The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-07-01

and then to drift through nower-lined
corridors, the foam on rccurrent waves
of discovery. Behind the rosebower
in the hall, which shielded a dozen
colored musicians-violins, cello, gui
tars and mandolins-came premonitory
chirps and shivers, which presently
wove into the low and dreamy melody
OF Garry Me Back to Old Virginia"
Promptly as the clock in the hall
chlmed ten, the music merged into q
march. Doors on opposite sides of the
upper hall swung wide and down the
broad staircase came, with slow step,
q stately procession: two heralds in
fawn.colored doublets with scroll and
trumpets wound with flowers, behind
them the Queen Of Beauty, her finger
tips resting lightly in tho hand of tho
Knight Of the Crimson Rose, and these
1ollowed by as brave a concourse Of
lords and ladies as ever graced castle.
hall In the gallant days when knight.
hood was in flower"
Shirley's gown was Of pure white:
her arms were swathed in tulle,
crossed with straps Of seed-pear1, over
which hung long semi-nowing sleeves
or satin, and from her shoulders rose
stiff pointed medieval collar Of Vene.
tian lace, against whose pale traceries
her bronze hairs glowed with rosy
lights. The elge Of the squarecut 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, knottcd with fresh white
rosr-buds Nancy Chalmers had la.
bored for frantic half-hour in tho
dressing-room for this effect) was
held by the seven.year-old Byloe
twins, beribboned knickerbockers duly
impressed with the grandeur OF their
privilege and grimly intent on acquit.
ting themselves with glory
Shirlcy's face was still touched with
the surprise that had swept 1t as
Valiant had stepped to her side. She
had looked to see him in the conyen-
tional panoply sobersided masculine
mode DEGREES. What she had beheld
was figure that might have stepped
out of an Elizabcthan picture-frame.
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-ofgold. From the rolling
brim Of his hat 8, apt q curling purple
plume. lie wore a slender dress-sword,
kled on his breast.
The costume had been one he had
worn at a 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 a perfect foil
for Shirloy's white.
The eleven knights OF the tourney,
each with his chosen lady. if less
splendid, were triclied out in sufficient.
ly gorgeous attire. Many an ancient
brocado had been awakened for the
nonce from it's lavender bed, and ruffs
and gold-braid were at no premium.
TO the twanging Of the deft black
fingers, they passed in gorgeous array
between flies OF low-cut gowns and
llower-lle faces and masculine swal.
low-tails, to the yellow parlor. Once
there the music ceased with a 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 tho bauble was but bristol
board. It's jeweled chasing but tlnsel
and paste? On her head 1t glowed and
trembled, true diadem. AS Valiant
set the glittering thing on those rich
and wonderful coils, the music Of her
presence was singing swift melody
In his blood.
Ills coronation address held no such
fowery periods as would have rolled
from the majors soul. He had chosen
single paragraph he had lighted on in
an old book in the library-a history of
the last Crusade in French black.let-
ter Ho had translated and memorlzed
tho archaic phrasing, keeping tha
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 In fulfilling these our acts
or arms, and do recommend their all
unto your Good Grace in as lowly wise
as they can. o queen, in whom the
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