Nebraska Newspapers

    »r two, from winning in a proportion
ally small way. Thus ho showed me
how with a stud, the training expenses
nf which would amount only to hun
dreds, a thousand or two per annum,
taking one year with another, might be
reulized without betting by one who
thoroughly understood the capacities of
his own horses and how to race thxn.
“Give me,” said Nat. "a enuy'j of
nags as good as your mare and it 1,000
rapital, and I ’d undertake to show you a
satisfactory balance sheet at the end of
three years without Looking a single
bet. Stakes are so good now that a soli
tary win will often pay the training bill
of half a dozen horses and leave some
thing in hand to go on with.”
“\Vhy,*then, do not more owners do
it?” I naturally asked.
"Because they are duffers,” Nat an
swered promptly, "and because those
who do know something about it are
never content with n reasonable profit
on their money invested. Did you
ever know a racing man satisfied with
10 or even 20 per cent on his outlay?
Doesn't ho Invariably curse his luck if
he gets less than cent per cent whenever
he happens to win? Betting ruins rac
ing in more ways than one.”
All this was reassuring to me, but
not even Natty’s ingenious talk when
he came down to Bournemouth could
prevail with the muter. She said I was
my own master and must do as 1 pleased,
but she should not help mo with a pen
ny, whatever difficulty 1 got into—
which indeed I neither expected nor
desired her to do. Geraldine, on the
other hand, was much impressed by
Natty’s knowledge, and after his visit
looked on her furs as good as won.
dine, in which they made such shrewd
hits at one another that 1 thought it
must be a case of Benedick and Bea
trice, so thorough appeared their con
tempt for each-othe r’s opinions. Tie -
the putting up at a wayside inn. witli
the improvised luncheon of ham and
eggs, re-enforced by the contents of the
hamper which the mater had thought
fully caused to be placed in the loot of
the carriage—how Natty and l bid en
joy the horns of Dorsetshire ale, the
best, we owned, that wo had drunk since
leaving Oxford.
Luncheon over, wo walked across the
short, springy turf to the stables, where
wo found Pearce, the trainer, awaiting
our arrival. A very good sort of fellow
he appeared. None of your grand gen
tlemen, full of mystery and importance,
who will hardly let an owner look at
his own horse, far less li t him know
what the horse can do, but a pleasant
looking, fresh coinplcxiuued man of
about 50, as honest as Purkiss, out a
deal shrewder. Taking Natty and on
aside, he told us that he proposed to try
both tho horses with one he had there
of a fair class, which had lately won a
good handicap and which ho considered
to be a very reliable runner.
haa made, while 1 did not believe she
would ever win me a race. Other mut
ters also combined to worry me. My
cousin, Richard Dakvn, who now lived
at Stock wood, which he had done np and
made into quite a nice little place, was
making love to Ella, and being pos- i
sessed of comfortable means of course 1
her parents encouraged his efforts to
cut me out. I was not afraid of Ella,
though she seemed to like him well
enough, but I knew it was not fair to
keep a nice girl waiting indefinitely
for a man who might after all never be
able to marry her. I would have done
this at once could we have induced her
father to givo her the £5,000, but this
was exactly what he would not do.
Said he would not think of it until 1
could put into a settlement at least
twice that amount, which iiritated me
exceedingly, tor 1 really loved Ella and
thoroughly abhorred the idea of making
my marriage with her a mere matter
of pounds, shillings and pence.
Still it was coming to that, whether
1 would or no. Of course I could not
marry on my captain’s pay. Ours was
not an expensive regiment, and I got on
well enough on that and on the inter
est on £13.000, which was all my father
had to leave me after providing for my
mother and sister. But marriage was
another matter. There was one thing 1
could do—join the staff corps and ex
change into a regiment of Indian caval
ry, which would give me better pay and
a life that 1 should by no means dislike,
but Ella’s mother made such an outcry
when this was proposed that we had to
abandon it. She did not, however, en
deavor to induce her husband to give
way, but on the contrary did all in
her power to supplant me in her daugh
ter’s affections with Dakyn, who cer
tainly was, according to her method of
gauging men, a more suitable match.
