Taiban Valley news., 1921-12-16
"A HHE- QZROY f1PEE RPEIS

p'etely mutiled in lavish furs Of graybrown rae
coon His cutter sIone in the sunlight and his
Dg' black horse was culr!ed until he gieamed as
II ne were oiled.
But why were they vyaitInp9 vybv ,vos LADY
CHuies face like stricken flower pale cheeks
uespalrlng eyes that seemed to be seeking some
enhs beyond the excited crowd, down the long
Irosty road: lnstlnctively the hushed crowd fol-
io"ed CIaIres glance. Instinctively they, TOO,
ioohed ana wished for the absent Philippe Heau-
cerc.
Then there swept around the corner and up to
ING astonlshed crowd the most curious eouipage
that thelr eyes had beheld. Philippe Beau
NeiT looking Ike some glorious savage clad in
shaggy black buffalo robes held taut the home
made rens of bison hide that guided curious
pony He was small and shaggy and spotted like
quail His neck was long and his head was lean.
Ills hind legs seemed shorter than his fore legs
Beside the well.grOomed horses of the other CON
testahtS he was Il grotesque parody The cutter
was rudely wrought of ironwood. But the drivers
lace was serene and eager He glanced toward
N''re Iher look held Claire smiled Then
they were Off on the signal of the Selgneur
The crowd OOsed its pent-up laughter as they
saw Beauclercs lean, dappled beast fall behind
pace by pace. The other ponies were sLiuming
on like swallows in the wind. But leading them
all was old Wade bon Occurs black stallion There
was sympathetic shudder for Claire But she
seeming not to mind, smiling like dainty
witch
Na-de-bon-Coeur's black stallion was the first TO
dash up to the blasted oak He was hecked with
foam. His quivering danks were streaked with
The lasheS Of the old mans whip 1t was Dlain
he was we'll spent hut his driver allowed him not
Il moments respite OFF they sped again. Then
TWO soldiers came gallopng In. neck to neck The
Others followed In quick succession.
Close on the heels of the last sleigh came Beau
clerc his sinewy little pony as stout and fresh as
when he first set out. his relns still drawn taut
He wheeled about deftly then oosened the leather
ribbons. The ugly pony stretched out his long,
thin neck and leaped forward.
He gained on the last horse, passed him Sailed |
by the second. the third. passed the rest of them |
neck and neck with the leader Va-,Ie-bon- |
Occurs painting black stallion. Further and far |
ther he stretched out his hOofs till he dashed by |
the leader,
On the bank the eager crowd craned their necks
Their eyes opened with incredulity when In the
flying shape that dashlng toward them they
recognized Beanclerc and his uncouth speckled
nag. on in the distance, far behind him. struggled
his vanQushed rivals. Instnctivey the onlookers
glanced toward Claire and though she was hiding
her rosy cheeks behind great muf they could
that her eyes gOwed with the light that was
never on land or sen.
The spectators surged up about the victor's
sleigh. There was a torrent OF welcoming cheers
for the tall dark hero. But he had no ears for their
acclamations He was running to the little knoll
where Claire stood beside her father. who In spite
of himself was looking rather relieved and 1oyous
They watched Claire as she put out her hands to
the good looking but breathless youth who in
closed them in his own so eagerly. They watched
him bend above them with grace Of a cavalier And
as he did they heard the old Seigneur exclaim
"Sacre where did you get that wind-shod demonY
Philippe Beauclercs answer came back laugh
ing oh that's old Menetepah's Indian pony I've
been training him for weeks in the foresto