The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-12-15

languishing beauty in a raccoon hat. I'd like to
see you settle down with Va-de-bon-Coeur. He's
richer than all the rest Of your handles put to-
gether. Mails, won't insist, I'm ogre. Choose
for yourself, but you must choose now You've
wily-nillled long enough! :"
Claire stepped close to him, threw back her head.
Il won't marry anyone but Philippe Beaucerc!
And you know it!
"Ugh" the deer slayer. Ball. he couldn't win
you in a fair fight"
ooh, couldn't he Give him chance"
"Sacre, will We shall have public match
ut Noel time and If he isn't wiped In the dirt you
can have the mOon-struck fool"
tires bien :" Claire was defiant and joyous. 1t
plain that she had doubt Of her lovers
prOwesS
But second thought the old warrior decided
he could not pick out the husband of his petite
ange' through public brawl So, thinking shrewd-
ly of old Va-de-bon-Coeur, he decided race
with sleighs Christmas day. "And whoever wins"
he concluded, you shall marry him and he shall
have all your lands"
Now in the village good horses great lux
ury. Va-de-bon-Coeur had his stables full of the
best ponies that money could buy But Philippe
had but horse, unused to being driven with a
sleigh, good, sure-footed bay excellent for hunt
ing but for cutter racing-Caire sighed doubtfuly.
Seur Beauvais decided a of sixteen
miles the ice Of L'Anse Grouse, the shallow lit
tie bay Lake st. Claire. twisted tree the
far side selected as the e1ghtm1le turning
point.
The contestants commenced to train their ponies.
Old Va-de-bon-Coeur out every morning, lash
ing his choicest black stallion up and down the
street. he leaned forward in his light steelrun-
nered cutter that had been sent from the East.
Officers impatiently nagging their or
derlies to more careful grooming of their fine roam
mares. Even the tradesmen bought horses, the
best they could afford, and went flying along the
snowy roads.
Only Philippe Beauclerc remained aloOf from the
general excitement. AS usual, he gone into
the forests at dawn, where it was said he spent
the day hunting with the Indian chief, Menotepah.
Whenever he rode he astride the same
pony that had always borne him. It was known
throughout the town that he had not even pur-
chased a sleigh. It wondered at, for his de-
votion to the fair Claire was an open secret
Wasn't he going to race? The villagers cast COM
passionate chances at Beauvas's lovely little heir
ess Her preference for him open secret,
too.
AT length Christmas morning dawned. Right
after mass was said in the old church of Ste Anne
the crowd collected the bank of the bay.
little apart from the crowd stood Claire Beau
vais and father Claire looked like an ethereal
lied holly berry in great red dolman. Her eyes
flashed with excitement and her little round chin
was held up proudly out Of her great collar. The
good old Seigneur strutted about with self1m-
portant air, giving orders and waving genial salu-
tations to the townsfOlk.
There were II contestants, Of every kind and
condition There cutters, Jumpers, trains,
pungs sleds and carioes The impatient drivers
were ACQUIRED in devious ways; some In leather
doublets some in furs, some In military manner,
some In great wooden blanket-coats Of rich color.
And In all that group Of contestants none was
more impatient than old Va-de-bon-Coeur, COM