The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-05-19

poured stream of lcveliness: 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 calamity cavaliered by mas
culine black and white.
These from their tiring-rooms ovel,-
flowed presently. CARRIED like dreams,
to make obeisanee to the dowagers
and then to drift through fower-lined
corridors, the foam on recurrent waves
of discovery. Behind the rose-bower
in the hall, which shielded dozen
colored musicians-violins, cello, gui-
tars and mandolins- premonitory
chirps and shivers, which presently
wove into the low and dreamy melody
of Garry Me Back to Old Virginia"
Promptly as the clock in the hall
chimed ten, the music merged into a
march Doors on opposite sides of the
upper hall swung wide and down the
broad staircase came, with slow step,
a stately procession: two heralds in
fawn-celored 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 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-pearl over
which hung long semi-howing sleeves
of satin, and from her shoulders rose
stiff pointed medieval collar 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 la
bored for a frantic half-hour in the
dressing-room for this effect) wa.
held by the seven-year-old Bylot
twins, beribboned knickerbockers, dull!
impressed with the grandeur of thei
privilege and grimly intent IN acquit
ting themselves with glory.
Shirley's face was still touched will
the surprise that had swept it a.
had looked to see him in the conven
tional panoply sober-sided masculin
, mode DEGREES. What she had behel
was a figure that might have steppe-
out of an Elizabethan picture-frame
He was in deep purple slashed wit
gold. A cloak of. thin crimson velve
! narrowly edged with ermine hun
from his shoulders, lined with tissue
like cloth-of-gold. From the rollin
brim Of his hat swept a curling purpl
plume. He wore a slender dressswort
and an order set with brilliants spa
killed. on his breast
The costume had been one he ha
worn at fancy ball Of the winter b
fore It had been made from a pain
ing at Windsor of one Of the dukes {
- buckingham, and 1t made perfect TO
for Shiriey's white
The eleven knights of the tourne
each with his chosen lady, if les
splendid, were tricked out in sufficien
ly gorgeous attire. Many an anciel
u brocade had been awakened for Il
IL nonce from it's lavender bed, and ruff
and gold-braid were at no premium.
Ia To the twanging Of the deft blas
o. fingers, they passed in gorgeous arr
% between files Of low-cut gowns al
- flower-like faces and masculine sws
y low-tails, to the yellow parlor. ON
n there the music ceased with splend
"A crash, the eleven knights each droppt
10 upon one knee. the eleven ladies-i
waiting curtsied low, and Shirley, sea
q ed upon the dais, leaned her BURNSIDE
b head to receive the crown. VIII;
70 though the bauble was but bristc
a board, its jeweled chasing but tins
~ and paste? On her head it glowed ar
N trembled, true diadem. AS Valial
o set the glitteTing thing on those rio
and wonderful coils, the music of h
presence was singing a swift melot
- in his blood.
y, (TO BE CONTINUED