While 1 was deliberating upon these
things I received a most disagreeable
letter from the Rev. Cliolmondely, stat
ing that he had been informed of my
having become an owner of race horse3,
and therefore, as he entertained the
strongest disapproval of everything con
nected with the turf, and as besides J
was in no position to marry liis daugh
ter, he must request mo to resign all
pretension to her hand as well as to
discontinue a correspondence which he
learned had been maint .ined without
Ins knowledge or approval. Ho fur
ther hinted in the most delicate way
that Ella was contemplating an en
gagement with a gentleman of suitable
means and position, and that, under
the circumstances, 1 should have the
good sense to see, etc. But I was much
too angry to see anything except that
he had suggested a falsehood. In my
wrath 1 lit my meerschaum with the
obnoxious letter, but it left a sting be
thing more than that. Heavens, could ,
it be that she was in concert with her
father as he had hinted in his letter?
I saw that ulie danced a good deal with
Dakyu, and the suspicion increased un
til it became unbearable. 1 hardly
knew what to do with myself. 1 was
not sulking: it was nothing else than
sheer sorrow of heart. Never till that
moment had 1 realized what it would
cost mo to lose Ella, i had come to the
ball in the full resolve to offer her her
freedom for her own advantage, but
with no thought that she was already
prepared to take the initiative. At
least, 1 thought, almost with tears in
my eyes, she might be kinder over it. 1
could not dance with any one else in
such a state of mind. I sought out
Geraldine, who was standing with Nat
in an alcove of curtains enjoying an
interval, but she could tell me nothing
Ella had nodded to her as they passed
in the dance, and that was all.
"But. my dear boy,” Jill said, pok
ing at me with her fan.”don't look like
that. Go and danco with all tho pret
tiest girlB in the room. That is the
quickest way to bring her round if
she’s cross with you.”
And Nat’s counsel was the same in
effect, if more sportingly expressed:
“Don’t pull at her, old man. Give
her her head, and she’ll come to hand
presently. ”
Then they whirled off, leaving me
glooming in their alcove until another
youthful couple plunged in out of the
circling throng, the lad glaring at me
with such, evident disgust at finding the
sweet retreat already occupied that i
moved off in confusion.
“Yes, two or three people, hut 1 aui ,
mom hungry now. Please take me.”
"If you will tell >no why*you have
treated me as you have done and say
you aru sorry, p ps 1 will You
must be very hungry to cry ubout it,"
for 1 saw that her eyes, which had been
so coldly defiant all the evening, were
now lull of tears.
Thun, finding ourselves near to one
of the curtained recesses, which was
happily for the moment unoccupied, 1
drew her within it. "Now tell me why
you were so cross, and why you would
not dance with me," 1 said. "1 am
perfectly aware that 1 don't dance bo
well as Dakyn or Dalrymple”
"Yon knew quite well," sobbed Ella, i
“that 1 would—would—a hundred
times rather—d-d-dauce with you than
either of them."
"Then why would you not when 1
asked you?" I inquired pertinently.
" A g-g-girl surely has a right to show
her displeasure when her—her lov—
when you hadn't written to her for more
than a month.” protested Ella, gradu
ally getting the better of her sobs.
“So that's what’s the matter with
youl” I inelegantly rejoined. "Then 1
may presutpe you had nothing to do
with sending the last letter 1 did write
back?”
“Send your letter baek, George! Are
you mad, or am I? You dear, good
old man!” she resumed, when matters
had been explained, "I am as sorry for
you now as I have been for myself all
the time.”
urara our !•) lows talking about cup
horses, handicap horses and platers,
etc., und was under tho impression that
tho animals which ran in handicaps
were of quite an inferior class. This,
Nutty assured me, was hy no means t lit*
case; that nowadays hors's of the high
est class coin|ieted in Mich races, and
cited Isoinmiy, who had made his rep
utation in them, and St. nation, a Ber
by winner, whose greate.it p' l lorinance
bud been to carry a high weight suc
cessfully in tho (Vsuivu. itch. These he
considered the best two horses since
Blair Athol. Skittles, be said, had bent
en a lot of useful animals in her first
essay with the cracks, including Pe
dometer, her former trim nag, and it
was ipiito on tho cards that sho would
one day pull oft a good moo for me.
