Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-17

quadrille tonight, too. Why doesn't
the committee choose some one in his
place? Listen. Why not ask Mr.. Va
liant? He is our host tonight. I'm
sure he'd be glad to help out, even
without the costume"
"Egad!" he said, pulling his i'm
perial. None of us had thought of
him. He could ride Pendleton's
mount, of COURSE" He reflected a mo-
ment. I'll do it. It's exactly the right
thing. You're a clever girl, Shirley"
He hastily crossed the field, while
she leaned back, her eyes on the fan
neled flgure-long since recognized
under the purple pavilion. She saw
the committe put their heads together
and hurriedly enter.
In the moments wait, Shirley's
gloved fingers clasped and ~unclasped
somewhat n%ervously. The riders had
been chosen long before John Valiant's
coming. If a saddle, however, was
perforce to be vacant, what more APP
propriate than that he should fill it?
The thought had come to her instantly,
bred of an underlying regret, which
she had all along cherished, that he
was not to take part. But beneath this
was a deeper passionate wish that she
did not attempt to analyze to see him
infatuated to that closed circle-a
place rightfully his by eason of birth
and name-and to tighten the gloomy
shadow, that must rest on his thoughts
of his father, with warmer SUMMER
things. She heaved a secret sigh of
satisfaction as the white-clad figure
rose in acquiescence.
The major returned to the grand
stand and held up his hand for silence.
Our gracious Liege," he proclaimed,
in his big vibrant voice, Queen OF
Beauty yet unknown, Lords, Knights
and Esquires, Fair Danes and gentles
ALI Whereas divers noble persons
have en~terprized and taken upon them
to hold jousts royal and tourney, you
are hereby acquainted that the lists of
Runnymede are about to open for that
achievement of arms and grand and
noble tournament for which they have
so long been famed. But an hour
since one of our noble knights, prick
ing hither to tilt for his lady, was be-
set by a ~grievous malady. However,
lest our jousting lack the royal num-
Der, a new champion hath at this last
hour been found to fill the Table
Round, who of his courtesy doth con-
sent to ride without armor."
A buzz a over the assemblage. 1T
must be Pendleton who has defaulted,"
said Judge Chalmers. II heard this
morning he was sick. Who's the sub
stitute knight, / wonder?"
At the moment a single mounted
herald before the tents blew a long
blast on a silver horn. Their flaps
parted and eleven knights issued to
mount their steeds and draw into line
behind him. They were brilliantly
decked in 1eshlings with slashed doub-
let's and plumed chapeaus, and short
jeweled cloaks dropped from their
shoulders. Pages handed each a long
lance which was held perpendicular,
the butt resting IN the right stirrup.
Under the pavilion, just for the frac-
ton of a second, Valiant hesitated.
Then he turned swiftly to the twelfth
tent. Its iag-staff bore a long stream
er of deep blood-red. He snatched
this from its place, flung it about his
waist and knotted 1t sash-wise. He
drew the rose from his lapel and thrust
it through the band of his Panama,
leaped to the saddle of the horse the
major had %beckoned, and with a quick
thrust of his heel. swung to the end