ss?" thought I, and once more I opened my
pocket-book.

"No matter, Phoemie, I'll attend to that," says Cousin Dempster,
waving his hand at me.

Out came his pocket-book then, and he took from it a handful of
greenback-bills, which he gave to the man, who laughed as if he were
half-tickled to death, and well he might be, for Dempster was as
extravagant as the female portion of his family had been mean.

"Here is the last number, and our pool is complete," says he, taking a
bit of paper from the hat, and dropping it into my lap. "Don't trouble
yourself, Phoemie, it's all right."

I did trouble myself, in spite of his smiling face. Charity is one
thing, and ostentation is another. After my gift, which I must say was
liberal enough, there was no need of such a display as Dempster made. No
wonder the man looked pleased as he marched away, with the money in one
hand, and that white hat in the other.

When the horses came rushing by again, and made a sharp halt just above
the house, the man came up to us choke full of pleasure, and wanted to
look at my paper. I thought he was taking liberties, but gave him the
mite of paper, and drew back in my seat, in proper fashion.

"Your horse has won," says he; "Mid-day has the race by a length."

With that he laid a roll of bills in my lap, and went away, bowing low,
till his white hat almost touched the floor.

"Mercy on me! what does this mean?" says I, a-taking up the money. "Is
the man crazy?"

"It means that you have won the pool," said Dempster.

Before I could ask him what on earth he meant, Cousin D. was swept off
by a crowd of ladies, and three sandy-haired horses were put upon the
run. I could not tell one horse from another, they were so alike; but
they all were long and lank, with hind legs that looked as if all their
strength lay in that direction to a wonderful extent, and the way they
threw them out was surprising.

About this time I saw a great many white hats flying about, and men had
pocket-books in their hands, while ladies talked wildly about gloves and
neckties, and clapped their hands when the horses rushed by, and the
word "pool" was in everybody's mouth--in fact, it was Bedlam let loose.

LXIX.

THE STEEPLE-CHASE.

Sisters:--This horse hurdling is something that just lifts you right off
your feet. All that I had seen was nothing to what was to come. All
along the winding road, and the lots each side, some men went to
building fences, ti