In this hope 1 was to keep oil running
her at tlio discretion of himself and
Pearce
1, however, was by no means san
guine. I could hardly believe that Pur
kiss, in whom my uncle placed so much
confidence, could have been such a
duffer as Nat made him out, and 1
could not divest myself of the idea that
Brilliant would prove the better of the
pair. 1 had now cjuite decided to run
them, at any rate, for one racing season
and see how I got on. A strict investi
gation of my financial position told me
I was justified in doing so much as this.
The horses, roughly speaking, would
cost*mo £100 a year each to keep them
in training, and other expens: a of entry
and jockeys’ fees, traveling and so on,
might run to £100 more. Against
this, tlio two marcs with their foals
fetched ?3G0, so that I was about all
right for the first year. My mother
wished me to put by this money for my
marriage expenses, but 1 saw that,
could I turn it to account in the way
Natty thought 1 could, it would consid
erably expedite matters with the Chol
mondely-Davenports. I knew the Rev.
Oholmondely well enough to bo assured
that his real objection to turf specula
tions would be confined to such as were
not successful.
Ella was at this time staying with
some friends at Bournemouth, and I saw
her every day. Pleasant days they were
Pleasant days they were to us.
to us, spent in long rides over the breezy
heather, varied by strolls through the
fragrant pines or along the calm shore
at eventide. Ella was by no means
averse to my trying my fortune on the
turf in the way prescribed by Natty,
but stipulated there should be no bet
ting. She said her father was some
what better disposed toward me since
hearing of my having inherited a legacy
from my uncle, but agreed with me it
was better he should not at present be
informed of the character of that leg
acy, of which, so far, he was entirely
ignorant.
“I believe, George. ” she said, "he is
so incensed at Sir Wilfrid’s doings in
that way that he would forbid me ever
to speak to you again. He has said he
will never give me a shilling if I marry
without his consent.”
Then these horses, I declared, must
win us enough to do without the shil
ling, but I was far from sanguine in
my own heart of their being able to do
so.
So passed the summer away, not un
pleasantly, with a little lovemaking and
a good deal of regimental cricket, while
as for work—generally it must be ad
mitted a matter of secondary impor
tance, or no importance at all, with our
fellows—I took a great interest in my
troop, for I had entered the army as a
profession, and it was my ambition to
know my work.
In the autumn I was again at Bourne
mouth on a few days’ leave, and Ella,
having contrived to be there at the same
time, and the horses being now report
ed fit to be tried, we chartered a wag
onette to drive over and see them, Ger
aldine and Ella, Natty Forwood and I.
The mater utterly refused to lend her.
countenance to any turf proceedings
whatever, so Mrs. Fitz Travers, Ella’s
friend, came with us as a chaperon to
the girls. And what a drive we had,
along the banks of the winding Stour,'
reflecting the twin towers of Wimborne
Minster, and on through the ancient
town of Blandford Forum and then up
aver the rolling downs, the women ani
mated by the strong, sweet air, and
Natty on the box, full of fun, inter
haniriw: sharp repartees with Geral
‘‘Not one of your in anu out custom
ers, " ho said, " but a horse as always
runs up to his form.”
He further told us that if either of
mine could beat Pedometer—for such
was the name of the trial horse—or run
well up to him it would be good
enough to enter for any handicap or
weight-for-ago stake.
Then the horses were brought out.
Pedometer was a plain looking, busi
nesslike brown horse, wearing a band
age on his near foreleg, and looking un
dersized, though not really so when you
came to stand beside him. Not at all
the sort of horse to look at that a duffer
would have risked a sovereign on at 20
to 1, but,- as Natty as well as his train
er assured me, “a very useful sort."
Brilliant quite took the shine out of him
when he came forth, arching his neck
and stepping proudly with flaunting
flag and sleek coat gleaming in the sun
like a burnished mirror. An exclama
tion of delight burst from the lips of
the two girls, while Mrs. Fitz Travers
declared she had never seen so beauti
ful a creature. Once more visions of
Ascot, with Ella in dark blue and gold,
floated in my foolish brain, till Natty
gave me a dig in the ribs and asked me
what 1 thought of the mare now.
Well. I must own I should not have
known her. She looked twice the size,
to begin with. Then she moved with
a free, corky action, quite unlike her
former sulky gait, while her bay coat
was much brighter than before, and
though I could still count every rib—
which Natty assured me was inevitable
in a horse prepared for racing—yet her
skin felt more supple and not strained
so tightly over her osseous framework
as it used to be.
