The Ordway new era., 1914-07-24

In the hall below he looked about
him with satisfaction. For the last
three days he had labored tirelessly Ia
mt the place for the evenings event.
The parlor now showed walls trimmed
with straight-back chairs and the
grand piano-long ago put In order
had been relocated to the library. That
instinct for, the artistic. which had
made him last resort IN the vexing
problems Of club entertainments. had
aided him in the Courts adornment
Out Of the kitchens Cassandra's
egg.beating chatted like = Natchman's
rattle. while Aunt Daphne put the nm
ishing 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 .
delicious aroma Of vanilla came to Va
liant's nostrils.
. . .
The Red Road, - 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-sll bound for
the same Mecca. which presently rose
before him. . gateway OF painted can
vas proclaiming the deld to which 1t
opened Runnymede.
He halted his car at the end of the
fsld and snapped leash In the bull
dogs collar. II hate to do II. old
man." he said apolosetically to Chum's
.reproachful look. -but I've got to.
There arc to be some stunts. and in
such occasions you're apt TO be con-
WINGED you're the main one Of tho con-
testants. which might cause q mixNp.
Never mind: Ill anchor you whore you
won't miss anything"
With the excited dog Juggling be-
fore him. he threaded his way through
the press with keen exhilaration. Now
and then his gloved hand touched his
cap ut salutation. He was con-
scious Of swift bird-like glances from
pretty Girls. Here was none Of the
rigid straisht-ahead gaxe or vacant
stare Of the city boulevard: the eyes
that looked 81 him, frankly curious
and inquiring. were fun Of easy open
comradeship. Some Of the girls wore
gowns AID hats that might that morn
ing have issued from the Rue de Ia
Paixj. others were habited In cheap
materials. But about the latter hung
no benumbing selfconsciousness. 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 . stan and tiny nag.
Midway lines Of naxen ropes stretched
between rows of slender peeled sap
lings from whose topG hoated fanged
streamerp Of vivid bunting. A pavilion
of purple cloth. open at the sides.
awaited for the committee, and near
the center. = negro band was disposed
Oh C8kuRkSQ0tBp tu0 0I688 Vi Ah0 W&AJ-
ing instruments winking In the sun
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 vivscious 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. az they swept
the seats. were looking for but one,
and at first vainly. He felt Q 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 Q group Of
young people. He could not have told
what she wore. save that It was Of soft
Murillo blue with hat whose down
curved brim was wound with q shaded
plume OF the same tint. Her mother
vas not with her. She was not look
ing his way A. he passed-her arms
at the moment being held out in an
adorable gesture toward little child
in 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 ope of tho committee.
But for this distraction. he might
have seen. entering the stand with the
Chalmers Just As the band struck up
delicious whirl Of Dixie" the two
strangers whom the doctor had OBJ.
served an hour before Al they whlrled
by the Merryweather Mason house be
hind the Judges grays. Silas Fargo
might have passed in any gathering
for the unobtrusivs city man. Katha
rine was noticeable anywhere. and
today her tall willowy figure in it,
champasne-color lingerie kown and hal
garnished with bronze and gold this
ties. setting in relief her ivory