Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-09-23

t-r.-'g.' Ss'If-.f ~ =
mask, Mrs. Smith, and lend me a plume
for my hat, III rid and show them
how we do it in K%cntucky!'
For it was as Il young Kcntuckian in
hard luck Arthur had explained his
plight and presence in that part Of the
country. Both the farmer and his wife
had often discussed the stranger who
had come to their door in the guise of
a tramp, but they could see by his
ways and manners he was no tramp.
They judged him by his open, manly
countenancc and gentle courtesy, and
whatever was his secret they felt it
was no dishonorablc one.
On Starlight. then. the farmers
blooled saddle horse, in his new cheap
best clothes, and with his black silk
mask and ostrich plume the farmers
wife had furnished from her Sunday
finery, Arthur rode away with the best
wishes Of the farmer and his wife and
his little girl, ito show" as Farmer
Smith expressed it, those stuck up
Fairfax swells Il taste of old Kentucky
quality .3
Quabba had been gone since the day
before, but Arthur overlook him near
Stanley hall. They waved at each other
as Arthur gallOped past. And then
Arthur reinel his horse in Il little copse
Of wood neal the mansion. Did he but
know it. it was the spot where he had
been born.
He had last seen Esther at Hagar's
camp, but he was not surprised to
catch the flutter of her dress at the
window of the balcony that overlooked
the garden at the side of Stanley hall.
He had we'll remembered Hagar's part.
ing words that she would take Esther
10 dwell at Stanley hall.
Cautious and us quiet as he was in
stealing toward the house, the keen
ears of Luke Lowell. at Stanley hall
that day with messages to Hagar from
her gypsy folk, heard his cautious foot
fall, and from a hiding place saw
Arthur throw Il hastily scrawled note.
tied to a stone. through the open bal
cony to Esther's room. The note
begged her to meet him Mt the old stile
at the top Of the hill, back Of Stanley
hall. And Esther was there to keep
the tryst. ......
you must not do this!' she painted
wildly when Arthur explained his pur-
pose. But Arthur laughed and paid
her a brotherly compliment for her
bright eyes and fair cheeks. set off all
the better for her agitation and the
beautiful white frock that she had
donned for the tournament.
Il will ride wearing your favor. Els
Their, dear" said Arthur, and he took
the silken sash she wore aud kissed
her and rode away, placing on his
mask as he adjusted the sash as a
scarf.
At Stanley hall Hagar impatiently
waited for Esther, the carriage horses
restless at the portals Of the mansion.
"Where have you been,' she asked.
gathering flowers. l suppose?" For
rs an excuse Esther had hurriedly
gathered Il handful Of roses to account
for her delay.
At the Fairfax fair grounds all was
hustle and excitement. The gentry
were driving in and taking their seats
in the gay!y decorated grand stand.
Already Blair S%tanley's mother, with
her guests. Mrs. Burton Randolph of
Richmond and the beautiful lady from
New York whom Blair was all atten-
ton to, Vivian Marston. had taken their
seats and were smiling and nodding to
friends and acquaintance.
Sheriff Sam Swain was bustling about
and In his heavy, numbering way teas
ing a hunchback organ grinder who.
with a monkey, had been the subject
of much amusement on the tournament
grounds. Sheriff Swain was jocularly
pretending he would arrest both the
musician and his monkey. and he was
shaking the official handouts at these
coin gathering entertainers.
md now the master Of ceremonies
lMN'" the announcement the masked
Snignts We're to tilt in Il general melee