socially precise girl in the
grand-stand, near, which, now, was filling with the gallantry and
beauty of Kentucky; but she did not let her nervous tremors conquer her.
There was no other way to save the day for Layson, and, somehow, the day
must certainly be saved.

The Colonel, now, spoke very seriously as she stood there, shrinking
from his gaze. There was not a smile upon his face. It was plain that he
regarded the whole matter with the utmost gravity.

"Now, little one, you begin to realize what this means," said he.
"Or--no, you don't and I've got to be square with you if it spoils the
prettiest horse-race ever seen in old Kentucky. I tell you, my dear
child, we're mighty particular about our women, down here in the
bluegrass. We'd think it an eternal shame and a disgrace forever for one
of them to ride a public race in a costume like the one that you have
on, and it would mean not less than social ruin to the man that married
her. If anyone should find it out, what you are going to do might stand
between you and your happiness. I'm warning you because I know I ought
to. Think it over and then tell me if you're willing to face it--willing
to take all the risks."

"I don't need to think it over," Madge said firmly. "I said as I'd gin
up my happiness to save him, an' I will. Colonel, I've got on my
uniform, I've enlisted for th' war, an' I am goin' to fight it through!"

"A thoroughbred!" he cried. "A thoroughbred, and I always said it of
you. Come on, little one."

CHAPTER XVII

Brilliant as a garden of flowers was the grand-stand where the fairest
of old Kentucky's wondrous women were as numerous as were her gallant
men; full of handsome figures were the lawns, where old Kentucky's youth
and manhood strolled and smoked and gossipped of the day's great race to
come; like an ebon sea in storm was the great crowd of blacks which in
certain well-defined limits crowded to the rail about the track. The
blare of the band kept the air a-tremble almost constantly, the
confused, uneven murmur of a great crowd filled the pauses between
brazen outbursts. Everywhere was life and gayety, intense excitement, as
the moment for the starting of the famous Ashland Oaks approached. The
cries of the book-makers rose, strident, from the betting-ring; on the
tracks the jockeys, exercising or trying out their mounts, were, each
after his own kind, preparing for the struggle of their lives;
stable-boys, and the hundred othe