The Cairo bulletin., 1914-03-04

was q passion and horsefiesh fetishl
"Oh, dear," mourned Nancy Chal.
mers. I've bet six pairs OF gloves on
Quint Carter Never mind; il ii has to
be anybody else, I'd rather it 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 chance,
though. If he takes the next two, and
Mr. Valiant misses"
Katharine looked at her with lit
tie smile. He won't MISS she said
She had seen that look on his face
before and read it 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 grin was tense
on the lance as the yellow douhlet
and olive plume OF CaatieWood shot
away for last time-and failed, An
instant later the Knight OF the Grim
son 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 it 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 Matesties 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 race wildly.
Beyond wanting him to take part, she
| had not thought. She looked about
her, suddenly dismayed. People were
smiling at her and clapping their
hands. From the other end of the
stand she saw Nancy Chalmers throw
| ing her kiss, and beside her u tall
pale girl in champagne-color staring
! through jeweled lorgnette.
She was conscious all at once that
the fianneled rider was very close
that his pikepoint, with its
! big red blossom, was stretching up to
her.
y 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
Il little GREATNESS. Nancy Chalmers
and Betty Page had burst upon her
like petticoated whirlwinds ANA pres.
emily, when The crowd had lessened,
the judge came to introduce his yisi-
| tor.
| WI ~ ~ anu MS Att Jul
guests at GLADDEN. Hail. he told her.
| They are old friends of yaliant's. by
the way; they knew him in New
York"
"Kathariue's lighting her incense
now. | guess" observed Silas Fargo.
See there!" lie pointed across the
stand, where stood willowy tan fig.
ure, one hand beckoning TO the con-
course below, where Valiant stood, the
center of shifting group. round which
the white bulldog. mad with recovered
/ liberty tore in eccentric circles.
AS they looked. she called softly.
Joint Johnl"
| Shirley saw him start and face
about, then come quickly toward her.
amazement and welcome in his eyes.
! AS Shirley turned away little later
with the major, that whispering voice
seemed to sound In her ears-"John!
Joha!" There smote her suddenly the
thought that when he had chosen her
his Queen of Beauty. he had not seen
the other-had not known abe was
-
49, s.,ss-'-.s