Allerton and Axtell

by Gary Lee Martinson

“I see,” Gilbert said very quietly. “Do you have any romantic interludes planned?”

  “You are no gentleman,” Clara whispered and began to giggle. She looked up and saw her father was staring at her. He looked very angry about something. She could only speculate he had recognized Gilbert. Clara quickly stopped giggling, then looked down at her plate as if she had just been severely chastised.

  Mr. Groober who was seated next to Mrs. Williams, leaned over to say something to her. She nodded with a distasteful look on her face and calmly got up. She spoke briefly to Mrs. Purdy who was seated on the other side of Mr. Groober. Both, Clara and Gilbert watched the situation as it unfolded. They had a feeling something was going to be a seating arrangement change. Gilbert secretly reached for Clara’s hand under the table, and squeezed it tightly.

  Mrs. Williams then walked over to Clara with Mrs. Purdy close behind. “Clara my dear,” Mrs. Williams politely asked while giving them the hint of regret. “Your father wishes to have you seated next to him. He says he hasn’t had much time to talk to you lately and would truly appreciate your company this evening.”

  “Of course,” Clara responded politely. Gilbert rose up quickly and pulled the chair out for Clara assisting her as a gentleman. He then remained standing to assist Mrs. Purdy, into the seat next to him.

  Mrs. Groober did not recognize Gilbert, she thought it was strange that Clara was moved next to her husband. Gilbert tried not to look in Mr. Groober’s direction. However, it was impossible to avoid the inevitable stare of Francis Groober throughout the dinner.

  Clara looked down at her plate through most of the dinner, only looking up when another young gentleman toward the end of the table dropped his fork to the floor. The fork was quickly replaced by a servant. She was able to catch Gilbert’s glance for a brief moment. Gilbert could see the dinner was torturing both of them. He thought, or hoped, it was torturing Mr. Groober as well. Gilbert tried to think of a polite way to excuse himself from the dinner, but did not wish to embarrass the Williams’s.

  Mrs. Purdy was always a delightful lady, and this evening would prove to be no different. She was aware of the situation and took it upon herself to ease the tension. The two of them carried on a fine conversation that often was highlighted by suppressed laughter. Clara felt herself to be isolated from everyone else, especially from Gilbert. She found herself jealous when she noticed Gilbert and Mrs. Purdy laughing.

  After dinner the men retired to the front room of the house. The women, including Clara, went to the parlor for tea. The hot day had left the house warm so the fireplaces remained unlit. A few of the men went out on to the porch to smoke their favorite cigars.

  Mr. Williams made a gutsy attempt to engage Gilbert in a conversation with Mr. Groober. Mr. Williams knew of the situation between them. He felt Gilbert was keeping to himself and thought this may be a way to get him involved in a conversation. “Francis,” Mr. Williams boldly spoke gesturing Francis toward Gilbert and himself. “Have you ever met Mr. Gilbert Fenny?”

  Mr. Groober showed no expression when he answered, “Yes, I met him years ago.” Both Gilbert and Mr. Groober extended their hands to one another like gentlemen. It was a very cold hand shake.

  “Gilbert takes care of my horses better than anyone else can.” Mr. Williams boasted on behalf of Gilbert. “I wouldn’t be surprised both Axtell and Allerton would not have been able to break two-thirty without his care. I owe him a great deal of thanks.”

  “You give me too much credit, sir,” Gilbert responded without expression.

  “I am aware of his capabilities with, ‘horses’.” The way Mr. Groober said, ‘Horses’, made it clear to Gilbert, that Mr. Groober thought he could care for horses, but not for his daughter.

  Mr. Williams either ignored the reference or was not aware of it, when he added, “He is also one of most honest and hard working men I know.” This statement coming from Mr. Williams said to anyone about anyone, would have been excepted as undeniable proof of a man’s good character. Being it was spoke of Gilbert, it carried no weight with Mr. Groober.

