The sea coast echo., 1904-11-26
SXMxAxx
sxxsoxxx

a. ~ of every knightly accom-
&aaxsokxs plishment it was little
wonder that he soon won the love of
the beautiful Blanche Faulconbridge,
who was called the faircst lady in all
England in those old feudal times.
only one man in the land bore i'll will
toward Sir Reginald, and he was Rich.
ara Langley, dark, naughty and evil.
minded knight, who, once n sultor for
the fair hand of Lady Blanche, was re.
Jected for Sir Reginald De Bracy. Rent
with the tiercest pangs of jealousy he
had vowed terrible vengeance against
the favored suitor, aud the forthcoming
tournament seemed to afford Il good
chance for the fulhlment of his vow.
At this tournament which was to be
held In few days one of the events
was to be a grand tilt between two par
ties OF knights, each being twelye in
number. The peculiar feature OF this
was that each knight was to preserve
strict incognito till the end OF the
match, all coats-of.arms being rigor.
ouSly excluded. and the two parties to
De distinguished from each other solely
by the color of their pIumes; those of
one side being red and the others
white. And this arrangement suggest
ed to the mind of Richard Langley q
plan which, II successful, would rid
him forever of his hated rival, Regln-
aid DE Bracy.
The knights for each side had already
been chosen, both himself and his rival
belonging TO the white plumed knights,
and 1t had also come to his knowledge
that certain knight of the opposite
side was held absent by sickness.
And so 1t came to pass that, on the
morning of the tournament, word was
spread that the missing knight, Her.
bert De NauN, had recovered and ar
rived at the grounds ready for the
fight. a powerful looking man, his
face concealed by his armor, stood in
the doorway of De Vaux's tent and
was supposed by everybody to be that
individual himself. But this man was
In reality burly rufiian, tool of
Langley's, with instructions to do his
utmost to put an end to the life of De
Bracy In the fight about to ensue.
He was in reality more sklllful with
his weapons than any of the knights
there assembled, but prevented by his
low rank from. taking part in any
knightly exercise.
AS the time for the tournament ap-
preached the knights were assembled
In large Enclosure within the lists, De
Bracy being among them, little dream
Ing of the deep-laid plot planned
against him. Standing little apart
from the company were the two plot
ters.
Note closely the white plume worn
by De Bracy," said Langley, in low
tone. 'Secst thou not. Bertram. n
small particle of red in the upper part?
Much risk have l run in placing II
there, ana remember. when the combat
comes fail not in striking to the death
the knight thus marked"
"Ay, master. trnst me for that" Ber-
tram replied, and the pair separated.
"''' INV ''ii iNNElNdlu, uUSuSnlclOuS
OF danger, was chatting gayly with his
herothed, who was leaning forward
from the pavilion above.
Take good care of thyself, Regin.
ald'' she was saying; for If you en-.
counter any danger, you may be as
sured that there will be at least one
pale face among the spectators"
Then she laughed gayly, but sudden.
" checked herself. Her keen eye had
seen the red particle in her lovers
plume. and with quick wit she at once
OWNED that 1t was placed there as n
distinguishing mark. Little suspectinr
the terrible mission that trlae was des.
tined TO fulfill, she reached down her
shapely hand and managed to detach
II from the plume without being oh
served. Then a strange fancy came
INTO her mind--a wish to foil the de-
signs of the unknown person who had
thus marked her lover-and bending
over she fastened 1t firmly to the plume
OF another knight standing Just below
her under the pretense OF curling the
strangers plume more gracefully
Bur suddenly the trumpet sounded.