Wichita eagle., 1888-08-23

to their death, if need be, with q rush.
Jeff never forgot those mornings. Some
times he would time them, sometimes ole
marseter, sometimes pretty Polly, Marse
Pills cousin, would futter down to the
ring and stand there with the big stop
watch in her hands, the daintiest judge
that ever called time on laggard rider.
1t 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 TOR the
race, and Jeff gYoaned in spirit when he
thought Of the possible effect Of Polly's
presence on the great day.
81 Law Miss Polly's gwfne to make
Marse Phil lose dat race yit, he prophe-
sled dismally.
The ring in the meadow ct Woodstock
was but prototype of many another IN
the neighborhood, for the tournament
was to be grand affair. The prize for
the victor was 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
yellow, brown and green, o quivering
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
namcnt 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 colorcd
lemonade and indigestible gingerbread
was sold, or feats of skill or chance at
tempted, were in full swing of custom.
Holsters 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 big
dinner and dance was to finish off the
days festivities 1t was noisy, bolster
Gus. good natured crowd, care free as
they never were to be again.
Up at the amphitheatre the track Yves
being sm,inkled and rolled until it was
hard and firm. Over Of one side was the
fight of steps covered with white cloth
that led to the throne where some fortu.
nate youth was to lead bis sweetheart, and
there in the presence of ell his little world
crown her queen of love and beauty.
It was as pretty and as picturesque q
scene under the soft southern skies as one
could well imagine. and it would have
been pathetic enough for all it's bravery il
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 Q
happy, care free people.
But the band was beginning to play
what was it? I'm dreaming now of Hal
lie, sweet Halle" it is the southern air, il
we have one. All, many night under the
stars on the eve of battle, or in the dim,
gray dawn when they sprang from halt
broken dreams of home to boot and sad
die, when the band played Listen to the
Mocl1ing Bird" did those gallant young
fellows recall that day with heartsick
and homesick throb. The music throbbed
out louder and louder through the vibrant
air, the grooms We're leading the sleek
coated thoroughbreds round and round the
ring, the contestants were getting ready,
only Marse Phil is lingering for few last
words with Polly, who is pinning on his
breast 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.
II am your knight, Polly" he is say
ing, "if win l crown you queen of love
and beauty, and my wife" and audacity
wins with pretty Polly, as humility never
would, and she Pushes little under her
clear dark 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 lines of Eng
land, and there may have been some in
distinct inherited consciousness of other
Journeys and jouSts that made this sport
take such hold on their imaginations, sc
they came as Ivanhoe and Boise Gilbert,
and the Black Knight and Sir Launcelot.
and host Of others.
Presently the bugle called time and the
first knight entered and saluted the audi.
ence that sat eager, breathless, attentive.
Poor fellow, it was not long before he
earned 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 il
was an audience that owned and was
keenly critical Of good horse flesh. and
then there was wild fanfare Of music,
the Judge dropped the flag, and horse and
rider were away on 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 ghttering rings on his
lance, but on the third round his horse
slips, bit of inequality on the track, q
touch too light or heavy on the bride, nc
one knows what, but it is one Of those
unforeseen mishaps that turns the for.
tunes of the day, for one at least, and
as the rider leaves the ring he knows he
IS defeated.
It was sight well worth seeing. the
beautiful horses and their gallant riders,
but after while it became apparent that
that contest lay between Marse Phil and
Cap. Edwards. Both were expert horse
men and both rode horses whose records
had been made on many hard run race.
Excitement in the contest had reached al
most fever heat, when the track was
rolled for the last time, and In answer ia
the bugle call Marse Phil rode into the
ring and threw up his hand in salute to
the applause that greeted bis entrance.
Ole Miss has among her treasures a
daguereotype of him as he looked that
Gav with his hri chit hrnun cnrls SHINING