
had indicated and seated himself on
the window seat beside her. Jack is
at home where good girls belong. She
does not know | have come"
Something in his tone, familiar,
eager, held her speechless, while the
colonels eyes probed the deep brown
ones that presently dropped
"Therese." The colonel caught her
hands in his-"I would never have
dared to come TO you, an old man. too
old to seek you, but today when Jack
told me all and understood what you
have done for me, for us, IL could
not stay away. | am free-thank God
| am free of the financial debt to you:
but you have made me your debtor for
life, and / want to strain my credit
further. want you to be my Wife"
do you know what you are saying?
Do you know who ann" The ques-
tions forced themselves from her lips,
and the colonel, too. sprang to his feet.
who you are, / don't care, and none
will dare to ask that question of my
wife. Your father, Jim Anderson, was
an honest man-that is enough fer
me. You Lave not answered my ques-
toni"
Mrs. Van Haag hesitated. laughing
from under wet lashes. II have loved
you all my life" she said.
Buttons in Parliament.