The Meeker herald., 1921-12-17

iangushing beauty In raccoOn hat. I'd like 10
see you settle down with Va-debon-Coeur He's
richer than all the rest of your dandies put to-
gethcr Minis, won't insist I'm no ogre. Choose
for yourself, but you must choose now. You've
willynillied long enoughl"
z Claire stepped close to him. threw buck her head.
Il won't marry anyone but Philippe Beaucierc!
And you know II !"
ugh I" the deer slayer. Bah, he couldn't win
you In fair fight"
"Oh. couldn't he'll Give him chance"
"sacre. WILL We shall have public match
Mt Noel time md II he isn't wiped In the dirt you
can have the moon-struck fool"
"Tres bien!" Claire was defiant and Joyous. II
was plain that she had doubt Of her lovers
prowesa.
Bur 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 va-de-bonCoeur. he decided a rnce
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-debon-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 racing-Claire sighed doubtfully
Sleur Beauvais decided OF sixteen
miles on the Ice Of L'Anse Grouse. the shallow lit
tie bay on Lake ST. Claire. twisted tree the
fur side selected the eight-mlle turning
point.
The contestants commenced to train their ponies
Old Va-de-bon-Coeur wns out every morning. lash
Ing his choicest black stallion up and down the
street. us he leaned forward In his light steel-run-
nered cutter that hnd been sent from the East
Officers were seen Impntiently nagging their
derles 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 ut dawn where It said he spent
the day hunting with the Indian chief. Menotepah.
Whenever he rode he was seen nsfride the same
pony that had always borne him. II was known \
throughout the town that he hnd not pur.
chased a sleigh. 1t wns wondered at for his de-
yotion to the fnir Claire was nm open secret.
Wasn't he going to race7 The villagers cast com.
passionate glances at Beauvas's lovely little heir.
ess. Her preference for him was 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 hay.
A little apart from the crowd stood Claire Beau.
vais and her 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 stritted about with q selfim.
portant air, giving orders and waving genial salu
tatioos to the townsfolk.
There were II contestants. Of every kind and
condition There were cutters, jumpers, trains
punsa sleds and carioles. The impatient drivers
were accoutred In devious ways: some in leather
doublets some IN furs. some In military manner.
some In great woolen blanket-coats Of rich color.
And In all that group Of contestants none was
more impatient than old va.de-bon-COeur. com.