The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-08-18

aided him in the Courts sadornment.
Out of the kitchens Cassandra's
egg-beating chatted like a Waterman 8
rattle, while Aunt Daphne put the fin
fishing touches to an array of lighter
edibles destined to grace the long Ia
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
with no sullen regard for the swift
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
Cling 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 it, 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 mix-up.
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 chances from
pretty girls. Here was none of the
rigid straight-ahead 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 and hats that might that morn
ing have issued from the Rue de Ia
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 staff and tiny flag
Midway lines of haxen ropes stretched
between rows of slender peeled sap
lings from whose tops foated fanged
of purple cloth, open at the sides,
awaited for the committee, and near
the center, a negro band was disposed
on camp-stools, the brass of the wait
ing instruments winking in the SUM-
light. The stand was 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"
The light athletic figure, towed by
the white bulldog, drew many glances.
Valiant's eyes, however, as they swept
the seats, were looking for but one,
and at first vainly. He felt quick
pang of disappointment. Perhaps she
would not come! Perhaps her mother
was still Ill. 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 1t was Of soft
Murillo blue with hat whose down.
curv =" rim was wound with a shaded
plume of the same tint Her mother
was not with her. She was not look
ing his way as he passed-her arms
at the moment being held out in an
adorable gesture toward a little child
in a smiling matron's lap-and but
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
a delicious whirl of Dixie" the two
strangers whom the doctor had Oh.
served an hour before as they whirled
by the Merryweather Mason house be-
hind the judges grays. Silas 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
champagne-color lingerie gown and hat
garnished with bronze and gold this
ties. setting in relief her ivory
statuesQue face, drew a wave Of wills
pered comment which left q sibilant
wake behind him. The party made
q picturesque group as they now dis
posed themselves, Katharine's color
less loneliness contrasting with the
eager sparkle Of pretty Nancy Chal-
mers and the gipsy-like beauty of
Betty Page.
You call 1t a tournament, don't
your? asked Katharine of the judge.
YES" he replied. Its a kind of
contest In which twelve riders COM
pete for the privilege of naming a
Queen Of Beauty. There's a ball to-
night, at which the lucky lady is
crowned. Those little tents are where
the noble knights don their shining