CHARLES BACKMAN AND STONY FORD 



server. He knew as if by Intuition whether the 

 horse had pleased or disappointed the inspecting 

 group. The law of kindness was in force in the 

 equine village, and it was rare to see a whip in the 

 hands of a groom. When the Superintendent, John 

 Hogan, wished to check a slight departure from 

 obedience, he simply stooped and picked up a straw 

 and shook it as a warning. 



After the rounds of the stable had been made 

 there was a walk or drive through the pasture, where 

 the brood mares stood up to their knees in grass, 

 and where the foals greeted you with wonder-speak- 

 ing eyes. Here form was closely scanned, blood lines 

 carefully weighed, and hope took root. Many pre- 

 dictions as to the future were made, and the discus- 

 sion often grew warm in the smoking-room pre- 

 vious to luncheon. If Mr. David Bonner happened 

 to be one of the party, Mr. Backman would quietly 

 ask him to look at his watch and see if the hands 

 had traveled a second beyond twelve. " Good gra- 

 cious, yes! " And then the procession formed and 

 marched up to the old-fashioned sideboard and the 

 essence of corn and rye mellowed by time gave an* 

 amber glow to each thin glass and lent wings to 

 fancy. After luncheon the big armchairs placed in 

 the shade of wide-branching trees by the side of the 

 track near the carriage-house stable, were filled with 

 generous-hearted mortals and stop watches caught 

 the quarters, halves, and miles, and opinions were 

 exchanged as to which was the most promising colt. 



67 