“I am sure. Captain Martindale,”
said Mrs. Fitz Travers politely, “that
both your horses will easily beat that
shabby looking one which went on in
front. Indeed I don't see the least use
in trying them. ”
However, as this was the business
which had brought us out, we thought
we might as well go through with it.
So Pearce pointed out to us a hillock
at a little distance from which we could
best see the trial, and then mounting
his white pony cantered after the horses.
The trial xvas quickly over. The
course was a mile and a half, and Pe
dometer brought them along at a merry
pace. I must own the result surprised
us all, except Natty. Brilliant, for all
his good looks and grand airs, which
had so captivated the ladies, was out
paced from the start, and the other two
came on neck and neck. The last half
mile they fairly seemed to fly, but Pe
dometer had always a trifle the best of
it, and knowing his business well made
his effort at the right moment and beat
the mare by half his own length. My
fair companions were somewhat discon
certed, Ella in particular looking in
dined to cry, but Natty was jubilant.
What was he giving her.' he in
quired as the trainer rode up.
“Nothing. They were all at even
weights.”
“That will do,” said Nat.
“I congratulate you, sir,” Pearce
said to me. “You have a good mare. ”
Then we looked over the stables, the
ladies being charmed with the neatness
of the saddle room and brightness of
the steel. And the trainer’s wife gave
us tea, with beautiful cream, in her cot
tage, after which the wagonette picked
us up, and we drove homeward in good
time, the Benedick and Beatrice busi
ness going on all the way, which I ob
served with inward satisfaction, for.
had I been allowed to choose my own
brother-in-law, there was no man I
would have preferred to my old l. end
Natty For wood.
We ran the mare once or twice in
minor races at the back end of the sea
son, but though she ran fairly well she
did not win anything, and my prospects
were not bright. She was generally
fractious at the post, owing to her nerv
ous disposition, though running game
ly enough when once away. 1 was in
clined to be despondent at my want of
success, but Natty cheered me by as
serting she would improve a lot yet.
One piece of luck I had. Brilliant, who
was a good tempered and obliging kind
of animal, was complacent enough to
take to jumping, so when he had qual
ified we put him in a hunter’s flat race,
for which he ran second, carrying 12
stone, which so pleased St. Quentin of
ours, a man with a lot of money, that
he gave me £300 for him, a sum which
would see me through another year with
the mare.
CHAPTER IV.
On the anniversary of dear Uncle
Geoff’s decease I would have been glad
had he never left me his horses, or,
1 having done so, that I had bad the wis
dom to sell them all. Then I should
. have been several hundred pounds to
the good, whereas now, so far as 1 could
, lee, this confounded Skittles would
| cost me all her late stable companions
In my wrath I lit my meerschaum icith
the obnoxious letter.
hind it, inasmuch as it chimed in with
what my own conscience told me. Only
it is one thing to be told one’s duty
by one’s conscience and another to have
it dictated by a pompous, purseproud
—but, gently,! must not abuse my lady
love's father. He actually intercepted
my next letter to Ella and returned it
unopened, 1 felt sure, without her
knowledge. Well, ! should see her at
the Sherburton Hunt ball, when I re
solved 1 would offer her her freedom if
she chose to accept it.
Shortly after receiving the above
mentioned letter my luck in racing took
a turn, for Skittles won the first race
she ran in the new year and inspired
me with the hope that she might do
something after all, her trainer report
ing that she was much improved. It
was only a small stakes at Four Oaks,
but 1 was greatly elated, as may be
imagined. 1 gave Geraldine her pres
ent and had her down to stay with me
for the ball which took place at the end
of the hunting season. A party of os
drove over from the barracks in the
regimental drag, and Natty, who had
just been riding in their point to point
races, was to be there too. He took
me aside as soon as we met and told
me that, as 1 had placed the mare in
bis hands, he had, with Pearce’s con
currence, entered her for the City and
Suburban—as the sporting reader will
be aware, one of the chief spring handi
caps and a great betting race—intelli
gence which 1 received with a lack of
interest that surprised my friend.
‘Why, what s the matter, old chap?
he exclaimed. ‘‘One would think the
mare had gone amiss, or that the fair
Ella jilted you! Where did you dine?
Jon seem a cup too low. It’s rather
early to attack the champagne,but”
"Nonsense!” 1 interposed, and then 1
told Nat about the returned letter and
what had been said about the racing.