  Mr. Groober could not hold his anger in check. He spoke loud and clear, “All do respect Charles, I for one know this boy has forever impugned my daughters virtue. For that reason, I can never speak kindly of him.” The angry words resinated through the room as other conversations stopped. As the silence fell throughout the room, Mr. Groober added, speaking directly to Gilbert face to face with fire in his eyes, “Stay away from Clara, or so help me you will regret it.” Mr. Groober then politely nodded to his host and left the room.

  He entered the parlor full of chattering women and stood there as one by one the women noticing a man had entered their domain and fell silent. Mrs. Groober looked to her husband, “What is it Francis?”

  “Mrs. Groober, Clara, gather yourselves please, we are leaving.” He said coldly.

  Mrs. Williams unaware of the confrontation spoke out, “Francis, won’t you stay to see the house.”

  “I think not,” he said bluntly.

  “Francis, I really would love to stay to see the house.” Mrs. Groober pleaded.

  Mrs. Williams added quickly realizing that there was tension in the air, “Betty,” she said softly to Mrs. Groober, “Why don’t you and Clara come out for lunch tomorrow and I’ll show you the house then.”

  Mrs. Groober seemed to have been relieved by the fine gesture of Mrs. Williams, “I would love to except your fine invitation, Nellie. We shall come out around noon. If that is all right.”

  “Wonderful,” Mrs. Williams replied.

  The Groober’s left the home quietly with very soft polite good evenings from them and the other guests as they departed. It was a scene that left everyone speechless wonderment of what took place. Mrs. Groober could be heard outside asking her husband what was wrong. He did not respond to her inquires.

  Mrs. Williams was quick to save the day, she lightly and politely asked, “Who would like a tour of the house?”

  There was a flurry of excitement from the ladies. The guests were treated to a grand tour of the new home. The Williams’s new home was built forty-six feet by sixty-two feet and was three stories high. The foundation was concrete and brick made extra thick to hold the massive weight of the house. The walls were constructed of full two by six studding with lathe and plaster doubled in thickness. The trim work was specially milled and shipped in. As the trim came in, each piece was labeled with the owners name and the room it was to be used in, such as ‘C W Williams - Parlor’. There were several different species of wood involved in the trim and fret work. The siding and outside ornaments were also labeled.

  There were different types of wood in each room. There was birds-eye maple in the front room, oak in the dining room, and cherry in the downstairs parlor. There were six fireplaces in the manor, one located in the dining room, front room, downstairs parlor, upstairs parlor, the den and the master bedroom. Each fireplace was faced with Italian red marble and above each one was a four by six- foot mirror lined with ornamented wood. All the fireplaces had metal plates in the backs of them, that would help to radiate heat into the rooms.

  The main bathroom upstairs had a claw leg tub with hot and cold running water. The tub had cast iron legs ornamented in a head shape and a bronze ornamented plaque on the tub side. The tub sat on a marble plate. There were five and a half bathrooms including a full bath in the servants quarters on the top floor. The servants’ quarter’s was connected to the main level by a narrow staircase that had turns at the base of each level. There was also a brass button placed on the floor in the dining room to summon servants.

  The first floor rooms had inlaid parquet floors of a half dozen different woods arranged ecstatically for a unique mosaic design. The dining room had square and rectangled shaped parquet flooring with diamond and other shaped parquet trimming the outside fringes of the floor. The front room was done in a similar fashion using
six different types of wood in the parquet floor.

  There was fresco work on the walls in the foyer supporting the stairwell. There was a beautiful large stain glass window above the landing halfway to the second floor.

  There was wood fret work throughout the lower level of the house running halfway up the walls. Each room had its own individual design of fret work. The doors on the main floor each had stained-glass transoms above them.

  The upstairs was constructed in a more conventional manner. There were three bedrooms, an upstairs parlor, a bathroom and the nanny’s room, which was connected to the nursery by a door through a walk-in closet.

  The attic was partially finished off in two rooms with bath facilities. The attic had a water line that received water from the eaves draining into a cystine around the house. From this cystine the water was pumped up into a water tank located on the third floor attic. The third floor attic was the servants’ quarters.

