The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-10-27

day, with his bright brown curls shining
above the velvet and lace of his bizarre
costume, with his proud young figure drawn
up to its fullest height and in his eyes that
look of courage of determination, of VIC
tory.
Goose | knowed Marse Phil wuz hand
some man." jeff always said in speaking
of that day, "but never see dat look on
his face agin till [ see him chargin up de
hill on Black Bess in de face of the cannon,
wild his soad in one hand en- de flag in de
yuther. Hit mex me think bout de day
of the tournament right away, en- God
knows hit warnt no time to be thinkin bout
home den"
Well, it was only moment MarSe Phil
sat there motionless on his horse, and then
he and Black Bess were speeding around
the ring as lightly and smoothly as bird
sweeps in circles.
'God, how he rides p man exclaimed
under his breath. ''I wouldn't give that
for Edwards chances" with contempt
uous snap of the fingers; but JEFF, who has
heard, and who in the excitement has
pushed his way up to the railing that shuts
in the track, only groaned, for he has just
caught sight of pretty Polly, her face
white with suppressed anxiety, leaning far
over from the grand stand, and he remem-
bers what a hindrance her presence used
to be at the practice in the blue grass
meadow
"Marse Phils des fool enough to lose
de race count of some foolishness bout her," /"
he said to himself. He can only trust
Marse Pills eyes are elsewhere than on
the grand stand Already twice has he
strung every ring on his lance. He has
only once more to take with his unerring
hand the ten more rings that proclaim him
victor There is a moments pause, and
then, with the crash of the opening bars
of music, Marse Phil is away threading
his lance through the rings at the mares
best gait A third of the way around
Half of the way around JEFF breathes
easier. Marse Phil is opposite to the
grand stand when he glances up to meet
Polly's eyes fixed on him, so full of pride
and love and joy, he loses his head little.
What wonder poor fellow. 1t does not
take quarter of second scarcely, but in
that time Polly snatches off her arm a
bracelet set thick with shining stones and
throws it right before Black Bess' flying
feet Quick as the act is, it is not quicker
than loves intuition, and in another instant
Marse Phil has strung his trophy on the
lance and is taking the last ring from the
hook 1t was calamity done. The crowd
cheered itself hoarse; but the timekeeper
from the judges stand called:
'Twenty-one seconds !"
jeff stumbled away from the scene dazed
and infuriated. He had so counted on
success and Marse Phil had thrown it away
in the very moment of victory for wom-
ans whim. He hung his head as he led
Black Bess back to the stables, and when
he heard the shouts that saluted Capt.
Edwards victory he laid his head down on
the mares neck and sobbed for disappoint-
ment. But Marse Phil had none Of the
signs of defeat about him as he made his
way to where pretty Polly, as duskily red
as June rose, was awaiting his coming.
What was it she was saying under cover
of all the noise and confusion?
''You won
And Marse Phil in answer to the look
in her eyes finished the sentence
sMy Queen of Love and Beauty"
For the sake of beauty's eyes he had
lost the prize, but the management of the
tournament sent him, in recognition of his
superb horsemanship, the slender, ever
like pitcher that still stands on the side
board at Woodstock That was the last
tournament. Before another golden Au-
tumn rolled around, the tempest of war
had broken over the land, and the old
south, the old, careless, idle, happy south
had ceased to be.