Part 4 (2/2)

”Well,” he said, ”I fancy Fides myself”

”Fides!” said his friend, ”why, she ain't in it She won't see home

Raceland's the horse for your money; she's favorite, and there isn't any second choice But Fides! Why, she's simply impossible Raceland beat HER last Suburban”

”Yes, I remember,” said the man in the white hat, ”but I fancy Fides”

Then another chap said to hih on a dust track on a sunny, pleasant day, but she can't ran in thepowers She's a pretty one to look at, but she's just a 'grandstand' ladies' choice She ain't in it with Raceland or Erica The horse YOU want is not a pretty, dainty flyer, but a stayer, that is sure and that brings in good ood money Why, I can name you a dozen better'n Fides”

”Still, somehow, I like Fides best,” said the obstinate man in the white hat

”But Fides will take the bit in her mouth and run away, or throw the jock or break into the fence She isn't steady She's all right to have a little bet on, just enough for a flyer, but she's not the horse to plunge on If you're a ht put some of it up on her, but, as it is, you want to put your money where it will be sure of a 'place,' anyway Now, let me mark your card for you?”

”No,” said the man, ”what you all say is reasonable, I see that; but, sootten nohether Fides won or not, and whether she landed thewhy a winner or sent him home broke But, in any event, that is quite immaterial, the story siards horses and--other uncertain critters I have no doubt but that the Methodist hter would have made Hiram happy if he had loved her, but he didn't No doubt Anne ----, Nan ----, Katy ---- and Maude ---- would have made me happy if they would have consented to have me and I had happened to love them, but I fancied Fides

But now since I have scared you sufficiently, let h money to back any horses just at present, and before I put any money up on any one of them for the Matrimonial stakes, I will ask you first to look over the card and give ive you a fair warning, at any rate

”You're my sweetheart, I'm your beau”

dick

NEW YORK, May 29, 1890

This is just a little good night note to say hoish I ith you down at that dear old place and howlovelier and sweeter and prettier everyday and I know a pretty girl when I see 'em, Fides, for instance But I won't tease you about that any ht which I am in doubt whether to send off or not I think I will keep it until I read it to you and learn what you think

Mr Gilder has asked e with Mrs Gilder and dear Mrs Cleveland and Grover Cleveland, when he reads the poeht a book on decorations, colored, and I a what I want, like a boy with a new pair of boots

Good-night, ular work on The Evening Sun, reat part, of his leisureof short stories, and had azine to do a series of short sketches of New York types

Evidently fearful that Richard riting too ain, :

PHILADELPHIA, 1890

DEAR dick:

I wouldn't undertake the ”types” For one thing, you will lose prestige writing for ----'s paper For another, I dread beyond everything your beginning to do hack work forof decadence both in work and reputation for you I know by in to write because it ”is a lot ofyour best work You e Lewes e Eliot wisely

He stopped her hack work Kept her at writing novels and soon one each year brought her 40,000 I a There is another which you understand better than I-- Mind your Mother's advice to you--now and all the ti it” But you won't starve You'll get your dinner at Martin's instead of Del run Anyhow, 1000 for 12,500 words is not a great price