  The light fixtures throughout the house were both gas and electric. There were brass chandeliers throughout the main floor and a beautiful crystal chandelier in the main floor parlor. The front entry way was elegantly wooded with a decorative wrought iron web above the entry way to the hall. There was a large porch that wrapped around the south and east sides of the house. The house sat on a low rise overlooking Rush Park, directly across from the main show barn.

  The townspeople of Independence were very proud of the facility. The balloon shaped track was expected to be the fastest track ever built. With this in mind, Mr. Williams would expect to attract horsemen wanting to contend for records. The offering of large purse prizes would insure many horses would be entered. Many magazines around the country advertised the planned six- day meeting in late August as the meet of the decade. The entry list grew quickly and filled with horses from all around the country.

  Clara secured a job at the Vienna Café for the week of Fourth of July and the August Meeting. The Vienna Café planned to have a booth at the track during the meeting. She would remain in Independence, staying at her aunt and uncle’s home.

  Chapter Nine

  The Fastest Track On Earth

  The Fourth of July celebration, started as usual with the parade downtown. Many families planned a picnic lunch wherever a family could find an open spot to plot themselves. They would eventually find a way out to Rush Park to watch the local horsemen proudly race their horses. There would be an exhibition trotted by Allerton in an attempt to lower his own record in front of the home crowd on the new track. He had re-injured his ankle in a race in Detroit prior to July 4th, so Mr. Williams decided to breed him for the remainder of the 1890 racing season.

  They worked Allerton only to keep him fit not looking to overwork him. Mr. Williams felt Allerton meant a lot to the people here, and they should get a chance to see him. He wouldn’t push him to hard, but enough to give the crowd a thrill.

  Clara was at the parade, but Gilbert dared not approach her while her father was nearby. They did see each other and exchanged smiles several times. After the parade, Clara went to the track to assist setting up the booth for the Vienna Café under the stands. Clara searched frantically to find Gilbert in the breaking crowd. When she saw him, she gestured for him to follow her. Gilbert made his way through the crowd and caught up with her quickly. He walked next to her as if they were merely walking, not as a couple. They passed by several houses with their owners having lunch on their front porches.

  Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Purdy drove past them in their carriage, Mrs. Purdy looked back at them showing a big smile of approval. The two felt more comfortable with themselves. Clara had been gone from Independence for so long most people did not recognize her. There were a few classmates of Gilbert’s who said, ‘Hi,’ to them as they went by. Even a few of Clara’s old friends, that wouldn’t speak to her after she befriended Gilbert years ago, acknowledged them.

  There were many People at Rush Park to have a better choice of seats. Gilbert directed her to a semi-private area to say, ‘good-bye’. Clara quickly kissed him good-bye, then ran off to work. Gilbert, dazed by the kiss, left for the stables to get the horses ready. It was a spectacular moment as the stands filled with excited people. The owners were boasting to one another and having friendly wagers among themselves.

  Late in the morning, there was a competition between the various fire departments around the county. They were timed to hitch up their horses, run them around the old half mile track twice before they dismount and fill a tub with water. The departments were from Hazleton, Jesup, Quasqueton, Fairbank, Winthrop and Independence. The participants all started out dry and proud, but ended up wet and muddy.

  The first official race on the new track was between C. E. Purdy’s filly, Crete, and Charles Turbush’s mare, Kit Smoker. The filly Crete was the favorite to win, but she was skiddish from the noise of the crowd. She awkwardly won the race by a neck, but was penalized for running.

  Mr. Williams had entered Barnhart, the full younger brother of Allerton, who was able to distinguish himself very well in all his heats. The crowd was anxiously waiting for the appearance of Allerton later in the day. There was racing at the track that enlightened the crowd as men from around the county raced their horses.

  One horse got away from Mr. Dobbs, entertaining the crowd watching him chase after the trotting horse and empty sulky. The horse would stop for a moment, but the minute Mr. Dobbs got close, it would bolt off. He could be heard screaming coarse words. Everyone laughed so hard they couldn’t have helped catch the horse if they wanted to.

