The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-21

0x Of every knightly accom-
plishment, it was little
-Onder that he soon won the love of
ne beautiful Blanche Faulconbridge,
tho was called the fairest lady in all
England, in those old feudal times.
! Only one man in the land bore i'll will
Pward Sir Reginald, and he was Rich,
5rd Langley, q dark, naughty ard evil
minded knight, who, once a sutton for
be fair hand Of Lady Blanche, was re-
fcted for Sir Reginald De Bracy. Rent
nth the ferceSt pangs of jealousy he
hd vowed a terrible vengeance against
be favored sutton, and the forthcoming
Purnament seemed to afford a good
hance for the fulflment Of his VOW.
At this tournament, which was to be
ED in a few days, n of the events
tas to be a grand tilt between two par,
es Of knights. each being twelve in
umber. The peculiar feature of this
as that each knight was to preserve a
frict incognito till the end of the
3atch, all coats-of-arms being rigor-
2lsly excluded, and the two parties to
b distinguished from each other solely
Is the color of their plumes; those of
he side being red and the others
hite. And this arrangement suggest
p to the mind of Richard Langley a
Ian which, if successful, would rid
i'm forever of his hated rival, Regin-
d De Bracy.
SThe knights for each side had already
ben chosen, both himself and his rival
elonging to the white plumed knights.
nd it had also ONE to his knowledge
bat a certain knight Of the opposite
lie was held absent by sickness.
And so it came to pass that, on the
orning of the tournament, word was
bread that the missing knight, Her
6ert De Vaux. had recovered and ar
we'd at the grounds ready for the
eht. A powerful looking man, his
&c concealed by his armor, stood in
be doorway Of De Eaux's tent, and
as supposed by everybody to be that
dividual himself. But this man was
reality a burly rufian, a tool of
hngley's, with instructions to do his
most to put an end to the life Of De
facy in the fight about to enSue.
He "a in reality more skillful with
Is weapons than any of the knights
ere assembled, but prevented by his
Nv rank from taking part in any
Rightly exercise.
8!As the time for the tournament ap-
f0ached the knights were assembled
a large Enclosure within the lists, De
Facy being among them, little dream
|3g of the deep-laid plot planned
$ainst him. Standing a little apart
om the company were the two plot
RS.
'Note closely the white plume worn
j De Bracy," said Langley, in a low
ne. "Seest thou not. Bertram, a
Rlall particle of red in the upper part?
UGH risk have I run in placing it
ere, and remember, when the combat
$mes. fail not in striking to the death
e knight thus marked
Fay, raster, trust me for that" Der.
lam replied, and the pair separated.
Meanwhile Sir Reginald, unsuspicious
4 danger. was chatting gayly with his
4 trothed, who was leaning forward
pm the pavilion above.
S'Take good care OF myself, Regin,
d." she was saying; for if you en-,
unter any danger. you may be as,
red that there will be at least one
lie face among the spectators"
Then she laughed gayly. but sudden,
checked herself. Her keen eye had
en- the red particle in her lovers
ume. and with quick wit she at once
vined that it was placed there as a
stinguishing mark. Little s%uspecting
e terrible mission that trife was DIES.
= bed to fulfill, she reached down her
j apely hand and managed to detacl
from the plume without being OBJ,
rived. Then a strange fancy came
to her mind-a wish to foil the de,
gns of the unknown person who had
US marked her loyer-and bending
Fer she fastened it firmly to the plume
another knight standing just below
er under the pretense Of curling the
rangers plume more gracefully.
But suddenly the trumpet sounded