Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-03-17


young people. He could not have told
what she wore, save that it was of soft
Murillc blue with a hat whose down
curved brim was wound with a shaded
plume of the same tint Her mother
was not with her. She was not look
ing his way as he passed-her arms
at the moment being held out in an
adorable gesture toward a little child
in smiling matron's iap-and but a
single glance was vouchsafed to him
before the major seized upon him aud
bore him to the purple pavilion, for he
was one of the 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 as they whirled
by the Merryweather Mason house be-
hind the judges grays. Silas Fargo
might have passed in any gathering
for the unobtrusive city man. Katha-
rine was noticeable anywhere, and
today her tall willowy figure in its
champaSne-colorl lingerie gown and hat
garnished with bronze and gold this
ties, setting in relief her ivory
statuesque face, drew a wave of wills
pered comment which left a sibilant
wake behind him. The party made
a picturesque group as they now dis
posed themselves, Katharine's color
less loneliness contrasting with the
eager sparkle of pretty Nancy Chal-
mers and the gipsy-like beauty Of
Betty Page.
you call it a tournament, don't
you?" asked Katharine of the judge.
eyes," he replied. IT'S a kind Of
contest in which twelve riders COM
pete for the privilege of naming
Queen of Beauty. There's ball to-
night, at which the lucky lady is
crowned. Those little tents are where
the noble knights don their shining
armor. See, there go their capari-
soned chargers"
A file of negroes was approaching
the tents, each leading a horse whose
saddle and bride were decorated with
fringes of various hues. Insthe center
Of the roped lists, directly in front Of
the stand, others were planting up
right in the ground a tall pole from
whose top projected horizontal arm
like slender gallows. From this was
suspended cord at whose end swung
a tiny object that whirled and gilt
tered in the sun.
The judge explained. "On the end
of the cord is a silver ring, at which
the knights tilt with lances. Twelve
rings are used. The pike-points are
made to fit them, and the knight who
carries off the greatest number of the
twelve is the victor. The whole thing
is a custom as ancient as Virginia
relic, of course, of the old jousting
of the feudal ages. The ring is sup
posed to represent the device on the
boss of the shield, at which the lance
thrust was aimed"
How interest ng!" exclaimed Kath-
arine, and turning, swept the stand
with her lorgnette. 81 suppose all the
county's F. F. VS. are here" she said
laughingly to Nancy Chalmers. 1--we
often wondered, by the way, what be-
came of the Second Families of Vir-
ginia-"
"Oh, they've mostly emigrated
North answered Nancy. "The ones
that are left are all ancient. There
are families here that don't admit
they ever began at ALL"
Silas Fargo shook his stopped shout
ders with laughter. up North" he
said genially, we've got regular fac
tories that turn out ready-made family
trees for anybody who wants to roost
in one"
And now over the fluttering stand
and the crowd about the barriers, a
stir was discernible. Katharine looked
again at the field. ''Who is that splen-
did cid man giving directions? The
ing this way, now"
That's Major Montague Bristow,"
said the judge. Hes been master of
the heralds for years. The tourna-
ment could hardly happen without the
major
I'm sure I'd like him." she an
swered. What a lovely girl he is
talking tot"
1t was Shirley who had beckoned
the major from the lists. She was
leaning over the railing. "Why has
Ridgeley Pendleton left?" she asked
in a low voice. Isn't he one of the
tweIve?"
"He was. But he's i'll. He wasn't
feeling up to it when he came, but
he didn't give up till half an hour
ago. Well have to get along with
eleven knights"
She made an exclamation of dismay.
''Poor Ridge! And what a pity!
There have never been less than the
full number. 1t will spoil the royal
a~