Taiban Valley news., 1921-12-16

languishing beauty in raccoon hat. I'd like to
see you settle down with Va-de-bon Coeur. He's
rlcher than all the rest of your dandies put to-
gether. NlaiS, won't insist, I'm no ogres Choose
Tor Yourself, but you must choose now. You've
willy-nillied long enough!'
Clare stepped close to him, threw back her head
won't marry anyone but Philippe Beauclerc
And YOU know itr
"Ugh!' the deer slayer. Bah, he couldn't win
you in fair fight"
"Oh. couldn't he! Give him chance"
Sacre | Will We shall have public match
Mt Noel time and If he isn't wiped in the dirt you
can have the nOon-struck fool"
Tres bien!' Claire was defiant anG Joyous 1t
was plain that she had no doubt of her lovers
prowess.
Bu; on 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 -COeur, he decided on a 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 were great lux
ury. Va-de-b0n-Coeur had his stables full of the
best ponies that money could buy But Philippe
had but one horse unused tO being driven with
sleigh, good, Sure-fOoted bay. excellent for hunt.
ing but for cutter racng-Care sighed doubtfuy
Seur Beauvais decided on race of sixteen
miles on the ice of L'Anse Creuse the shallow lit
tie bay on Lake st. Claire. A twisted tree on the
far side was selected as the eght-mlle turning
point
The contestants commenced to train their ponIes
Old Fa-de-bOn-C Occur out every morning lash
ing his choicest black stallion up and down the
street. as he leaned forward in his light steel-run
nered cutter that had been sent from the East
Officers mpatiently nagging their or
deres 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 aIo0f from the
general excitement AS usual, he was gone into
the forests at dawn where it was said he spent
the day hunting with the Indian chief Menotepah
Whenever he rode he was seen astride the same
pony that had always borne him 1t was known
throughout the town that he had not even pur-
chased a sleigh. 1t was 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 glances at Beauvaiss lovely little heir.
ess. Her preference for him was an open secret
too.
At length Christmas morning dawned. Right
after mass was said in the old church of Ste Anne
the crowd collected on the bank of the bay
little apart from the crowd stood Claire Bean
vais and her father. Claire looked like an ethereal
lied holly berry in great red doman Her ewes
flashed with excitement and her little round chin
was held up proudly out of her great collar The
good old Selgneur strutted about with a self-lm.
portant air, giving orders and waving genial sau.
tatons to the townsfolk.
There were II contestants of every kind and
condition. There cutters jumpers trains
pungs. sIeds and carioles. The impatient drivers
were accoutred in devious ways some in leather
dOublets some in furs, some in military manner
some In great wooden blanketcoats of rich color.
And in all that group Of contestants none Mas
more impatient than old Va-de-bon-C Occur, com