‘Like his cheek,” said Nat. "But
the girl had nothing to say to that, you
bet.”
Until tonight I had thought the6ame,
but now i hardly knew, for the cause
of my despondency was this: I did not
enter the ballroom until late.having sat
over the claret at the Digby Grand ho
tel, where we had dined, hearing about
the red coat race and being congratulat
ed upon my own success, and when 1
did so Ella was dancing with Richard
Dakyn. I waited until the music ceased
and then went to ask her for the next
waltz, but she coldly said she was en
gaged a long way on. I thought she
was annoyed at my want of gallantry
in being late, but soon saw it was some
Oh, that ball, how sick I was of it!
Never shall 1 forgot those dreary hours
with the giddy dancers jostling me
hither and thither, and the band din
ning its endless waltzes and polkas into
my weary ears! Nowhere could I find
a refuge. Every corner was occupied
by amatory or merely flirtatious couples
“sitting out,” who resented my ap
proach with indignant scowls. "Cap
ital ball!” said every man I knew.
“Not dancing, old fellow? Let me in
troduce you,” etc. At last, when 1
was meditating a retreat to the hotel
smoking room until it should be over,
before I could escape, the M. F. H. ac
costed me, "Here, Martindale, you are
doing nothing; take in Mrs. Tucking
ton to supper, there’s a good fellow.”
So 1 had to give my arm to a ponder
ous matron just as Ella glided by me
in the arms of Dakyn. He whispered
to her as they passed. Something, to
my detriment of course, i thought, and
she answered with a smile, without
even a glance in my direction. How
lovely she looked, all radiant with the
exercise, and her perfect form swaying
to the rapturous strains of “Parfait
Amour.” They were dancing well.
“What a beautiful girl that Miss
Davenport is! ’ remarked my compan
ion. “Is it true she is fiancee to Mr.
Dakyn?”
“ Most improbable, ” I replied, almost
gnashing my teeth.
“Ah, well, I thought they looked like
it. 1 may be mistaken.” And gra
ciously accepting my reluctant arm the
matron descended with me to the sup
per room, which was just open.
What a banquet that lady did get
through! 1 thought the time would
never come when she would cry," Hold,
enough!” Lobster salad and scalloped
oysters, mayonnaise and ortolan, cold
lamb and pigeon pie, to say nothing of
trifles and tipsy cake, cream and jelly.
I fear 1 did nothing to restrain her,
but, on the contrary, in my own reck
less mood urged her on to fresh exploits
and pastures new. After all, she was
old enough to know her own constitu
tion and what she could really do.
For myself 1 could eat nothing, but
the champagne for a wonder was
good, and Natty could hardly have
called me a cup too low when at last
my matron drew on her gloves, and
beaming on me, for I had served her
well, announced her readiness to re
turn.
Arrived once more in the ballroom,
I bethought me of my sister’s advice
and set to work dancing with vigor.
Although late in the day, there was no
lack of partners, the feminine element,
as is usual at county balls, largely pre
dominating. X was not an accomplish
ed dancer like Dakyn or Dalrymple of
ours; but, animated by pique and per
haps also by champagne, I made up by
energy for what I lacked in skill. The
floor was now in excellent condition,
and after supper everybody danced.
And to the inspiriting strains of the
“Hopscotch Polka” even the jolly broad
backed squires, who usually confined
themselves to quadrilles and lancers,
stamped merrily around till their rubi
cund faces were as scarlet as their hunt
coats. I got on admirably, having
several times for partner my colonel’s
wife, a rather young and very pretty
brunette and the best lady dancer in
the room. We were extremely lively,
and X put out my best wit to draw the
fire of her brilliant dark eyes, that Ella
might imagine we were in the midst of
a hot flirtation. Presently my maneu
vers, or rather Geraldine’s, began to
have the desired effect. I had perceived
for some time that my recreant sweet
heart was covertly taking an interest
in my movements, and once she sighed
slightly as we passed so nearly that my
sleeve brushed her shoulder. X knew
that my time was coming and that X
should not have to go home without at
least an explanation.
After awhile Ella ceased to dance,
and X overheard her evade Dalrymple’s
proposal that he should take her to sup
per. Then I guessed my chance had
come. Relinquishing my partner as
quickly as 1 could, I continued to stroll
unconcernedly past Ella, ignoring a
pleading look from her as 1 passed.
