, 1915-09-09
Mrs. Post whselss,


huishe L tuo toiuen spur against the
field" he called. What odds?"
Five to one. s~potteswood." a voice
answered.
Ten dollars" announced the first.
Good" And both made
dunn on their cuffs:
A second time the trumpet sounded.
and the Knight of Castlewood flashed
ingloriously down the roped aisle-a
miss.
Again and again the clear note ran
out and a mounted figure plunged by,
and presently, In a burst Of cheering,
the herald proclaimed THE Knight of
the Black ~Eagle-one!" and Chilly
Lusk, in old-rose doublet and inky
plume cantered back with a silver
ring upon his pike.
No simple thing, approaching leis-
urely and afoot, to send that tapering
point straight to the tiny mark. But
at headlong gsilop. astride q blooded
horse straining to take the bit, a deed
requiring a nice eye, a perfect seat
and an unwavering arm and hand!
Those knights who looped back with
their pixies thus braceleted had spent
long hours in practice and each rode
as naturally as he breathed; yet more
than once a horse SHE'D in m~id-course
and at the too-eager thrust of the spur
bolted through the ropes. Valiant
made his first essay-and missed
with the blood singing in his ears
The ring few from his pike. catching
him a swinging blow o n the temple in
its rebound, but he scarcely felt it. AS
he cantered back he heard the majors
bass pitting him against the field.
And then, suddenly, stand and field
all vanished. He saw only the long
level rope-lined lane with its twinkling
mid-air point. An e~xhilaration caught
him at the feel of the splendid horse
flesh beneath him-that sense of one-
ness with the creature he bestrode
which the instructive horseman knows.
He lifted his lance and hefted it, seek
ing its absolute balance, feeling Its
point as a fencer with his rapier.
When again the blood-red sash
streamed away the herald's cry,
Knight of the Crimson Rose-One!"
set the field hand-clapping. From the
next joust also, Valiant returned with
the gage upon his lance. Two had
gone to the Champion of Castlewood
and two to scattering riders. When
Valiant won his fourth the grand stand
Numbered with applause.
The trumpet again pealed its silvery
proclamation. Judge Chalmers was on
his feet. Fifty to ten on the Crimson
Rose" he cried. This time, however.
there we're no takers. He called again,
but none heard him; the last tits were
too absorbing.
Where had John Valiant learned
that trick of the loose wrist and in
flexible thrust, but at the fencing club?
Where hat subconscious management
of the rein, hat nice gag of speed
and distance. but on the polo field?
The old sports stood him now in good
stead. why. he has a seat like o
centaur!" exclaimed the judge-praise
indeed in a community where riding
was a passion and horselesh a fetishl
"Oh, dear!" mourned Nancy Chal-
mers. I've bet six pairs Of gloves on
Quint Carter. Never mind; If 1t has to
be anybody else. I'd rather 1t were
Mr.. Valiant. It's about time Damory
Court got something after Rip-Van-
Winkling 1t for thirty years. Besides.
he's giving US the dance, and l love
him for that! Quint still has a chance.
though. If he takes the next two, and
Mr.. Valiant misses"
Katharine looked at her with a lit
tie smile. He won't miss" she said.
She had seen that look on his face
before and rea 1t Alright. John Va
liant had striven in many contests, not
only of skill but of strength and dar-
ing, before crowded grand stands. But
never in all his life had he SO desired
to pluck the prize. His grip was tense
on the lance as the yellow doublet
and olive plume of Castlewood shot
away for a last time-and failed. An
instant later the Knight of the Grim
son Rose flashed down the lists with
the last ring on his pike.
And the tourney was won.
In the shouting and hand-clapping
Valiant took the rose from his hat
band and bound it with a shred OF his
sash to his l~ance-point. AS he rode
slowly toward the massed stand, the
whole field was 80 still that he could
hear the hoofs of the file of knights
behind him. The people we're on their
feet.
The mounted herald blew his blast.
by the Majesties of st. Michael and
St. George" he proclaimed, Il declare
the Knight of the Crimson Rose the
victor Of this our tourney, and do
charge him now to choose his Queen
of Beauty. that all may do her hom-
agel"
Shirley saw the horse coming down
the line, it's rider b~areheaded now.
and her heart began to race wildly.
Beyond wanting him to take part. she
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