aders. They was in Palestine, you know. She's been away to boardin'
school all winter, an' I guess it'll be a high-falutin' account of the
war."

The quaint little old lady jerked her head up and down with
decisive bobbiness. On the third upward bob her eyes opened wide in
astonishment--a small, slim figure in a glaring red coat stood in the
center of the improvised platform.

From beneath the coat fell away in long graceful lines a black riding
skirt; a dark oval face, set with large wondrous gray eyes--the Porter
eyes--confronted the quaint little old lady.

"That's the Porter gal," her neighbor squeaked; "I've seen her a-top
them race horses more'n a hundred times. My! you'd think butter wouldn't
melt in her mouth, she's that prim now."

"The coat would melt it," commented the quaint one.

Then a clear, soft girlish voice, with just a tremble of apprehensive
nervousness, giving it a lilt like a robin's, said:--

THE RUN OF CRUSADER

I

Full weight they had given the gallant big Black--a hundred
and sixty he carried;
And the run for the "Hunt Cup" was over three miles, with
mud-wall and water-jump studded.
The best racing days of the old horse were past--there'd
never been better nor braver
But now once again he must carry the silk I was needing the
help of Crusader.
Could he win at the weight, I whisperingly asked, as I
cinched up the saddle girt' tight;
He snuggled my hand as I gathered the rein, and I laughed
when they talked of defeat.
To the call of the bugle I swung to his back--like a rock was
the strength of his quarters.
At sight of the people he arched his lean neck, and they,
cheered for my King of all Hunters.

II

Ten horses would strive for the prize--a big field, and the
pace would be killing.
From the West came Sweet Silver, a gray, gallant, and
fearless in jumping.
A rakish old nag who walked over the sticks, had been sent
for the Cup from Kentucky;
On a bay, Little Jack, who was fast, they had put but a
hundred and thirty.
But I knew that North Star, a big brown--even the Black was
no gamer-
With a pull of ten pounds in the weight, was almost a match
for Crusader.
We made a brave troop, long-striding and strong, with the
pick