Year: 1865

, AFTER q reception which showed
that their acquaintance was not Of a
recent date, and some preliminary
conversation, the ladv nvailed herself
Of favorable moment to saw: "Ed
ward | want You to do something for
me. 1t will not hurt you in any way,
and will make me yourdebtor rs long
as you live"


"What is it?' asked Lester, tho
the sudden change in the expression
Of his face showed that he had a sus-
picion as TO what was coming.


you must prevent Stella from
winning"


"What for9 How are you concern
ed in the mattnr?'


GAS soon as I heard she was GER
tain to win, | told Hinton TO bet
against her as heavily as it was safe
tn do without exciting suzpicion- IF
she were to win, every jewel ! have,
everything, in fact, l possess, would
pay but n small portion of my loss.


"And why didn't YOU tell Hinton
to back her instead Of laying against
herY'


Because I must have money, and
without rist--and--and---


Exactly" said Lester, walking to
the other enl Of the room; 81 under
stand what you mean


Both were silent for some minutes;
the young man, buried in thought,
kept his eyes fixed on his boots; the
lady, resuming her seat on the sofa,
waited with confidence the moment
when he should again look towards
her. Whatever may have been his
decision, he seemed for time to for
get it in the spectacle of the beauty
Of the lady who was waiting for il -
But hc had to deal with one who had
learned the value Of being methodi
-cnl- and -hnfarc shs- suffered him tC
speak Of other matters, she insisted
ON his consent to her scheme. This
consent she at last obtained.


"And now said she, ''as the mat
ter is settled, l will give you what
you will want to carry it out "


She opened a receptacle in which
ladies who desire to appear iudustri
Gus, keep woods and such things, aud
from tho bottom Of IL drew a common
paste board box, from til box 3 {
took two capsules of tawny color
and about the size of fllbcrt, and
showed them to him; and rs she put
tie box in his hand, she sail:-"TakC
care YOU do not strike them for they
break very easily. Hinton got then
for me long ago, and he says they
will float on water; and if dropped
into the pail from whence q horse is
drinking, will pass down his throat
and remain entire for several hours
He says they are quite harmless, and
that the only effect they will produce
on the animal which swallows then
is one which would excite no suspi
cion, and would not prevent his run
ming. Does linton know anything
about you.'


"Nothing whatever; and he is muct
too cautious aperson to ask ques
tons


When Lester had left her, she sa'
down to think; after a while she rose
and rang the bell, and as she resumed
her seat she calculated:


"At last, my lord, at lastl"


When the Favorite was led into th,
paddock just previous to the race
there was q cry Of admiration wher
her beautiful proportions and appear
ance were revealed by the removal o
the rug which covered her. Sh'
looked about her with an intelligent
curiosity and quiet, subdued manner
almost like timid lady in a draw
ing-room who has been asked to sing
and while aware of superior powers
is yet rather painfully conscious tina
all eyes are upon her as she moye
towards the pianoforte. Cheer
greeted her from her numerous sup
porters as she passed with ligh
elastic tread on to the course; ant
many congratulated Lord--on hi
success, as though it were u thin;
certain. Her preliminary galloI
seemed to justify the anticipation 0
3 her supporters. Tie signal for start
ing was gwen, and away started TIL
many colored riders and horses
C Spreading abroad like cloud at first
, then closing up, to finally drop apar
= piece by piece, the troop dew dow
the course on their return to the goal
The white face of the rider Of Stell
showed in the van, and though ev
q identity held back tightly, she was still
in advance of the others, though TIL
pace had been so unusually fast tina
! these were already distressed; and
was clear at a glance to many ex
perienced eyes that neither whip no
spur could stimulate them to increas
4 ed exertion.


As if Lester had been debating II
his mind what he could do, and hat
decided that he would cease to op
Ipose what il seemed 80 certain woult