Suddenly they notice that Robin Adair, who has been victor in a dozen such races, begins to show signs of distress. The foam covers his dark chest, and his eyes flash uneasily. It is all that his rider can do to urge him on with whip and spur. There is only one more furlong to cover. Robin Adair and little Queen Bess are side by side, neck to neck, both increasing their speed with every stride. Suddenly Robin, the great Robin Adair, falters ever so slightly. The seething mass of men and women hold their breath. Then, quick as a flash, as if shot from a bow, gallant little Queen Bess passes him. A great cry breaks from the vast multitude of spectators. One instant later, and the cry has deepened into a mighty yell. Little Queen Bess, with every muscle strained, passes under the wire--a winner! The next instant she is hidden from sight by the eager thousands who are crowding and pushing one another to catch a glimpse of the winner. Jay Gardiner stands for a moment as if dumbfounded. He is hardly able to credit the evidence of his own senses. "Queen Bess had won!" cried the golden-haired girl by his side, and he answers a hoarse--"Yes." The girl laughs, and the sound of that laugh lingers in his memory all the long years of his after-life. "And I have won!" she adds, shrilly. Again he answers, in that same hoarse monotone--"Yes!" Before he has time even to think, Sally Pendleton turns around to her father and mother, crying triumphantly: "Mamma--papa, Mr. Gardiner wants me to marry him. My hand is pledged to him; that is, if you are willing!" The young man's face turned as white as it would ever be in death. The effect of her words can better be imagined than described. Mr. Pendleton stared at his daughter as though he had not heard aright. Mrs. Pendleton was dumbfounded. And Louise--poor Louise!--to her it seemed as if life had ended for her. Mr. Pendleton recovered himself in an instant. He had been quite sure that Mr. Gardiner preferred his elder daughter Louise to his younger daughter, merry, rollicking Sally. "I am sure, I am very well pleased," he said, heartily extending his hand to Mr. Gardiner. "Certainly I give my consent, in which my wife joins me." Jay Gardiner's face flushed. He could not make a scene by refusing to accept the situation. He took the proffered hand. Mrs. Pendleton rose to the occasion. "If he prefers Sally, that is the end of it as far as Louise is concerned. Sally had better have him than for the family to lose him and all his millions," she thought, philosophically. Jay Gardiner's friends congratulated the supposedly happy lovers. Louise spoke no word; it seemed to her as though the whole world had suddenly changed; her golden day-dreams had suddenly and without warning been dispelled. During that homeward ride, Jay Gardiner was unusually quiet. His brain seemed in a whirl--the strange event of the afternoon seemed like a troubled dream whose spell he could not shake off, do what he would.