The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-07-09

from tree and shrub, painting their
rainbow listers on grass and drive
way. Under the high gray columns OF
the porch and into the vide door,
framed in its small loaded panes that
glowed with the merry light within.
poured a stream of loneliness: in car
r~iage-wraps of light tints. collared and
edged with fur or elder, or wide
sleeyed mandarin coats falling back
from dazzling throats and arms. hair
swathed with chiffon against the night
dews. and CALAMITY c%avaliered by mas
culine black and white.
These from their tiring.rooms over
flowed presently, CARRIED like dreams.
to make obeisance TO the dowagers
and then to drift through iower-lined
corridors, the foam on recurrent waves
OF discovery. Behind the r~ose-bower
in the hall. which shielded a dozen
colored Neutrality-suspicious.. cello. gui-
tars and mandolins-came premonitory
chlrps and shivers. which presently
wove into the low and dreamy melody
OF Garry Me Back to Old Virginia"
Promptly as the clock In the hall
chimed ten. the music merged Into q
march. Doors on opposite sides OF the
upper hall swung wide and down the
broad staircase came. with slow step.
a stately procession: two heralds IN
f~awn-colored doublets with scroll and
trumpets wound with flowers. behind
them the Queen OF Beauty. her finger
tips resting lightly In the hand OF the
Knight OF the Crimson Rose. and these
followed by as brave a OF
lords and ladies' as eve graced castle
hall in the gallant days when knight
hood was In flower"
Shirley's gown al OF pure white:
her arms were swathed In tulle.
crossed with straps OF seed-pearl. over
which hung long semi-Howlng sleeves
OF satin, and from her shoulders rose
a stiff pointed medieval collar OF Vene
tian lace. against whose pale traceries
her bronze hair glowed with rosy
lights. The elge OF the square-cut cor
sage was powdered with the pearl
and against their sheen her breast anC
neck had the soft creamy ivory o
magnolia buds. Her straight plaii
train OF satin. knotted with fresh whit
rose-buds Nancy Chalmers had la
bored for a frantic half-hour In tn
dr~essing-room for this effect) wa
held by the seven-year-old Bylo
twins, beribboned knickerbockers, dul
impressed with the grandeur Of thei
privilege and grinly intent on acqui'
ting themselves with glory.
Shirley's face vas still touched wit
the surprise that had swept 1t a
Valiant had stepped to her side. Sh
had looked to see him In the CONVEX
tional panoply a sober-sided masculin
mode DEGREES. What she had behel
was a figure that might have steppe
out OF an Elizabethan picturo-fram'
He was in deep purple slashed wit
gold. A cloak OF thin crimson yelve
narrowly edged with ermine hun
from his shoulders. lined with tissu,
like cloth-of-gold. From the rollin
brim OF his hat swept a curling purpl
plume. He wore a slender dress-swort
and an order set with brilliants spa
killed. on his breast.
The costume had been one he ha
worn at a fancy ball OF the winter b,
fore. It had been made from a pain
ing at Windsor OF one OF the dukes {
Buckingham. and 1t made a perfect 70
for Shirley's white.
The eleven knights OF the tourne!
each with his chosen lady. II les
splendid. were tricked out In sum Glen
ly gorgeous attire. Many an sncier
brocade had been awakened for tn
nonce from its lavender bed. and run
and gold-braid were at no premium.
To BE c%oNTINUED)