selves with other charming young ladies of the post. Next
to Anita, the best rider was Sally Harlow, the daughter of her who had
been Sally Carteret. Mrs. Harlow followed the example of Mrs.
Fortescue, whose bridesmaid she had been, and had married within a year
the dashing young officer with whom she "stood up" at Mrs. Fortescue's
wedding. Mrs. Harlow, like Mrs. Fortescue, showed a marked inability
to grow old and was as gay and drank the wine of life as joyously as
did her daughter, Sally the Second.

For a fortnight before Christmas the practice rides took place every
afternoon in the great riding hall, in which four troops of cavalry
could manoeuvre.

As the daughter of the C. O., Anita, with Broussard, was to lead the
girl riders and their cavaliers. Broussard called punctually at the
Colonel's quarters for Anita, on the red December afternoons, when the
air was like champagne and Broussard felt as if his veins ran wine
instead of blood. The After-Clap, under Kettle's secret instructions,
became valuable ally of Broussard's. Kettle managed that the baby's
afternoon ride in his wicker carriage should coincide with Broussard's
arrival. The dark-eyed baby, in his little white fur coat and cap and
white fur blanket, looked like a snowdrop by the side of Kettle, who,
except his shiny teeth, was so black it seemed as if he had been coated
with shoe polish. The After-Clap always hailed Broussard with a
vigorous shout of "Bruvver! Bruvver!" and Kettle invariably explained:

"He's a-tryin' to say 'Mr. Boosard.'"

At this Broussard would laugh and agree with Kettle that the After-Clap
was the knowingest baby in the world, and Anita would blush
beautifully. Colonel Fortescue's heart sank when he saw Broussard and
Anita walking off together; Broussard so trim and soldierly in his
riding uniform and Anita so amazingly pretty in her blue habit and cap,
cunningly imitating the cavalry uniform, a fetching dress adopted by
all the young ladies who were to take part in the music ride.

The drill and ride were to begin at eight o'clock on Christmas Eve, and
afterward there was to be a big ball, for at Fort Blizzard the young
girls and young officers ended everything with a ball, where they could
"chase the glowing hours with flying feet."

A great silver moon and a mighty host of palpitating stars put the
electric lights to shame on Christmas Eve. When Broussard called for
Anita, a little before eight, she was wait