Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-05-14

curved brim was Win a snadeo
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 a
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 OBJ
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 un~obtrusive 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
statuesque face, drew a wave Of whis'
pered comment which left a sibilant
wake behind him. The party made
a 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 il
crowned. Those little tents are where
the noble knights don their shining
armor. See, there go their capari
soned chargers"
A file Of negroes was approaching
the tents, each leading a horse whose
saddle and bride we're decorated with
fringes of various hues. In the center
of the roped lists, directly in front Of
the stand. others were planting up
right in the ground a tall pole from
whose top projected a horizontal arm
like a slender gallows. From this wal
suspended a cord at whose end swung
a tiny object that whirled and gilt
tered in the sun.
The judge explained. ION the enc
of the cord is a silver ring, at which
the knights tilt with lances. Twelve
rings are used. The pike-points are
made to fit them, and the knight who
carries off the greatest number Of the
twelve is the victor. The whole thing
is a custom as ancient as Virginia
a relic, of course, Of the old joustint
of the feudal ages. The ring Is sup
posed to represent the device on thu
boss of the shield, at which the lance
thrust was aimed"
How interesting!" exclaimed Kath
arine, and turning, swept the stant
with her lorgnette. Il suppose all the
county's r. F. VS. are here" she sale
laughingly to Nancy Chalmers. "T'vt
often wondered, by the way, what be
came of the Second Families of Vir
ginia." o
ooh, they've mostly emigratet
North" answered Nancy. "The ones
that are left are all ancient. There
are families here that don't admi
they ever began at ALL" \
Silas Fargo shook his stopped shout
ders with laughter. "Up North" h,
said genially, we've got regular fac
tories that turn out ready-made family
trees for anybody who wants to roos
in one"
And now over the fluttering STAN
and the crowd about the barriers,
stir was discernible. Katharine locke,
again at the field. "Who is that spler
did old man giving directions? Tn
one who looks like a lion. He's CON
ing this way, now"
That's Major Montague Bristow,
said the judge. Hes been master @
the heralds for years. The tourns
ment could hardly happen without tn
major"
I'm sure I'd like him." she al
swered. What a lovely girl he j
talking tot"
1t was Shirley who had beckone
the major from the lists. She wa
leaning over the railing. why hs
Ridgeley Pendleton left?" she aske
in a low voice. isn't he one of tn
twelve"
HE was. But he's i'll. He WASH
feeling up to 1t when he came. bI
he didn't give UP till half an hot
ago. Well have to get along wit
eleven knights"
She made an exclamation Of dlsma,
Poor Ridge! And what a pity
There have never been less than ii
full number. II will spoil the roy
quadrille tonight, too. Why doesn
the committee choose some one in h
place? Listen. Why not ask Mr.. V
liant? He is u host tonight. l.