University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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10 THE REDWOOD nance il. He knew he could never tell it to her without the greatest shame. Still this thought he cast lightly aside when he remembered how this man had crushed her two years before, No, your Lordship, he muttered aloud, you ' ll feel the sting of that action today, and then let me see how you bear up against — At that moment a trumpet sounded and a voice cried, The Yorkshire Handicap! Fred sprung up and rushed to his stall. Winsome Win was led out in the pink of condition, fairly quivering with life. Fred was helped into the saddle and after a few words of encourage- ment was following the other horses to the track. From the balcony Lord Everleigh could suppress his excitement no longer. He was leaning over the railing excitedly with McLaren and examining the horses closely as they passed the grandstand. His ear was ever open for the acclaims and comments of the crowd. He drunk in eagerly such phrases as That Winsome Win can ' t be held to-day. Say, but Cleopatra is a fine looker. There ' s a horse for you, that Maxwell, etc. As the horses reached the post Mc- Laren whispered to Everleigh, She ' s in great form to-day. I think she ' ll do it easy. Everleigh ' s strained face brightened, but he kept his glass firmly fixed on his horse. Suddenly a great shout went up. They ' re off! and the excited horses shot like so many arrows on their mile run. The whole assemblage rose to its feet and breathlessly followed the ponies around the course. Maxwell takes the lead! was the the shout. Lady Rose, Cleopatra and Larakin follow in a bunch! — On the turn! Maxwell still in the lead! Lady Rose, Cleopatra and Larakin still fighting for place! Winsome Win coming up! — entering the stretch! Maxwell well in the lead! Cleopatra coming up strong! Larakin, Lady Rose and Winsome Win bunched! Then arose a great shout and the crowd went wild with yelling and waving. You ' ve got it, Maxwell, you ' ve got it, stick to it! Come on, Cleopatra, you ' re closing strong. You ' re beside him. Come on; Come on! A few more yards, Maxwell, you ' re sure of it. Come on! Ah! what is this? What is this? Winsome Win! Winsome Win! Passing them before the grandstand. Winsome Win! Win- some Win! Great God! Winsome Win, by half a length! JC JC fC 5JC ijC A quarter of an hour later Lord and Lady Everleigh, having escaped the congratulations of their friends, sat in a room in the club-house listening to the clamor and shout of the crowd without. They were waiting for the lad who had won them a fortune. Presently he entered with McLaren. Lord Everleigh and his wife rushed to greet him. They grasped his hands and showered upon him praise and congrat- ulations. Everleigh then motioned to a

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THE REDWOOD could make the horse lose, and of the feelings of Bverleigh after the race. Perhaps the horse could not win any- way; so much the better; it would save him the trouble of holding her in. Still one thing was certain; Winsome Win, would not win the Yorkshire Handicap. That night he went to the little hotel where his mother was working, but he said nothing of his great offer for the coming week. Knowing his mother ' s honest christian spirit, he feared she would make him give the race up, un- less he ceuld ride his best. And this he could never do, for he felt that at last the time had come for him to square accounts with his Eordship. So he kept silence and reveled in his lucky chance. Every morning that week he rode Winsome Win down at the. Everleigh Estate. The continual sight of the de- tested Lord hardened his purpose of revenge and he smiled as he saw the great care that was taken of Winsome Win, and how anxiously Everleigh watched her movements. He learned also during the week that Lord Everleigh was running not only for the ; 50oo pound purse, but that he had also an immense side bet upon the issue. This only added fuel to Fred ' s hateful passion and he thought with a kind of delight how heavy the blow might be, — perhaps it would practically ruin him, — well, so much the worse for him. At last the great day arrived. The morning passed dreamy and beautiful. Towards the afternoon the race course became the scene of life and activity It was the day of the great race of the season and the crowd that poured in was immense. Banners and pennants were flying merrily in the light breeze. Horns were belching forth asthmatic blasts. Men were shouting; ladies laughing. All was joy and excitement. In no time the grandstand was filled to its capacity with a gay expectant crowd. The betting-booths rang with the shouts of the book-makers and of the people. Even the club-house ve- randas were alive with the eager follow- ers of the horses. Among the latter were the Eord Everleigh and his wife. He kept as cool as possible, but his pale face and the nervous twitchings of his hands betrayed his intense excitement. At times he was spoken to by persons about him, but his answers were more or less disjointed. The great handicap was to be the fourth race. A marked restlessness and surpressed excitement was evident as he sat there through the preceding three. Meanwhile Fred Martin, alias, Jockey Wilson, sat in an obscure corner of the paddock, thinking hard. He had re- ceived his orders and was waiting for the fourth race. His mind dwelt on the outcome of the afternoon, and he smiled a hundredth time as he thought of the position in which he held the Lord Everleigh, — such great hopes to be shattered and what ruin to follow! Surely his debt would be well paid. But again this would be the first dishon- orable thing he had ever done. He knew his mother would never counte-

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THE REDWOOD 11 pile of bank notes on the table. There, my boy, he explained, there ' s your purse of 550! You ' ve made my for- tune to-day, I owe you everything. Fred brushed aside their congratula- tions and picked the roll of bank notes from the table. From the roll he drew a £ 2 note and proffered it to the Lord. Lord Everleigh, I owe you some- thing. Do you remember two years ago, turning a poor woman out of a little cottage on your estate, because she could not at the time pay her rent? She was willing to pay and asked for a little time to raise the money. But you were too heartless and mean aud refused her one chance. Ah! I see you recollect. Lord Everleigh, that woman was my mother and now I ' ll pay for that two month ' s rent. Here, take this, it will cover the debt. And also remem- ber this. Lord Everleigh, that this after- noon you had the closest call to ruiu, God will ever send you. There were big odds against you. For Lord Ever- leigh, when I entered the race I was determined to ruin you. But, — well, — perhaps the horse ran away with me or perhaps a little spark of manliness rose in me and you were given another chance. Think it over well. Lord Everleigh. Good-afternoon. Everleigh stared at the boy amazed and marvelling. Then partly recover- ing himself, he tried to speak, but the boy was gone. He turned and stared at his wife in stupified surprise and amazement. Presently his eyes wandered vacantly to the bank-note which he had uncon- sciously taken from the boy. Mechani- cally he walked to a chair and sat with his head in his hands thinking hard. After a time he looked up. His face was very grave and lacked its accus- tomed color. Quietly he tore the bank- note he held in bis hand into tiny pieces, muttering half to himself, half aloud: It was a noble act and God knows it will not be in vain! Geo. S- de Lorimier, ' n.