, 1888-10-21

bride on the thoroughbred mare he had
chosen for the purpose. Round and round
he would go. fitting at the rings hang
ing from their supports, and stringing
them on the long, slender lance he was to
use. 1t was a pretty enough sight to see
him practicing in the dewy mornings,
both rider and horse with that indescrib,
able thoroughbred look, clean cut, power
full, erect. with an ear and an eye like an
Indians, and a courage one instinctively
felt would never falter- They would go
to their death, II need be, with II rush
JEFF never forgot those mornings. Some
times he would time them, sometimes ole
marseter, sometimes pretty Polly, Marse
Pills cousin, would fiutter down to the
ring and stand there with the big stop
watch in her hands, the daintiest judge
that ever called time on a laggard rider.
It was only when Polly was time keeper
that the mare and her rider failed to get
around in the twenty seconds prescribed
by the tournament management for the
race, and jeff groaned in spirit when he
thought of the possible effect of Polly's
presence IN the great day.
II lay Miss Polly's gwine to make
Marse Phil lose dat race yit," he prophe-
sled dismally.
The ring in the meadow at Woodstock
was but a prototype of many another in
bhO hOONt W. NHS
was to be a grand affair. The prize for
the victor was a slender golden crown set
with rubies, and he was to choose from
among the county bellies the one he would
crown queen of love and beauty.
Finally the day arrived, such an Octo-
Der day as only comes to Tennessee and
southern Kentucky, when the air Is full
of the blue haze of Indian summer and
the forests are like banks of opal, red and
va11nw hrouyp ond rraap n p1iyarinn
mass of color in the autumn breeze, and
the long white turnpikes curve between
banks of golden red and purple iron
weeds. The fair grounds where the tour
lament was to be held was gay with
music and bright with flags. The rich
country people were coming in in heavily
laden carriages, the booths where colored
lemonade and indigestible gingerbread
was sold, or feats of skill or chance at
tempted, were in full swing of custom.
Hostlers led blanketed and silky coated
horses In and out the crowd, nurses in
gay bandannas and white aprons scurried
about with dazed and frightened children,
every now and then the wind would bring
a Whit of the savory barbecue being pre-
pared under the superintendent of old
Ben in a trench under the oaks, for a big
dinner and dance was to finish off the
days festivities. 1t was a noisy, bolster
OuSt ROOu DdJuTtu CTOHu, CdTb lE6S do
they never were to be again.
Up at the amphitheatre the track was
being sprlnkled and rolled until it was
hard and firm. Owe at one side was the
flight of steps covered with white cloth
that led to the throne where some fortu-
nate youth was to lead his sweetheart, and
there in the presence of all his little world
crown her queen of love and beauty.
1t was as pretty and as picturesque a
scene under the soft southern skies as one
could well imagine, and it would have
been pathetic enough for all it's bravery if
only one had known that the south had
come to the very last days of her hundred
years of song and merry making, and that
this was almost the last holidaying of a
happy, care free people.
But the band was beginning to play
what was 1t? I'm dreaming now of Hal
lie, sweet Halle" it is the southern air, if
we have one. All, many a night under the
stars on the eve of battle, or in the dim
gray dawn when they sprang from half
broken dreams of home to boot and SAD
die, when the band played Listen to the
Mocking Bird" did those gallant young
fellows recall that day with a heartsick
and homesick throb. The music hrobbed
out louder and louder through the vibrant
air, the grooms were leading the sleek
coated thoroughbreds round and round the
ring, the contestants were getting ready,
only Marse Phil is lingering for a few last
words with Polly, who is pinning on his
breast q knot of white and silver ribbon
that looks brave enough against the black
velvet and silver lace that somehow
makes a good foil for his fresh young
beauty and 1.-THE figure.
81 am your knight, Polly" he is say
ing, IF l win crown you queen of love
and beauty, and my wife" and audacity
wins with pretty Polly, as humility never
would, and she Pushes a little under her
clear darn skin as she answers
IF you VIM
Those were the days when people read
Scott instead of Howells and James, and
when they believed, like Stevenson, that
the finest hero is better for wearing a bit
of purple, so when the contestants in the
tournament rode out they wore the old
court dress. Most of them were descen-
dants of the old knightly ines of Eng
land, and there may nave been some in.
distinct inherited consciousness of other
Journeys and jousts that made this sport
take such hold on their i~maginations, so
they came as Ivanhoe and Boise Gilbert,
and the Black Knight and Sir Launcelot.
and a host of others.
Presently the bugle called time and the
first knight entered and saluted the audi
ence that sat eager, b~reathless, attentive.
Poor fellow, 1t was not long before he
earned a real knighthood on the field of
battle, when he rode with that same un.
faltering and immovable seat in the sad
die right into the face of death and
planted his colors on the enemy's smok-
ing batteries. There was a murmur of
recognition for him and his horse, for it
was an audience that owned and was
keenly critical of good horse flesh, and
then thara vUac n Wild fanfare Of nncic
the judge dropped the flag, and horse and
rider were away OF a mad race. Only
twenty seconds in which the rider must
take the ten rings, hanging from their
hooks, on his long, slender lance. Quick of
eye, supple Of wrist, faultless horseman
must he be or he loses. Twice the rider
strings the ten glittering rings on his
lance, but oil the third round his horse
slips, a bit of inequality on the track, q
L AALlAl- AaA - a. ILL.,