As she had misbehaved she would have
to make the first advance. This she
did. Rising and coming after me, she
laid her dear hand upon my arm and
■aid:
“Oh, George, I am so hungry! Do
take me to get some supper. ”
“Has no one asked you?’ ’ I demanded
•ternly.
the piaco we were m was sumcient
ly screened and the band making
enough din to allow of our consummat
ing the reconciliation in tho usual lov
ers’ fashion, after which we went to
supper, and this time, though tho vi
ands had suffered considerably in the
interval, I found my appetite complete
ly restored.
"So it is not correct that yon have
contracted an engagement with my
cousin during the period of my dis
grace?” I inquired as wo stood together
for the last dance.
"Certainly not, sir. Are yon ready?
Now, mind you don't hurry the time.
That was the most delicious dance
we ever had. When it was over, Ella,
who was staying with some friends in
the town, had t > go. Her chaperon
was already yawning. 1 ■ l shall look
more sharply alter my correspondence
in future,” she said as she hade me
good night. "Mind, if Miss Skittles
fails in her duty. 1 am ready for the
staff corps and India. ”
How we should ever have got home
that morning, except for Natty For
wood, I do not know. Major Harkness.
the only good whip in the regiment,
who had driven us over, was far too
overcome by the heat of the room to
take the ribbons going home, and the
chief would not allow any of the .young
sters to drive. The champagne, he
said, had been too good.
"You must drive, Martindale," he
said.
“I, colonel? 1 have never driven
four horses in my life. ”
“Then you must get a man from the
inn.”
But, to avoid this indignity, I ap
pealed to Nat. “Like a bird, ” he said.
So we put the major inside with his
wife and the colonel and young Phipps,
who was already asleep, and Natty took
tho reins, with Geraldine in her new
furs on the box beside him, while Mis.
Colonel and 1, with the other fellows,
got up behind them. And away we
went with lamps flaring and horn toot
ing and wheels humming through the
sleeping town and out into the open
country till the dawn overtook us and
put our lamps to shame. Nat tooled
us home in safety after a delightful
drive, and then the indefatigable youth,
though he had ridden four miles of the
stiffest part of the Crackmore Vale the
preceding day and danced all night,
played nap until breakfast, after which
he accepted a mount with the South
Dorset, which met that morning at the
barracks.
CHAPTER V.
As will be imagined, I looked with
some anxiety for the telegram which
would give us the result of the City and
Suburban. Natty went up to see the
lftare run in this her first race of im
portance, but I was unable to, so many
of ours being on leave at the time.
Nat’s wire gave: “Cork Jacket, first;
Retrenchment, second; Lady Comely,
third. Your mare ran well.” Ran
well, confound her! How did she run
well when she didn’t even get a place?
That was always their story, Nat’s and
Pearce’s. Perhaps they would have
been less satisfied if they had had to
pay her training bill at the end of the
year. However, there was no need to
bother about that, for I had the money
in hand, and, moreover, she soon won
a small race again at Leicester and
another at Derby. This was all very
well, but it would not enable me to
marry Ella. I wanted to pull off a coup
and have done with it.
It appeared from Natty’s letter that
the mare did run extremely well at Ep
som, although I had been discontented,
finishing in fact close up behind the
leaders. She was very nearly first class,
Natty said, and my turn would come
before long, but I must not let her win
too many small races lest she should
attract too much attention from the
handicappers. Acting on this idea, we
ran her but a few times during the
summer months when the ground was
hard, hoping to get her well in for some
of the autumn handicaps. So there was
no Ascot for me with Ella in the blue
and gold. But no matter. All 1 as
pired to now was the winning of some
good handicap which would bring me a
couple of thousands or so to put in El
la’s settlement.
I learned a lot about racing from
Nat—enough to see very plainly what
an awful mess 1 should have made of
my uncle’s legacy but for his superior
knowledge. Of course I knew that the
classic races, so to speak—Derby, Oaks,
St. Leger and so on—were the great
things to win and did not understand
much about these handicaps. I had
Meanwhile my relations with Ella
remained m statu quo. 1 could seldom
see her now in consequence of tho ac
tion taken by her parents, who contin
ued to press Dakyn upon her with what
»ecmcd to me abominably had taste,
for, though there might be nothing
against my cousin Richard, yet a girl
of Ella’s sense might he supposed to
know with which of her suitors she had
tho best hope of happiness, and she had
already signified her choice. Neverthe
less it came hard on me that, while he v
was allowed free access to my lady
love, 1 was never permitted to see her.
