The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1912-03-01

SO. You bonded fellows havo to be
pretty careful of your sporting trans
actions" He frightened up again
and whispered hoarsely In my ear in
stage fashion: However. in this in
stance you had better take a chance:
let some friend put 1t up for you; say
some wise relative. for instance. A
hundred or two lost would not damage
you much, and few thousand gained
would be ambrosia and nectar" He
winked cunningly.
Once more | told him that could
not violate my traditions, and he
shrugged his shoulders; and away he
went at Eagle Boy speed himself.
doubtless hot on the trail of some of
his particular cronies to whom he
could break the glad tidings. For
when Bruce had a chance to do his
friends what he thought was favor
he did not let the grass grow under
his feet until he had done it. 1t was
one of the traits that lay back Of his
popularity. OF course sincerely
hoped he would win. but was always
afraid that his recklessness would
SoiiC ohy SSt MN ihto liouplC-
The afternoon upon which the race
was run will forever remain scared
upon my memory. ] had been wise
enough to put In my order long in ad-
vance at a fashionable stable. and as
result my twowheel outfit was about
as neat as could be found anywhere.
AS l drove up to Mrs. Daces with the
silvermounted harness glittering in
the sun and the cob arching his neck
and tapping the boulevard with his
polished hoofs as daintily as dan
cling girl, experienced much the
same sensations as does a schoolboy
on the first day OF his long vacation
when life as well nigh endless prim-
rose way stretches before him In
vista glorious to contemplate. ] was
at the full tide of youth and hope.
Charged to the full with health and
vitality. desperately in love with and
half accepted by one whom | thor
oughly believed to be the most beau
tiful woman In the world. l shook my
fist defiantly in the teeth of the grin
ming specter of my lack of money.
And realizing my domination for the
day the specter cringed and fed be-
fore me.
The great migration of the day was
in full movement. Automobiles were
whizzing past honking like flights of
wild geese. Victorias and traps. drags
and tallyhos streamed behind them In
an endless procession. 1t was life
teeming and exultant. The world was
on parade dressed in its best clothes
and with Its pockets lined with money,
and right royalty did 1T proclaim the
fact. It's headache of the morrow an
unthought-of thing r
Mrs. Dace came down in a creation
| had never seen before, but which
fairly made me gasp with delight.
shall make no attempt to describe it,
but the general impression it gave me
was of fleecy clouds in which were
blended delicate and changeful rain
bow tints that came and fitted like
summer shadows. She seemed rather
to float than walk, and when | gave
her my hand at the curb and she arose
from 1t to the high seat with the light
ness of a feather, I could scarcely be.
lieve that she was made of warm, firm
flesh. The aggressiveness of her beau
ty challenged nearly every eye that
we passed, the men craning their
heads for longer look, the women
searching her enviously. In my pride
of her and the enthusiasm Of the mo-
ment l whispered in her ear that she
was the most beautiful woman in all
the world and that loved her dearer
than my own life. My reward was
smile and flash of her wonderful
eyes.
81 am glad you think so, Tom, even
though Of course you are wrong. And
1t is sweet of you to be so devoted to
me. am really very happy to be with
you" My fingers frightened about the
reins and my teeth clenched. In my
heart I swore that she should become
mine though the heavens fell.
We turned into the crush where the
converging boulevards emptied their
streams into the rolling sea of We