Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-12-22

pletely muff1ed in lavish furs of gray-brown rae
coon His cutter shOne in the sunlight and his
Dig, black horse curried until he cleaned as
if he were oiled
But why were they waiting? Why was Lady
CIalreS face like a stricken flower, pale cheeks
despairing eyes that seemed to be seeking some
thlng beyond the excited crowd, down the long
frosty road! InStinctively the hushed crowd fol-
lowed Claire's glance. Instinctively they, too,
looked and wished for the absent Philippe Beau
clerc
Then there swept around the corner and up to
the astonished crowd, the most curious equipage
that their eyes had ever beheld. Philippe Beau
clerc, looking like some glorious savage clad in
shaggy black buffalo robes, held taut the home
made reins of bison hide that guided a curious
pony He was small and shaggy and spotted like
quail. His neck was long and his head was lean.
His hind legs seemed shorter than his fore legs
Beside the well-groomed horses of the other con-
testants he was a grOtesque parody. The cutter
was rudely wrought of ronwoOd. But the drivers
face was serene and eager. He glanced toward
Claire Their look held Claire smiled Then
they were off the signal of the Seigneur
The crowd loosed its pent-up laughter as they
saw Beauclerc's lean, dappled beast fall behind
pace by pace. The other ponies were skimTning
on like swallows in the wind But leading them
all old Va-debon-CO Occurs black stallion. There
was sympathetic shudder for Claire. But she,
seeming not to mind, smiling like a dainty
witch.
Va-de-bon-Coeur's black stallion was the first to
dash up to the blasted oak. He iecked with
foam. His quivering fanks were streaked with
the lashes of the old mans whip. 1t was plain
he was well spent but his driver allowed him not
moments respite Off they sped again. Then
two soldiers galloping in, neck to neck The
others followed in quick succession.
Close on the heels of the last sleigh came Beau
clerc, his snewy little pony stout and fresh as
when he first set out his reins still drawn taut.
He wheeled about deftly, then lOosened the leather
ribbons. The ugly pony stretched out his long,
thin neck and leaped forward
He gained the last horse, passed him. Sailed
by the second, the third, passed the rest of them
was neck and neck with the leader Va-de-bon-
Occurs painting black stallion. Farther 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 dashing toward them they
recognized Beauclerc and his uncouth speckled
nag Off in the distance far behind him. struggled
his vanquished rivals. Instnctively the onlookers
glanced toward Claire and though she was hiding
her rosy cheeks behind a great muff they could
that her eyes glowed with the light that was
never on land or sea.
The spectators surged up about the victor's
sleigh. There torrent of welcoming cheers
for the tall dark hero. But he had no for their
acclamations. He running to the little knoll
where Claire stood beside her father who in spite
of himself was looking rather relieved and joyous
They watched Claire she put out her hands tC
the good looking but breathess youth who in.
closed them in his own eagerly They watched
him bend above them with grace of cavalier. And
as he did so they heard the old Seigneur exclaim
"Sacre where did you get that wind-shOd demon p
Philippe Beauclercs answer came back laugh
ing, "Oh, that's old Menetepah's Indian pony. I've
been training him for weeks in the forest"