The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-01-17
KING OF THE PEAK
CONTINUED from Page Severn

/ n400S Oh Ipttotits 49, -
csnroa had hidden his daughter 70
grace The feast. ana Dorothy had pre-
narad herself in all the richness 81
| attire which her ample WaTuIooe q
forded her. +bo
Tba silver dinner bell rang on the
summit Of the hall, the Warder mr.
wound his horn. With a great clahs
the doors of the banquet room flew
open and in came a splendid
Of knights and mobiles, led by the cnlel
yassal of the Nernons. Sir tlrraS rai-
iambe. He was clad in a bun 1erhlIi
| with slashed sleeves, a mantle OF IN
coin green was fastened around ms
neck with golden wolf claws. a pan
of gilt spurs jingled upon the heeis
Of his brown hunting boots. The
toes Of his boots turne up ana "eIe
connected with golden chains 10 the
silver tassels which adorned the tops
of his boots On his head was q
boarskin cap. in the front or "fllcll
| were the teeth of the boar set IN goio.
At his side was a famous huntins
horn. the hunting horn Of Tutbury.
| Behind him came Sir George, plainly
dressed. his long brown hair falling
| down to his girdle. No
or extravaganza Of apparel needed ne
the natural dignity Of his bearing
was enough. Around him and behlno
him the knights and mobiles FILTERED
and shone, but the lord OF Hadool
| walked on in simple majesty.
Among the knights and mobiles walk
ed many a fair and noble dame ana
many a blooming maiden, all attlreu
in the SumptuOuS manner when the
dress of state of the times prescribed.
Ana among the blooming throng or
loneliness none ShOne SO fair as Dora
| Vernon. Her high spirit had not been
broken or bent. she was resolved TO
win her way and her lover. and now
her cheeks were red as roses and her
eyes as bright as diamonds. Grace.
beauty. health, fairly irradiated from
her. and all who gaZed upon her
m~urnlured some words Of admiration.
When the at the high table
was seated the ewer-bearers presented
to them silver basins filled with
water. The water came to them pure,
but went away red for the hands of
the male guests were dyed with the
blood Of the chase.
The eating and drinking began.
Such a vast amount of flesh, such
floods Of wine and ale, such a laugh
ing and talking. Ministries now and
then striking a note upon their in
struments and the dogs barking or
growing as they fought with each
other over the bones thrown to them
this was the scene when the feast
was high in Haddon Hall in the brave
old days of the Eernons. And now
the ladies retired and the men, left
alone at table and gorged with food,
began the business of drinking. h
red wine in cups of gold and the ale
in silver f1agons o and sparkled
as they passed from lip to lip beneath
the blaze Of the MASSEY lamps. h
knights toasted their mistreSSeS, ~th
Tetainers boosted of their exploits ana
the Ministries with harp and tongue
made music and song abound. The
gentles struck their drinking cups on
the table until it rang again, the men
iais stamped their feet upon the solid
floor, while the hounds, imagining
that they heard the call to the chase,
leaped up and bayed in hoarse but
appropriate chorus.
Soon the ladies, who had gone to
the Withdrawing room when the
began. appeared in the side
galleries to look down upon the
scene Of revel. Among them Dorothy
Vernon look ed down with eyes which,
after having for a minute scanned the
company below intently. suddenly
gloWed with a bright and happy light.
While h could not conceal some
slight marks Of agitation. Those who
were observing the lovely being won
dered which it was of the knights be-
low who had inspired her with this
sudden lcveflt of 1ushing iov and
delicious agitation. Each Of the GAL
liant knights who looked upon her
hoped that he himself was the cause
OF this display of feeling. She leaned
her white bosom, shining through the
veil which shaded it, upon the railing
Of the gallery and, composing herself
smiled down at the guests below.
All the knights sprang to their feet.
and Sir Lucas Peverel shouted ont.
I'LL al your wine cups. Knights"
Yes. fill them to the brim!" echoed
Sir Henry Avenel. And drain +ha,,
out, were they deeper than the We.
cried Sir Godfrey Geron. .aTo tha
health Of the Princess of the Peat,.
sang out Sir Ralph Cavendish. 10
the health OF Dorothy Vernon" sold
Sir Hugh De Wodensley. "aR," =.
above titles; she is the loveliest maiaaa
a knight ever looked upon and wy
the sweetest name, too" pera.e1
turned to Sir Hugh and said: "And
set hho" one who thinks so littla
OF the name Of N"ar-o I11