Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12

place was all astir with excitement, because
the many guests and the attention required
by them made everybody busy. But every
tfff2G looked exquisite. The decorations of
the dining room and parlorsiwere simply a
revelation to the beholder. The last course
of the excellent menu was being handed
around, the old Squire was just engaged in
answering to toast which had been offered,
the musicians in the parlor were already
tunirg their squeaky instruments to get
ready for the coming dance, when suddenly
something happened which was destined to
break up the whole party and transform the
scenes of happiness and mirth into seat Of
mourning.
The sense of the calamity which crept in
upon the happy crowd was this: A servant
came running up the path which led to the
entrance to the mansion and loudly called
for the SQUIRE. When that gentleman ap-
peared in answer to the summons, the SER
want said: master, there is a whole army
of black knights coming up the hill, and,
from what can see of them, they mean to
come here. They are the most horrid look
ing men ever saw. Their faces are as
black as coal, their clothes, also their horses
the same, but the weapons they carry are as
white as silver"
The servant, no doubt, would have had a
great deal more to say, but suddenly a noise
of trampinS horses and the clattering of
swords and armor arose from the valley be-
low which deadened the sound of every
body's voice on his lips. Another minute
and troop Of black riders came up the
slope. Now they arrived at the top.
All the guests of the Squire had come
outside to see what all these strangers
wanted, and they stood all in row outside
the entrance when the horsemen came up.
The description the servant had given ofthe
H.
men, and their clothes and trappings were
all of the deepest ebony black, while sabers
and swords seemed to be made of silver. On
their heads they carried black helmets, with
plume of white feathers.
While the party in the front of Squire
Warren's house was still staring at the ap-
preaching men.in a confused and DUN found
ed manner, the riders came forward. When
they had approached within five yards all
stopped. Then one of them came from their
midst. jumped off his horse and walked
straight toward the Squire.
f'Sir." be addressed that gentleman, "we
are knights and princes of the Ebony King
dom, who have come here to do homage to
YOU and yours. We heard that your daugh-
ter celebrates her birthday to-day, and we
have come here to be your guests.
Having said this much, he retired. The
Squire stood for a moment aghast. He had
never heard of the Ebony Kingdom nor of
the black knights who came from there, and
how they knew that his daughter celebrated
her birthday to-day was beyond his compre-
hension. However, the Squire was hos
pitable man, and he had never asked any
man yet where he came from ard who he
was when he came to him as a guest. So
Squire Warren said to the knights of the
Ebony Kingdom: Gentlemen, although ]
4l,A II II l.. IL.
place you come from, still you are welcome.
NV house is yours. Please enter and enjoy
yourselves"
The black knights did not wait to be asked
twice. They were in few minutes in the
hall. At the dinner table they did great
credit to tine cook, for they all ate very
heartily. When the party adjourned to the
narlor for the dancing, the black knights
distinguished themselves in a rare manner
They were all excellent dancers, and the
Young ladies seemed to prefer them as part
ners. TO the utmost chagrin and mortifica-
lion of the Young men who lived in the
neighborhood.
The 'Souire's daughter especially showed
the others a very bad example, because she
danced constantly with a black knight
This gentleman seemed to be the first prince
Of the Ebony Kingdom, because he was the
reeipient of much courtesy and Servility
from the rest OF the black party. He was
a very handsome man, and to look at him
for five minutes oneswould forget that he
was black man. All the knights made
themselves in this way very agreeable to
the ladies. and though the young men were
angry at them, still they had too much
good sense to show il. 1t was not until late
at night when everybody retired thoroughly |
fatigued and tagged out from the ball.
But what was she astonishment in War