Guy Wetmore Carryl

“ I am Eugène Drouin, lieutenant of the 29th Chasseurs.”
“Natalie!” cried the General, beckoning with his crop.
As Mademoiselle Tournadour came forward, the young chasseur again made a confidant of himself, this time for the satisfaction of observing that he was an imbecile, and that a man who could not tell at the first glance whether or not a woman was entirely beautiful, deserved not to have an opportunity of discovering the fact at all. ”

“ The general had already mounted, and was gazing off toward the porte Dauphine, with his nose in the air, as if he scented breakfast from afar.
“She is very beautiful, monsieur, your Vivandière, and you are very good,” said Mademoiselle Tournadour, as the chasseur tightened the girth, after her boot had touched his hand, and she was in the saddle.
“She is very fortunate, mademoiselle,” answered Eugène, curiously embarrassed for one so skilled in compliment. “If she wins, I shall feel that she owes the race to this good omen.”
“The race?” said the girl. ”

“ He saw himself retired, and in the Chambre. And over all hovered, like a luminous presiding angel, the presence of Mademoiselle Tournadour — Madame Drouin!
So Sunday came, and, with it, breakfast at Armenonville with two fellow officers, and the growing exhilaration of the approaching race. Eugène was in his gayest mood — for was not Vivandière not only the winner of last year’s Steeple Chase, but to-day in better form than she had ever been? ”

“ A mixture of sudden, unfamiliar embarrassment and boyish vanity caused him to avoid her eye as he made a turn of the oval, consulting with his stable lad about the mare’s condition; but he held himself very straight, and was pleasantly conscious that his tunic was new, and his boots a veritable triumph of Coquillot’s. When he went back to his companions his eyes were glowing.
“Content?” asked Cavaignac.
“Je te crois, mon vieux!” he answered. “One never can say, but it is certain that no one has a better chance. She is perfection!”
“There is the white,” put in Lieutenant Mors, dubiously. ”

“ He knew enough of such matters to be aware that an unanalyzed attraction of the kind which, at first glance, makes a woman appear utterly irresistible, is apt, on closer acquaintance, to resolve itself into the merest trifle of dissimilarity from other women, — a tilt of a lip-corner, a dimple in an unlikely spot, a trick with the hands or the head, a rebellious wisp of hair. ”

“ And again Eugène was conscious of an inexplicable but very decided little thrill.
“If Mademoiselle Tournadour — if you, my general, will consider me at your service, I shall be glad to have you make use of my mare Vivandière, here. She is as gentle as a lamb — but, perhaps, not unworthy of being seen in company with your own horse.” ”

“ The tribunes and the crowded pelouse rushed down upon him with a murmur of many voices. The long double line of faces at the rail slid past like white dots, and the dark green hedge of the water-jump sprang out of the track at his feet. Houp, ma belle! A whish of brushed twigs, a gleam of silver water passing under, a thud of hoofs on the soft turf beyond, and they were over, and away into the southern loop to the left!
As he swung to the north again, he saw the ants of the pelouse scurrying across to the rail along the transverse cut. Let them run, les drôles! ”

“ When one has been Military Governor of Paris, and held the portfolio of war, one does not achieve incognito merely by donning a black civile. So Eugène saluted the general — but with his eyes on the girl. ”