Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-01-21
Weight for Age
By ALFRED sToDDART
(Copyrlght.)


Westerly, how a woman feels when
she goes to a smart affair in her last
seasons gown. 1t will make me feel
old to see al these young fellows rid
ing in the races tomorrow"
''YOu foolish cid Hugh" smiled Edith
Penton. las if you could ever grow
| old"
Tea had been served in the hall of
Penton Lodge, a great oak-beamed
apartment, and most of the house
party had gone TO dress fer dinner.
Only Hugh was left to finish his tea
and his chat with Edith Penton, the
daughter of the house.
The Meadowthorpe Hunt races on
the morrow were the occasion Of the
gathering, and Hugh had only just
arrived.
Hugh Westerly, who had until the
last few months. spent most of his
life in England, was forty-four years
of age, and the worst Of it was that
he was beginning to be aware of that
fact
In his heart, however, Hugh knew
well enough that il was not the differ
ence between English and American
manners which caused this sudden.
rather unpleasant consciousness of his
age The real reason was Edith Pen
ton herself, the daughter of his
fathers old friend Roger PentOn-
Edith with her splendid youthfulness
opd ,;po,tpr u-0vaanboDd Of 4Vvonfv-
four.
81 suppose continued Hugh. that
your brother Dick win ride his own
horse Harvester in the Challenge
Cup?"
"No. Poor Dick is ont West on i'm
portant business. and cannot get back
He wired me to md another rider for
Harvester, but I'm afraid : can't get
one.
"All the good men have mounts IN
the race. I should like to have had
Stanley Borden, but he has promised
to ride Mr.. Bradbury's Druid.
Hugh knew Stanley Borden very
well indeed
No wonder poor Hugh felt sudden
pang that was very much like ieal-
ousy as he pictured SANKEY'S slight
form, as much at ease in a difficult
figure of a cOtillion as 1t was when
leading the field on a good horse in the
finish of a stiff three miles across
country"
When 1t was announced the next
morning at the breakfast table that
Hugh Westerly's offer TO ride Harves-
ter in the Challenge Cup had been ac-
copied, an audible litter ran round the
room.
Most of the younger people present
did not know that Hugh had ridden
many races in England.
BERTHE Norris murmured something
about weight for age which poor
Hugh could not but overhear, and
Stanley Borden. who was staying in
the house. smiled a rather scornful
smile which affected Hugh's nerves
considerably.
When at last. however, the saddling
bugle for the Challenge Gun had
sounded. and Hugh, having weighed in,
was ready to mount, he felt not
little nervous in spite Of himself, and
he wondered whether, after ali, Edith
herself was not laughing at him
little bit.
Once more. however. the feel" Of
the good horse between his knees
gave him confidence.
Hugh was glad TO accept a hint from
| old Watson. Pentfn's head groom.
AIS a proud 'oss. sir" said Wat
son. "and you can't keep i'm back very
long. If e once gets discouraged, 1t
will be hall hoff for today, sir
There were six entries for the Chal-
ienge Cup, and ali of them started.
The starter, with a sweeping glance
which comprehends every one of the
"feld." drops his flag with ii sudden
downward sweep, and the horses skim
over the turf like fight Of swallows
flying close together
Hugh Westerly on Harvester got
away about fourth, a position which
suited him well.
The MeadOWlhorpe course IS q nat
ural one, and the first mile Of the race
was over a literally fair hunting
country"
Hugh had ridden for about half that
distance when Harvester made up his
mind to try conclusions with his rider,
and threw up his head in very deter
mined manner. with the ultimate in
tention of boiling the course.
Much to his regret. Hugh was COM
pelled to give his mount a rather Wig
orous treatment with his spurs.
Grasping him tightly by the head he
administered just one telling slash
with his whip. and then suddenly Har-
vester determined to 90 kindly for the
present. The struggle, however had
cost Hugh his place, and he now found
himself trailing along in the rear.
All the horses had been taking their
fences we'll but they now approached
a natural "in-and-Out" formed hv a