The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-03-06

neck had the soft creamy ivory Of |
magnolia buds Her straight plain |
train Of satin. knotted with fresh white
rose-buds Nancy Chalmers had la
bored for frantic half-hour in the
dressing-room for this effecD was
held by the seyen-yearold Byloe
twins, beribboned kniekerbockers. duly
Impressed with the grandeur of their
privilege and grimly intent on acquit-
ting themselves with glory.
Shirley's face was still touched with
the surprise that had swept it as
Valiant had stepped to her side, She
had looked to see him in the conven-
tional panoply sober-sided masculine
mode DEGREES. What she had beheld
was figure that might have stepped
out of an EliZabethan pictureframe.
He was in deep purple slashed with
gold A cloak of thin crimson velvet
narrowly edged with ermine hung
from his shoulders. lined with tissue
like cloth-of-gold. From the rolling
brim Of his hat swept curling purple
plume. He wore a slender crossword.
and an order set with brillants spar
kled on his breast.
The costume had been one he had
worn at fancy ball of the winter be-
fore. 1t had been made from a paint.
ing at Windsor of one Of the dukes OF
Buckingham, and it made perfect foil
for Shirley's white.
The eleven knights OF the tourney,
each with his chosen lady. If less
| splendid, were tricked out in sufficient.
| " gorgeous attire. Many an ancient
! brocade had been awakened for the
| nonce from its lavender bed, and rufus
and gold-braid were at no premium.
| To the twanging Of the deft black
( fingers. they passed in gorgeous array
between files OF low-cut gowns and
fiower-like faces and masculine swal
low-tails, to the yellow parlor. Once
there the music ceased with q splendid
| crash, the eleven knights each dropped
upon one knee. the eleven ladies.in
waiting curtsied low, and Shirley, seat
ed upon the dais. leaned her FURNISHED
head to receive the crown. What
though the bauble was but bristol
board, its jeweled chasing but tinse
and paste? On her head It glowed ant
trembled, a true diadem. As Valiant
set the glittering thing on those rict
and wonderful coils, the music OF hel
presence was singing a swift melody
in his blood
His coronation address held no such
fiowery periods as would have rolled
from the majors soul. He had chosen
single paragraph he had lighted on IL
= an old book Ia the library--a histOry-ol
the last Crusade III French black-let
ter he had translated and memorized
tho archaic phrasing, keeping the
quaint feeling of the original:
These noble knights bow in your
presence, fair lady. as their leige
whom they know as even In Judgment
as dainty Ia fulfilling these our acts
of arms. and do recommend their al
unto your GOOD Grace In as lowly wis'
as they can. 0 queen. in whom tbs
whole story or virtue is written VIII
the language of beauty, your eyes
; which have been only wont TO discern
} the bowed knees of kneeling hearts
and, inwardly turned. found always
the heavenly solace OF sweet mind
: see them, ready in heart and able witt
hands not only to assailing but TO pre-
vailing"
A hushed rustic of applause-no
: loud: the merest whisper of silheI
feet and feathered fans tapped softly
J testified TO a widespread appreciation
1t was the first sight many there had
J had of John Valiant and in both. LOOKS
ana manner ne fitted their best Ideals
The queens curtsey was the sigma
for the music, which throbbed sudden
ly into march. and she stepped doWn