  Finally, a group of clowns, that was entertaining the crowd between races, assisted him by stalking the beast, nearly cornering him twice. The clowns intentionally stumbled and bumbled the attempts for the laughs. Mr. Dobbs was so disgusted and embarrassed by the ordeal that he retired for the day. One man from the fence near the stands called out to him, “I think we ought to hook you up to a sulky.”

  Mr. Dobbs shouted back in an amusing manner, “I certainly outran all the other sulky drivers in my heat.” He waved to the crowd as he led his horse off the track. “I believe I will retire while I am on top.” The crowd laughed.

  There was a clown show that took place in front of the grandstands, that was anti-climactic after the spectacle Mr. Dobbs had displayed. The clowns were the first to admit they could not top the running of Mr. Dobbs.

  Finally, Allerton was escorted out onto the track by Mr. Williams and Mr. Hussey. Allerton made two exhibition trots. In his first exhibition, he trotted 2:18 setting his own new record. Than Mr. Williams trotted him again and lowered it to 2:16 ½. Allerton’s performance, dispelled any doubts that he can still compete with the best.

  Clara had gotten away from the concessions when Allerton made his exhibition trot. She found Gilbert where he said he would be, near the entrance to the track on the west side. She stayed close to him but did not speak to him. Her father was nearby, and did not want to be seen talking to him. Gilbert knew the situation and did not pursue a conversation. He pointed down to his feet and held up eight fingers. Clara nodded in agreement and went back to work after the exhibition.

  At eight o’clock that evening, Gilbert was at the west entrance to the track once again. The sun cast a long shadow of the grandstands over Rush Park. The crowd gathered again for the fireworks to be set off at nine that night.

  Gilbert said quietly, “Meet me at the main barn entrance in fifteen minutes.” Clara looked confused, like she wasn’t sure which building that was. He noticed her confusion “That’s the big new barn over there.”

  She nodded in agreement, then went their separate ways quietly. Fifteen minutes later they both showed up at the north entrance of the main show barn. The horses had all been tucked away nicely for the evening and there was not a soul around the barn. Gilbert noticed how she looked so beautiful in the setting sun light. There was a rich red and orange glow with a highlighted silvery cloud scene in the weste
rn sky. They sat down and watched the sun disappear over the horizon until the final sliver slipped away.

  “It is a beautiful sunset,” Gilbert said softly.

  “The most beautiful sunset I ever experienced,” Clara said as she leaned into Gilbert and tucked her head comfortably on his shoulder. “They’ll be starting the fireworks soon.” Clara said.

  “Yeah,” he replied.

  “I would rather miss them and stay here with you.” Clara said as she thought, “Do you have a window in your little apartment?”

  “Yeah, while their there, we’re here, alone.”

  She smiled, “Could we see the fireworks from your window. We would be certain not to be seen there.”

  “I don’t know.” Gilbert didn’t want to get caught in that situation.

  “If it doesn’t bother me, why should it bother you?” Clara spoke out sternly. “Nothing is going to happen up there.”

  “This reminds me of Eve talking Adam into something,” Gilbert said, “Nothing will happen up there. If we are seen, it would ruin any chance we have of winning your father’s approval.”

  “Nothing is going to get my father’s approval.” She opened the door to the barn slightly and squeezed through it. Gilbert followed quickly behind catching up to her as they made their way through the dark barn and up the steps to his apartment. He unlocked the door then held it open for her. They dared not light a lamp or turn the switch to turn on the electric lights. He guided her through the apartment using the dim light through the window. Gilbert moved two chairs to his window and offered her to sit before he did. They did not talk much as they sat there waiting for the fireworks to begin. When the fireworks began they whooped softly, afraid they might be heard if they whooped too loudly. They laughed at each other trying to show enthusiasm in such a silent manner.

  Gilbert glanced over to Clara as she glanced back at him. Her beauty was illuminated with each flash of the colorful fireworks. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. As he pulled back he stopped and watched the glisten of light from the fireworks in her tear filled eyes. She pursed her lips slightly and moved her head ever so slightly toward him in search of another kiss. He kissed her again, then put his arm around her waist and turned both of them toward the window to look out.