Year: 1872

-
have dawned upon the world. Every one
IN the city, from polite or friendly mo-
uves' was astir early; and by noon the
bank OF the river, as well as the waters
themselves, were a blaze Of spiendor.
All the teet, with its barges, boats and
plnnaces, We're decked out in the MOI
brilliant manner; and bands of music and
saivos OF artillery filed the air. Rival
crews joined In magnificent regatta, and
when towards four oclock Miss Mildmay
anu her father stepped ashore from the ad.
mlral barge, on board Of which she had
been annoyed with the attentions of vor.
blek, the great lawn upon which the tour
nament was to take place had already be-
gun to show signs OF animation.


At O'Clock the lists were TO be opened
before assembled thousands all in holiday
attire, and few moments previously,
Flora, robed in the most gorgeous costume,
ana In the character of an Eastern prin.
cess, took her seat in the silken pavilion
from which she and her lovely companions.
VINO were most sumptuously atsired,
were to witness the jousts. All the ladies
save herself, had apprised the knights,
VINO declared themselves ready to die 1t
their feet, OF the colors they should wear
individually; but this. in her own case, to
the dire annoyance Of VOrblek, she posi-
lively refused 10 do, although he now had
iavors made OF every possible shade, which
he was ready to select from. since he had
perceived the color Of the silken bow thar
he supposed she would, like the rest of
her fair friends, wear on her left breast.
and OF which he had, as he supposed, sev-
eral counterparts, one of which was, as be
iancied, sure to answer in color. To his
utter astonishment, hover, on the assem-
oilng OF all the knights in full armor, at
tended by their squires, and just as the
heraids were about to signal through their
trumpets the opening Of the ceremonies,
he discovered to his chagrin and deep
modification, that, instead Of silken knot
>he wore, fastened to the scarf that cross
ed her bosom, delicate, small, pink
glove Although enraged and disap-
pointed at this. he still resolved to adhere
TO his original determination and carry the
day in her name against all corners.


Filled with this design, then, and with
a spirit of mischief that he was prepared
to give full sweep to at the earliest posi-.
bic moment, he dashed into the lists at the
proper signal, the heralds introducing him
as the knight Of the Pink Glove, who de-
clared himself to do battle in the cause of
the lovely ladies of the Pink Glove, and
prove on the body of every true knight,
and, if needs be, on that of all corners.
that they were the most beautiful Of all


ladies. and that he was false knight who
gainsaid it.


Once within the open arena, he rode his
splendid white war horse up to the mag.
niticent pavilion. in which were seated
Admiral Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Sir
William Howe and the principal officers
OF the fleet and of the land service, togeth.
er with Mr.. Mildmay and other distin.
gulshed gentlemen, and. making his
obeisance, he swept round the ring to
where the twelve ladies sat, the admired
of applauding multitudes, and. pausing
suddenly before Flora, he bowed low and
turned out of the lists again, or rather to
one extremity of them, to await the ap.
pearance of his antagonist, whoever he
might chance TO be, and who was now to
be announced from the opposite side Of
the arena, at which point he was to make
his entry.


Scarcely had he leaped to the earth,
with heavy clank of his splendid arrnor,
to ease his charger for moment, when
the heralds from the other extremity of
the open space announced the sudden ap-
pearance of a strange knight who rode y
fine black charger, and who called him.
self the Knight of the Pink Glove also, and
declared himself ready to dispute with
the Knight of the White Charger the hon.
or of breaking the first lance in the name
of the Ladies' of the Pink Glove, as the
Knight Of the White Charger did not wear
their color or favor in his helm or on his
breastplate, which he, the true Knight of
the Pink Glove, did! This, for the mo-
ment, created some little surprise and ex-
element, it being out of the anticipated
order OF the programme; but as 1t was
presumed to be some novelty to enhance
the general interest of the fete, no further
notice was taken of il but all was anxious
expectation when the strange knight rode
slowly into the lists, attended by his
squire, and displaying or his breastplate,
to the utter astonishment of Flora and all
present apparently the fellow glove of
that worn by herself! U


He like the Knight of the White Char
ger, was man OF powerful build, and
was armed from head to foot with his
visor down. On passing the barriers. he
looked neither to the right nor the left.
but galloped across the arena, with his
lance in rest, until he reached the place
w NhSiS th~ pS"Neiiai A~a>tCtu PTtuCcSS OK
Lady OF the Pink Glove was seated among
her dazzling companions. when pausing
before her and raising his visor for an in.
slant. he begged permission to kiss her
taper fingers before he Joined in the COM
bat. Trembling and agitated at the
strange coincident Of the favor he wore.
she arose mechanically, and without catch
ing glimpse of his face, extended her
hand over the gllded railing that separa-
ted them, when, just as he was raising it
to his lips, he slipped small note IN it,


and. with profound obeisance dashed of


to the end OF the lists he had but just en-.


tered. An instant afterward3 Flora sent


for her father and handed him the little


billet. That gentleman glanced at 1t and


returned no more to the party in the vice.


regal pavilion, but stood near his daughter


and awaited the coming encounter, after


having, with pale and anxious counten-


ance, first despatched one of his servants


on some errand of seeming great moment.


Vorblek had heard all that was said in


relation to his antagonist, and perceived
the favor that he wore. Believing, al
ri. ~ IL =