many possible Queens of Love and Beauty are in
this group of fair faces that surround us!"

The lady was about to reply, when the bugle
sounded again, and the herald dashed swiftly back
upon his prancing steed to the waiting group of
riders. The horsemen formed three abreast, and
rode down the lists in orderly array. As they
passed the grand stand, each was conscious of the
battery of bright eyes turned upon him, and each
gave by his bearing some idea of his ability to
stand fire from such weapons. One horse pranced
proudly, another caracoled with grace. One rider
fidgeted nervously, another trembled and looked
the other way. Each horseman carried in his hand
a long wooden lance and wore at his side a cavalry
sabre, of which there were plenty to be had since
the war, at small expense. Several left the ranks
and drew up momentarily beside the grand stand,
where they took from fair hands a glove or a
flower, which was pinned upon the rider's breast
or fastened upon his hat--a ribbon or a veil, which
was tied about the lance like a pennon, but far
enough from the point not to interfere with the
usefulness of the weapon.

As the troop passed the lower end of the grand
stand, a horse, excited by the crowd, became
somewhat unmanageable, and in the effort to curb
him, the rider dropped his lance. The prancing