The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-10-02


from tree and shrub. painting their
RAINBOW lusters on grass and drive
way. Under the high gray columns OF
the porch and into the wide door.
framed in its small loaded panes that
gloWed with the merry light within.
poured a stream CT loneliness: In car
riage-wraps Of light tints. collared and
edged with fur or elder, or widn~
sleeVed mandarin coats falling back
from dazzling tilroats and arms, haiT
sWathed With chiffon against the night
doWs. and CALAMITY cavaliered by mas
caline black ana white.
These from their tiring-rooms over
flowed presently, CARRIED like dreams,
to make obeisance to the dowa-ers
and then to drift through lower-lined
corridors, the foam on recurrent waves
OF discovery. Behind the ~rose-bower
IN the hall. which shielded a dozen
colored musicians violins. cello. gull
tars Il mandOlins-came p~remonitor-
chirps and shiyers. 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 .
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
faWn-colored doublets with scroll and
trumnets wound with flowers. behind
them the Queen Of Beauty. her finger
tips resting lightly in the hand OF TIE
Knight OF the Crimson Rose, and these
followed by as brave a concoursc OF
lords and ladies' as ever graced castle
hall In the gallant days when knight
hood was in flower"
Shirley's gown was ~ pure White.
her arms were sWatncd in TITLE,
crossed with straps of seed pearl. over
which hung long ~semifowing sleeves
Of satin. and from her shoulders ros.
a stiff pointed medieval collar Of Nona
tian lace. against whose pale t~raceriea
her bronze hair gloWed with rosy
lights. The elge 81 the sguaFe-cut cor.
sage was powdered With the pearls
and against their sheen her breast and
neck had the soft creamy ivory OF
magnolia buds. Her straight plain
train of satin. knotted with fresh white
rose-buds tNancy Chalmers had Ia
bored for q frantic hall hour in the
dresaing-room for this efIoety wts
held BY the seyen-year-e]d I',t q
twins, herihb0ned knickerbOtkAr duly
impressed with the grandeur of fhe't
- tutr1,I na1 rrTv.t,- s-+@,,. ~ r,L,4t.
ting themselves with glory.
Shirley's face was still touched With
tie surprise that had sWeBt il 40
Valiant had stepped 10 her side. She
had looked TO see him in the conven.
tional ranoply a sober-sided masculine
mode DEGREES. What she had behe1d
was a figure that might have stepped
out Of an E~lizabethan picture-frame.
lie was III deep purple slashed With
gold. A cloak OF thin crimson velvet
narrowly edged with ermine hung
from his shoulders. lined with tissue
Ike cfoth-of gold. From the rolling
brim Of his hat swept a curling purple
plume. He wore a slender dress-sworu.
and an order set with brilliants spar.
kled on his breast.
The costume had been one he Ind
worn at a fancy ball of the winter be
fore. 1t had beer made from a paint
ing at Windsor Of one OF the dukes OF
buckingham, and it made a perfect foil
for Shirley's white.
The eleven knights Of the tourney.
each with his chosen lady. if less
ly gorgeous attire. Many an ancient
brocade had been awakened for the
nonce from it's lavender bed, and ruf-s
and gold braid were at nc premium.
lTO Re CONTINUED.o