Year: 1865

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content, till they came to a part of
the plain perfectly free from obstruc.
tions, here the cloth was stripped
from her and her bright and glis-
tening coat flashed back the light from
her sides with quite dazzling effect.
The fairest lady never had her dress
adjusted with more scrupulous care
on her bridal morn than was bestow.
ed in placing and securing the sad.
die on the beautiful animal, nor could
she have shown more amusingly by
her little pettish impatience, the effect
Of over indulgence. The propara-
tions having been completed, the
trainer assisted the jockey to mount,
then threw his legs lightly over the
saddle, and the two animals attempt
ed to go Off with a rush, but were
soon checked, and kept at q moderate
speed till the circulation had been
gradually increased.


At Klinkman's Folly, Dawkins,
who had been looking about in all di-
rcctions to see if any human being
were visible, gave the order and the
horses went away swiftcr than the
wind. There were no coquettish
tricks now on the part of the mare;
emulation on the part of both animals
absorbed every other feeling, and it
was beautiful to see the eagerness
expressed in the eye OF the creature,
as she flew along side by side with
her companion. The trial was soon
over, and one would almost believe
she had the same desire which a wo.
man feels when she gained q victory
over an opponent of the opposite sex
to console him for the modification
she had inflicted, there was such q
subdued soothing expression evinced
In the way in which she gently strokcd
her head against his neck.


On the evening of the same day, q
similar trial was attended with 4 sim
liar result, and the following morning
she was occupying her own particular
stable, from which she had been re-
moved for the purpose of the trial.


The next day, Dawkins' brother
arrived and returned to London with
instructions to back the mare for an
amount, which, if she lost, would bc
tue ruin Of her trainer, and letter to
the owner. which ran thus:


"MY LoRD:-Thc mare is altogether
safe. ! have put my last penny on
her.


Only five days had to elapsc
before the arrival of the great
Wednesday which was to effect tho
future of so many persons. Thoma,
Dawkins, n brother Of the trainer, had
the opportunity of getting the larges
oids against the mare, though as soon
as it became generally known that he
was backing her, the odds offered
against her at once diminished; and
these fell lower and lower when hel
owner, who was noted for the open
uprightness of his conduct in regard
to sporting matters, backed his horse
as long rs any odds were offered
against it.


On the Friday previous to the race,
lady was lying on a sofa in rather
small but exceeding handsomely
furnished room idly glancing at the
pages Of novel, which she got tnro'
at q great rate, rs she read only those
which were capable of exciting q sen
sation in the mind Of person to
whom strong and exciting sensations
were 4 matter of daily experience. -
The light which allowed to stream III.
to the room through two large open
windows, illuminated every feature
Of face which was considered beau
tiful by those who follow the fashion
in this, as in other things, but in re-
ality WAS inferior in respect to that of
many who were scarcely noticed by
the men who were not ashamed TO
class themselves among her adorers.
The expression was gentle and intel
ligent; not ut all that of one who de-
sired attention; in fact, it was even
quieter and more subdu5d than is
usual with women who possess fewer
attractions.


Her occupation WIS interrupted by
the entrance Of one of her own sex
with letter; this letter it did not
take her long to read, and all that
was necessary for the clucidaton OF
our narrative to say is, that 1t was
written by Edward Lester. the jock.
ey, and contained the information
that the mare was shure to win, and
that her cwner had backed her for
an immense sum.


Alter reading the letter several
times, to impress it on her memory,
she took it into an adjoining room,
lighted match and in an instant it
was reduced to ashes. She returned
to the sofa, but not to resume her
novel, and there was something now
on her mind which darkened her coun.
tenance and banished from it the ex.
preston Of contented enjoyment of
which it had exhibited just before
After ruminating for some minutes,
she arose and opened one of those
pretty caskets which the french send
over here in such profusion; from
this she took letter, and as she
read it,her checks became scarlet, her
breathing quick ard troubled, and
she had scarcely strength enough to
stagger to chair Her agitation on
reading this old letter proved that her