The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-18

SiOWeu WIN the merry light within
poured stream Of loveliness: in car
riage-wraps of light tints, collared and
edged with fur or elder, or wide
sleeved mandarin coats falling back
from dazzling throats and arms, hair
swathed with chiffon against the night
dews, and gallantly cavaliered by mas
culine black and white
These from their tiring-rooms over.
flowed presently, garbed like dreams,
to make obeisance to the dowagers
and then to drift through flower-li lined
corridors, the foam on recurrent waves
OF discovery. Behind the rOse-bower
In the hall, which Shielded a dozen
colored nusicians-violins, cello. gui.
tars and mandolins--came premonitory
chlrps and shivers, which presently
Wove into the low and dreamy melody
or carry Me Back to Old Virginia"
Promptly as the clock in the hall
chlmed ten, the music merged into
march. Doors on opposite sides of the
upper hall swung wide and down the
broad staircase came, with slow step,
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 the hand of the
Knight OF the Crimson Rose, and these
followed 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-pearI. over
which hung long semi-flowing sleeves
OF satin, and from her shoulders rose
stiff pointed medieval cellar of Vene-
tian lace, against whose pale traceries
her bronze hair glowed with ROSY
lights. The elge of the square-cut 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, knotted with fresh white
rose-buds Nancy Chalmers had Ia.
bored for a frantic half-hour in the
dressing-room for this effect was
held by the seven-year-old Bvloe
twins, beribboned knickerbockers, 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 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
b1fin' Of his hat swept curling purple
plume. He wore slender dress-sword,
and an order set with brilliants 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 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
ly gorgeous attire. Many an ancient
brOcade had been awakened for the
nonce from its lavender bed. and rufrs
and gold-braid were at no premium
TO tho tWanging Of the deft black
fingers, they passed in gorgeous array
between files Of lOw-cut gowns end
flower-like faces and masculine swal
lowrtails, to the yellow parlor. Once
there The music ceased with a splendid
crash. the eleven knights each dropped
upon Que 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, it's jeweled chasing but tinsel
and paste? On her head it glowed and
trembled, a true diadem. AS Valiant
set the glittering thing on those rich
and wonderful coils, the music of her
presence was singing O 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 in
an Old book in the !ibrary-a history-of
the last Crusade in French black-let.
ter. He had translated and memorized
the 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 in fulfilling these our acts
or arms, and do recomr md their all
unto your Good Grace in as lowly wise
as they can. o queen, in whom the
l,@l@ ~,S@ 30 ,.-t,,