The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-04-11
For "THE UNION"
A FALSE KNIGHT.
BY CLAUDIA PRICE HurcHrNs.

heavy armor and engaged in mortal
combat with his rival, or in the more
peaceful method in later years oi
riding for rings.
One warm August afternoon the
farm of Col. Mcdaniel was the centre
of an animated scene. A tournament
was in full progress. The chief mar
shal and his assistants with the at
tending pages, and the gallant
knights, mounted on their blooded
chargers all in brilliant uniforms,
were following the brass band, which
was footing forth sweet music for the
edi6cation of the crowd gathered
around the race course in all kinds
and descriptions of equipages, in
which sat the elite of the country So
ciety to witness the brave and hand
some knights tilt for the privilege of
placing a crown on the brow of some
fair maiden.
AS the knights passed down the
line one of them reined in his horse
beside buggy, in which was seated
pretty Quakerish looking girl, dain-
tily gowned in white.
Standing by the buggy was her es-
cort for the afternoon-Wil1 Pearson
"a manly looking fellow, whose tam
ned face and hands showed his occu-
patton to be tiller of the soil, but
lacking the polish and smooth man
ners of the fascinating Mr.. Leon, who
had the reputation of flirting with
every pretty girl who came out for
his own amusement.
Even now poor Will is watching
tho -s.-.ncs.f..1 ,a.sl;aer<.-,e A6.- T..>,. ~,
as she smiles up at him SO brightly
and archly answers him with gay,
careless laugh.
But Mr.. Leon is enjoying himself
and fingers by the buggy until the
challenge rings down the line, "Pre-
pare to charge, Sir Knight of Avon p
He then gallops off to try his skill
in the trial ride, only to return in a
few minutes to Lillian for another
chat, in which the following dialogue
is distinctly audible to the bystanders ::
Miss Lilly, if am successful may
1 have the honor of offering the crown
to your"
"Why, Mr.. Leon, you surprise me.
You know I do not dance, and neither
does Mr.. Pearson.
20, but I will teach you with pleas
ure. I have waltzed with you and
you are as graceful as swan. / am
very sure Mr.. Pearson will not de-
prive you of the pleasure if only am
fortunate enough to win it. !"
Mr.. Pearson made no reply, but his
lowering brow spoke plainly. Mr..
Leon rode forward, not giving the
highly hattered girl chance to reply.
The fitting proceeded and Mr.. Leon
won the honor of crowning the first
maid to the queen. He came up to
claim Miss Lilly, who promptly took
his arm and walked to the platform
erected in the wood short distance
from the tournament course, where
the coronation and dance were to take
place.
While they were waiting for the
other members of the royal party to
take their places some one called,
Come here, Leon p
He hastily excused himself and left
her standing on the floor. Not liking
her exposed position she stepped back
in the waiting throng. Imagine her
CONSERVATION when she heard Mr..
Leon talking eagerly to his mother,
who was chiding him for not choos-
ing the daughter of the State Sena-
tor, who chanced to be visiting at a
friend of Mrs. Leon's.
"My son, by selecting Miss Gull
more, with her assured social position
and her rare dover of personal beau
ty, you would have honored me.
But instead you place that dowdy
little Quaker school marin in the po-
sition that coveted for my friend S
queenly beauty"
"But, my dear mother, / am only
amusing myself. 1t is such fun tor
menting that clod, Pearson. Look
at him standing across the way, the
picture of the green-eyed monster,
jealousy"
Pearson may be in earnest, my
boy, and you are not"
"No, Heaven forbid 1 should evei
give you such daughter as that lit
tie brown Quaker girl. But must
have the pleasure of breaking up the
| love affair between she and Pearson. .
"All right, Jack, amuse yourself tc
your hearts content, only don't be
in earnest" Womanly advice for a
mother to give her son, was it not?
Meantime Lilly had heard every
word. But the little Quaker cir
was every inch as proud as Mrs. Leon,
and Sir Knight found her smiling
when he returned to her side. New.
ertheless the iron of righteous indig.
nation had entered her soul and she
meant to use every means in her
power to punish him for his unmanly
words.
The other knights had secured theil
ladies fair. They all advanced to po
sitions and listened to the eloquent ad