Gilpin observer., 1914-06-04


three days he had labored tirelessly to
fit the place for the evenings event.
The parlor now showed walls trimmed
with straight-back chairs and the
grand piano-long ago put in order
had been relegated to the library. That
instinct for the artistic, which had
made him last resort in the vexing
problems of club entertainments, had
aided him In the Courts adornment.
Out of the kitchens Cassandra's s
egg-beating chatted like watchman's 8
rattle. while Aunt Daphne put the fin
fishing touches to an array of lighter
edibles destined to grace the long ta-
BILE on the rear porch, now walled in
with snow-white muslin and hung with
candle-lusters. Under the trees Uncle
Jefferson was even then experimenting
with various punch compounds. and a
delicious aroma of vanilla came to Va
liant's nostrils.
.
The Red Road, as valiant's car
passed. was dotted with struggling Pc
destrians: humble country folk who
trudged along the grassy foot-path
cars and comfortable carriage that
left them behind; sturdy barefooted
children who called shrilly after him.
and happy -go-lucky negro youths clad
in their best with Sunday shoes dan
CHING over their shoulders, slouching
regardlessly In the dust-all bound for
the same Mecca, which presently rose
before him, gateway of painted can
vas proclaiming the field to which it
opened Runnymede.
He halted his car at the end OF the
field and snapped leash in the bull
dogs collar Il hate to do 1t, old
man." he said apologetically to Chum's
reproachful look, but I've got to.
There are to be some stunts, and in
such occasions you're apt to be con-
vinced you're the main one of the con-
testants. which might cause a mix-Hp.
Never mind; I'll anchor you where you
won't miss anything"
With the excited dog tugging be-
fore him, he threaded his way through
the press with keen exhilaration. Now
and then his gloved hand touched his
cap at a salutation. He was con-
scious of swift bird-like glances from
pretty girls Here was none of the
rigid straightahead gaze or vacant
stare of the city boulevard; the eyes
that looked at him, frankly curious
and inQuiring. were full of easy open
comradeship. Some of the girls wore
gowns ard hats that might that morn
ing have issued from the Rue de la
Paix; others were habited in cheap
materials. But about the latter hung
no benumbing self-consciousness. All
bore themselves alike. He was begin
ming to realize that there might really
exist straitened circumstances, even
actual poverty, which yet created no
sort of social difference.
Opposite the canvas-covered grand
stand sat twelve small mushroom
tents, each with a stan and tiny flag
Midway lines of fiaxen ropes stretched
between rows Of slender peeled sap
lings from whose topc fioated fanged
streamers Of vivid bunting. A pavilion
of purple cloth. open at the sides.
awaited for the committee, and near
the center, a negro band was disposed
on canp-stools, the brass of the wait
ing instruments winking in the sun
light. The stand was a confused glow
of color. Of light gauzy dresses, of
young girls in pastel muslins with
flowers in their belts. picturesque hats
and slender articulate hands darting
in vivacious gestures like white swal-
lows - the gentry from the big
houses"
hn a -
the white bulldog. drew many glances
Valiants eyes. however, as they swept
the seats. were looking for but one.
and at first vainly. He felt a quick
pang OF disappointment. Perhaps she
would not come! Perhaps her mother
was still i'll. Perhaps-but then sud
denly his heart beat high. for he saw
her in the lower tier, with a group OF
young people. He could not have told
what she wore, save that II was of soft
Murillo blue with a hat whose down
curved brim was wound with a shaded
plume OF the same tint. Her mother
ing his way as he passed-her arms
at the moment being held out in an
adorable gesture toward little child
In smiling matron's lap-and but n
single glance was vouchsafed to him
before the major seized upon him and
bore him to the purple pavilion. for he
was one Of the committee.
But for this distraction. he might
have seen, entering the stand with the
Chalmers just as the band struck up
delicious whirl of Dixie" the two
strangers whom the doctor had OBJ
served an hour before as they whirled
by the Merryweather Mason house be-
hind the judges grays. Sllas Fargo
might have passed in any gathering
for the unobtrusive city man. Katha-
rine was noticeable anywhere, and
today her tall willowy figure in its
champaSnecolor lingerie gown and hat
garnished with bronze and gold this
ties. setting in relief her ivory