The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-22
THE VALIANTS of VIRGINIA"
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ment. as dainty In fulfilling these oul
acts Of arms. and do recommend thell
all unto your Good Grace In a. lowiy
wise a. they can. q Queen. In whom
the whole story OF virtue 10 writer
with the language OF beauty. your
eyes, which have been only wont u
discern the bowed knees OF kneelinl
hearts and. inwardly turned. found al
ways the. heavenly solace Of q sweet
mind. see them. ready In heart ant
able with hands not only to assailinf
but to prevailing"
A hushed rustic Of applause-no
loud: the merest whisper Of silker
feet and feathered fans tapped softl,
testified to q widespread approba
ton. II was the nrst sight many there
had had Of John Valiant and In botl
looks and manner he fitted their bes
ideals. True. his accent had not tina
subtle gloze, that consOnantal soft
ness and intonstion that mark thu
| Southron. but he was a Southron To-
all that, and one of themselves.
The queens cur,sey was the sigma
for the music. which throbbed sud
denly into a march. and she steppeC
down beside him. Couple after cou
pie. knights and ladies', ranged be
hind them, till the twenty-four stood
ready for the royal Quadrille. II wal
the Old-fashioned lancers, but the de
liberate strain lent the familiar msa
sures something Of the stately efYec
OF the minuet. The rhythmic waves
alternately bore Shirley to his arms
and whisked her away, for neetint
hand-touch OF this or that demure OF
laughing maid, giving him glimpsei
OF the seated rows by the walls. OF
flower vistas, Of open windows be
yond which peered shining blacA
faces delightedly watching.
Quadrilles were not invented as
aids to conversation. and John Va
liant's and Shirley's was necessarily
limited. The decorations are sim
ply delicious" she said as they faced
each other briefly. How did YOU
manage it,"
Home talent with vengeance!
Uncle Jefferson and l did II with oul
little hatchets. But the roses"
They were swooped apart and Shir
ley found herself curtsying to Chilly
Lusk. More than Queen!" he sait
under his breath. II had my heart
set on naming you today. I reckon
I've lost my rabbit-foot!"
Opposite. In the turn. Betty Page
had slipped her dainty hand into John
Vafiantis. All haven't seen such q
lovely dance for ysahs!" she sighed
Isn't Shirley too sweet? II All had
hair like hers. All wouldn't speak te
a soul on earth"
The exigencies OF the figure gave
no space for answer. and presently
after certain labyrinthine evolutions
6hirley's eyes were gazing into hit
again. How adorable you look!" ht
whispered. as he bowed over heI
hand. How does 1t feel to be q
Queen?'
This little head was never made
to wear crown she laughed
Queens should be regal. Miss Fargo
would have"
The music swept the rest away
but not the look OF binding reproacf
he gave her that made her heart thrOt
wildly as she glided on.
The last note Of the Quadrille slip
ped into a waltz. dreamily slow. ano
Valiant put his arm about Shirley and
they doated away. Once before. in
the moonlighted garden at Rosewood
she had lain in his arms for one brief
instant; then she had seemed like
some trapped wood-thing resisting
Now. her slender body swaying to his
every motion. she was another crea
ture. Under the dropping tawny hail
her face was almost as pale as the
white satin OF her gown; her lips
were parted, and az they moved. he
could feel her heart rise and fall tc
her languorous breath.
There was no speech betwee
them; for those few golden minutes
all else vanished utterly. and he
guided by instinct, as oblivious tC
the foor-full as II he were drifting
through some enchanted ether. hold
Ing to his breast the incarnation o.
all loveliness, a thing of a. frail en-
chantment as the glow Of stars upor
snow, yet for him always the one di
vine vision.