The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-12-02

New YORK wnom Bla1r was an arten-
ton to, Vivian Marston, had taken their
seats and were smiling and nodding to
friends and acquaintances.
Sheriff Sam Swain was bustling about
and in bis heavy, numbering way teas
ing a hunchback organ grinder who,
with monkey, had been the subject
Of much amusement on the tournament
grounds. Sheriff Swain was jocularly
pretending he would arrest both the
musician and hfs monkey, and he was
shaking the official handouts at these
coin gathering entertainers.
And now the master Of ceremonies
made the announcement the masked
knights were to tilt In a general melee
with bamboo lances at small wreath
suspended some twelve feet from the
ground. Riding at full speed at this
, object, the masked knight who could
bear 1t off on his spear point was to be
adjudged the victor and as the best
horseman Of all the knights Of Fairfax
would crown the maid of his choosing
as queen Of love and beauty, and
also by the presentation Of great bou-
quets ready at hand select the queens
attendant ladies Of honor.
The bugles blew, Sheriff Swain as
knight seneschal distributed the lances,
and the knights lined up far down the
track. The bugles blew again, and on
they came, twenty Of them abreast,
wearing the sashes Of their ladies',
masked and plumed and all intent
upon bearing off the guerdon.
Blair Stanley, on light bay hunter,
wearing the crimson sash favor Of
Vivian Marston, was In the lead; close
behind was q knight on q white horse
with black star on its forehead. A
strange horse to Fairfax, where every
horse and man Of blood is known.
What horse was 1t, and who was the
rider? He wore snow white scarf
and sat his horse as became Virginia
gentleman-or perhaps Kentuckian.
Blair in the lead swerved to block
the oncoming knights behind him, but
the stranger seemed to be prepared for
the ruse He spurred his horse around
and crossed In the very front Of Blair.
The shock threw the bay hunter over.
and Blair fell headlong to the ground,
and the strange knights spear point
lifted the wreath they strove for from
the wire. As Blair fell he got glimpse
Of the horseman who had unseated
him, close up. And then Blair Stanley
knew him. 1t was Arthur Stanley!
A surge Of hate and humiliation rag
ed In the bosom Of Blair to be un-
seated in the presence Of Vivian Mar
ston, to whom he had boasted he
would bear Off the wreath and crown
her on her first day in Fairfax as
queen Of love and beauty.
He limped from the scene to where
Sheriff Swain stood by the end Of the
grand stand. watching the surprising
end Of the contest and ceasing from
his clumsy jesting with his handouts
at Quabba.
The defeated knights, with the ex-
ception Of the unhorsed Blair. who had
limped. away. ranged their horses in a
semicircle and held their lances at
salute.
Arthur. bearing the queens crown
and the bouquets. approached the
white faced. trembling Esther and said
in feigned voice, II crown thee queen
Of love and beautyw Then he present
ed the bouquets of the ladies Of honor
to the nearest women-Vivian Marston
and Mrs. Burton Randolph.
At the far end Of the grand stand the
raging Blair was pointing to the victor
and saying. THAT is Arthur Stanley,
the murderer Of DR.. Lee. Go and get
him.
Hardly knowing what he was doing.
but In anger at the clumsy. jest1ng
sheriff. d wild idea to discomfit that
official and the unhorsed informer for
the sake Of the gallant looking victor
seized Quabba. With deft clutch Of
his quick fingers he clasped the dan
Cling end Of the handouts to the wrist
Of Blair. The other end was around the
sheriff's wrist, and that eager official
and the informer were soon wildly
pulling In opposite directions. Leaving
his organ and carrying the frightened
monkey in his arms, the nimble hunch-
back ran through the grand stand and
whispered his warning to Arthur.
At this very moment, obedient to
significant look from Blair's mother.
Mrs. Randolph and Vivian Marston had
pointedly thrown down the bouquets
and had turned their backs on Esther.
The queen Of love and beauty was un-
acknowledged and dethroned.
At this open and direct humiliation
Of the daughter Of Hagar the whole as
sembly grew still as death and the
hoarse shouts Of the handcuffed sheriff
were heard, stop that man! he Is
Arthur Stanley, wanted for murder"
A loud roar burst from the excited
throng. Men sprang to their feet and
women screamed Arthur. at the cry
from Esther to save himself, ran down
the aisle and, clearing the rail at