60 that whatever communications pass
ed between ns were necessarily of a
semiclandestine character, and this was
both irksome and undignified to persons
of full age and possessed of their lair
share of common sense. Had 1 been
in parliament at this time. I should cer
tainly have endeavored to bring in a
bill for the limitation of parental au
thority in respect of grown up daugh
ters. 1 was particularly annoyed about
it for my mother’s sake, who, while
fully approving of Ella, resented this
treatment of her son as an indignity to
his family, which she naturally held to
be quite as good a ono as the Cholmon
delv-Davenports. In consequence she
urged me to give up Ella, and 1 was
daily in dread of her making it a point
of duty to herself that 1 should do so.
There are few more disagreeable situa
tions for an honorable man to be in
than to be engaged to a girl under such
circumstances. There was no valid
reason for giving it np and little satis
faction in continuing the engagement.
Happily my interview with Ella at the
ball had removed from me all doubts
as to her constancy, as well as any jeal
ousy 1 might have felt toward my rival.
With what amount of honor my cous
in Richard behaved toward me at this
time 1 have never quite known. We
did not often meet, hut when we did
we were civil enough to each other,
and no word about Ella ever passed be
tween us. Some one, however, un
doubtedly did at this time spread a very
nasty report concerning me, that I was
ruining myself by betting, as my uncle
had done who left me tho horses, and
that, having been a poor man to start
with, 1 was already on my last legs.
Now, this report, although absolutely
untrue, was calculated to do me serious
mischief under my present circum
stances. I felt sure that it must have
reached the ears of the Davenports be
fore it came round to me, and no doubt
they would make use of it to prejudice
me with Ella. 1 had no misgivings as
to her waiting for an explanation from
me, but meanwhile it would make her
anxious, and I could not remember that
I had ever told her of my resolution to
have nothing to do with the bookmak
ers, although I had entered upon their
domain. The repoi t, at any rate, gained
ground, and at length the colonel,
seeing me perhaps more gloomy and re
served than I was wont to be, asked me
about it and appeared greatly relieved
when I tcld him there was not the
slightest foundation for such a report.
But he said kindly enough:
l am aencea glaa to near it. l don t
like to interfere in matters of a private
nature, but I do wish. Martindale, you
could see your way to getting rid of
those race horses. If you don’t bet
yourself, they encourage your brother
officers to do so, and I’m afraid some
of the youngsters may be led into losing
more than they can afford for the honor
of the corps. An occasional steeple
chase I don’t mind, but when a man
takes to flat racing there’s the devil to
pay. You’ll take what I say in good
part, I know, Martindale.”
“Certainly, colonel,” I replied, and
hastened to explain that I had but one
horse left and was desirous to sell that
so soon as I could do so advantageously.
Shortly after this news came from
Pimperne. where the mare was being
trained, that she had overpowered her
lad in a gallop and bolted across the
downs; that she had run so far and so
Btoutly as to make it evident to her
trainer that she was a stayer of no com
mon order, and that, acting upon this
informal trial, they had resolved to ac
cept for her in the C’esarewitch, for
which she had been entered, and accord
ingly she was to be trained for a dis
tance and reserved for that race. In
order to give her the best possible chance
I was persuaded to pay a considerable
3um to retain the services of one of the
best lightweight jockeys who happened
! to be disengaged. When the weights
' were published, it was found she had
been leniently dealt with, being called
! upon to carry no more than seven stone
! two, and soon I had the satisfaction of
I seeing the name of my horse figuring in
the “latest betting”—a pretty figure
she was at too—30 to 1. It did not ap
pear as though the professionals thought
much of her chance. Still somebody
must have backed her.
It soon transpired that two or three
of our fellows had done so, whereat I
groaned in spirit, remembering the
colonel’s misgivings. Feeling sure they
had done this foolish thing merely from
esprit de corps, I went to Phipps and
Dalrymple and offered to take their
bets off their hands, representing that
the management of the mare was not
in mv hands, and that it might be
(Continued on sixth page.)