Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28

ing seats for grand tournament on Christ
mas Eve; everybody was tired and by
mutual consent we went to bed early to be
ready for the next days festivities
When the contestants all rode up and sa-
luted, my eye was at once caught by two
hgures that came from tent a little apart
from the general camp in the draw. One
was big Saxon blonde. 6 feet or inches
in height with his fair skin burned to a
uniform dark red, from which pair of fine
honest eyes looked out with startling blue
ness. His features were of singularly
large and regular mold, with throat and
chin so beautiful, mouth so heavy, yet
correct, and nose so high between the eyes
that it gave him a slightly bucolic look,
like ancient Apollos. His proportions were
more fine and just than you would often
see in so big man; he carried his head and
shoulders magnifcently. and his bearing in
the saddle was past criticism.
BOY AND LOVER.
Beside him rode a boy who might have
been 20; he was Of ordinary size, slightly
but strongly built, had pale olive face,
great black eyes and clustering, dark hair.
It was face that somehow appealed to you;
although so full now Of life and spirit, it
had a suggestion of keen sensitiveness, of
hidden capacity for suffering. He was on
an uncommonly fine and spirited black
pony, his saddle was of superb and ornate
Mexican workmanship, and a big white
sombrero, glittering with silver, shaded the
splendid eyes. While they paused in front
of us saw him look among the spectators
as though seeking someone, then an electric
smile flashed over his face, he raised the big
hot nd nod I'm .,f rod rih fha
side of it. looked up and saw Louie, the
pretty 17-year-old daughter of the house,
bIushing and bowing, and I smiled to my
self.
"Who are they?" asked Mrs. Flint, and
she replied quite as if had indicated them,
80, David and -" "Goliath, I" I inter
rupted.
"No, indeed; David and Jonathan. The
tall one is Paul Melton. young sheep man
over on Live Oak; and the boy is his insep-
arabic, a sort of protege, and Q partner, I
believe, in a small way.
A WORK OF REFORM.
'Mark used to drink and gamble, I think,
and young Melton got hold of him, straight
ened him up, and has held on to him ever
since. They are always togetheri yeu never
see one without the other"
Mark don't believe ever knew his
other name-carried off the most rings, and
rode up glowing with victory to crown
Louie queen of love and beauty. As I
looked away from the pretty picture 1 saw
the blonde giant standing near in studiedly
unconcerned attitude, but with an express
sion Of affectionate pride on his great frank
face. After this we had general display
of h0rsemanship and a great deal of sky
larking. There Is no finer sight, to my
mind, than troop of well-mounted men;
there is nothing arouses my enthusiasm ami
admiration more than fine riding. This is
true of q single horseman, and the
enthusiasm and enjoyment increase
in geometrical progression with
the numbers of horsemen engaged.
Here there were IL or 10, among the best
riders 1 have ever seen, all mounted on fine
and well-trained horses. 1t is very easy to
talk about picking up .handkerchiefs and
quarters from the ground, leaping on and off
horse, or hanging on one side of him and
firing from under his neck, all the while