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

his feet. Fifty to ten on the Crimson
Rose" he cried. This time. however,
there were no takers. He called again.
but one heard him: the last tits were
too absorbing.
Where had John Valiant learned
that trick OF the loose wrist and in
flexible thrust. but at the fencing club?
Where that subconscious management
OF the rein, that nice gage OF speed
and distance, but on the polo field?
The old sports stood him now In good
stead. why. he has a seat like a
%centaur!" exclaimed the judge-praise
indeed In a community where riding
was a passion and horseflesh a fetishl
"Oh, dear!" mourned Nancy Chal'
mers. I've bet six pairs Of gloves on
Quint Carter. Never mind; II It has to
be anybody else, I'd rather II were
Mr.. Valiant. It's about time Damory
Court got something after Rip-Van-
Winkling It for thirty years. Besides.
he's giving us the dance. and | love
him for that! Quint still has a chance.
though. II he takes the next two. and
Mr.. Valiant misses"
Katharine looked at her with a lit
tie smile. HE won't MISS" she said.
She had seer that look IN his face
before and read II Alright. John Va
liant had striven In many contests. not
only Of skill but Of strength and dar-
ing. before crowded grand stands. But
never In all his life had he so desired
to pluck the prize. His grip was tense
OF the lance as the yellow doublet
and olive plume OF Castlewood shot
away for a last time-and failed. An
instant later the Knight OF the Grim.
SOL Rose flashed down the lists with
the last ring on his pike.
And the tourney was won.
In the shouting and hand-clapping
Valiant took the rose from his hat
band and bound 1t with a shred Of his
sash to his lance-point. AS he rode
slowly toward the massed stand, the
whole field was SO still that he could
hear the hoofs of the file of knights
behind him. The people were on their
feet.
The mounted herald blew his blast.
by the Majesties of st. Michael and
st. George" he proclaimed, Il declare
the Knight Of the Crimson Rose the
victor Of this our tourney. and do
charge him now to choose his Queen
Of Beauty. that all may do her hon.
age!"
Shirley saw the horse coming down
the line, its rider bareheaded now,
and her heart began to ace wildly.
Beyond wanting him to take part, she
had not thought. She looked about
her. suddenly dlsmayed. People we're
smiling at her and ~clapping their
hands. From the other end of the
stand she saw Nancy Chalmers throw.
ing her a kiss, and beside her a tall
pale girl in champagne-color staring
through a jeweled %lorgnette.
She was conscious all at once that
the flanneled rider was very close
that his pike-point, with its
big red blossom. was stretching up to
her.
With the rose In her hand she curt.
sled to him, while the blurred throng
cheered itself hoarse. and the band
struck up you Great Big Beautiful
DOLL" with extraordinary rapture, to
the tune of which the noise finally sub
sided to a battery Of hilarious con
gratulations which left her flushed and
a little breathless. Nancy Chalmers
and Betty Page had burst upon hei
like petticoated whiriwinds and pres
emily. when the crowd had lessened
the Judge came 20 introduce his visi
tor.
MIR. Fargo and his daughter are oul
guests at GLADDEN. Hail." he told her
They are Ole friends OF Valiant's, BY
the way; they knew him In New
York"
"Katharine's lighting her incens,
now. ! guess" observed Silas Fargo
See there!" He pointed across tn,
stand, where stood a willowy tan fig
ure. one hand reckoning to the con
course below, where Valiant stood, tn,
center of a shifting group. round which
the white bulldog, mad with recovered
liberty. tore in eccentric circles.
AS they looked, she called softly
joint joint
Shirley saw him start and fact
about, then come quickly toward her
amazement and welcome in his eyes.
As Shirley turned away a little late
with the major, that whispering voic'
seemed to sound In her ears-"John
Johnl" There smote her suddenly tn
thought that when he had chosen he
his Queen OF Beauty. he had not seel
the other-had not known she wa
there.
A few moments before the day ha
been golden; she went home through
a landscape that somehow seemed L
/ have lost its brightest glow.
IAnrE WIN