The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-13

thought, as age Is cruel in its hard
insistence. The colonel loved Betty
beyond everything but his own way
Betty loved her grandfather better
than anything but Joe. Nature takes
her course in spite of wisdom. of any.
thing.
Joe, in cold blood, would never
have eloped with anybody's grand.
daughter, least of all the colonel's,
But how shall a man under thirty,
red-blooded. mad1y in love, say nay to
creature of snow and fire. who
things herself upon his breast, crying
breathlessly: I'VE have to ride for it.
honey! It's now or never!"
Ride they did. Joe in front, Betty
wrapped in the horseman'c cloak.
clinging behind him. While they
waited. Joe had put his saddle upon
the mare, thoroughbred, coming four
years old. in whom the colonel felt he
had world-beater. And especially a
conqueror of Ladylove, the Desha filly.
who had beat BonnybeN by an eyelash
only In the local derby the season be-
fore. The mares were half sisters, by
famous foreign sire. out Of dams
tracing to Lexington. Sir Archy, the
pursuer, was as we'll bred, but in differ
ent lines. He had years advantage
In age, and had been pampered and
petted as rarely ever horse was, not
withstanding he had been kept in
training.
And he had rider. In his day the
colonel had been in a class by him
self. He knew still all the art and
mystery-he had still the courage, the
sympathy, the soul that wins on cour-
age. Deadly angry though he was. he
had a thrill of Joy in this rebellious
slip Of his own blood.
THE breeds not running out, thank
God-no matter how this turns out, "
he said to himself as he pounded down
the road. the skim of snow muf1ling
the sound of hoofbeats.
In spite of the mufTling Joe heard
them and smiled. Even anger can't
make the colonel lose his head" he
said. Hes not going too fast at first
Sweetheart, We must do our best.
Whatever happens-well face it to.
gether-even if it is couple of bull
let's"
Yes. Together-for life or death"
Betty murmured, her face lightly
pressed against his shoulder.
Then she sat clear of him. They
were off-she would not hamper him.
1t was enough that he carried her
weight in the race for love and life.
She did not know II the colonel were
armed-he was angry enough for any,
thing-of that she was certain.
1t seemed a hopeless chance The
colonel was a Welterweight, but Sir
Archy was up to it. Then he was
older than Bonnybell, likewise in
harder condition. She had been eased
a bit-allowed to run at grass, whiles,
and fed sugar and applicability
heart misgave her as she recalled how
often she had thus pampered her pet
Now she stopped the least bit to pat
the mares flank and say clearly:
"Bonny-win for US this time, and
nobody shall ever ride you again."
Bonnybell answered only with a
slightly heightened stride. She had
found her feet and was going free over
the soft dirt road.-Sir Archy had
gained-they could hear the colonel
shouting, but the rushing air tore and
tattered the words past distinguish
ing.
lat r f0h
Betty entreated.
And then truly Bonnybell made as
though she understood they had
reached a long moonlit level of road
she lay down to 1t as though on the
course, and literally devoured space.
The colonel saw it with a leaping
heart. His pride in the mare, in the
girl who had taken her in spite of
him, began to melt his wrath. After
all, it was Betty who would have to
live with her husband-a long. long
life he hoped it would be. After all,
Joe Desha had governor or SO among
his forbears. Moreover, Duval Hank
way, in spite of his name, showed lit
tie of the breed The colonel rose in
his stirrups, leaned far over Sir
Archy's withers, and sent home the
spurs, shouting the while:
stop! You rascals will ruin the
finest mare in Kentucky! Stop, say.
Unless you DOLL quit and go home"
Sir Archy had answered the spur
with a burst of speed that brought
him we'll within hail of Bonnybell.
Joe heard the calling, and turned
to Betty-her arm was around him.
her hand reaching for the rein.
"Of course, We'll STOP" she said. II
always mind grandad when he's rea-
sonable. Maybe we can go to the
dance after all"
They did goa triae late, to be sure,
but in time to announce their engage
ment. Bonnybell truly never ran an.
other race. but the colonel lived to see
her first foal win the derby from
Ladylove's son.