Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"LIAN16 ILWTSTRATo bo. i gsmw',a@ av D@*5a-,wwua e CHAPTER XX-With the advice an* sistance of the major and Shirley, Val liant restores the Fardo to what they tWoro In his father s time.I CIAPTaER XXI-The yearly tourna ment, a sarvival of tihe jousting of feudal times, is to be hold at Damory court. CHAPTEh XXII-At the last moment Valiant taken tho place of one of (lie lknights. who is sick. and enters the Ulia. CHrAPTER XXIII-Iio wins and chooses Shirley Dandridge as queen of beauty to the dismay of Katharine Fargo, a former weethoart, who is visiting in Virginia. CHAPTER XXIV. Katharine Decides. K-atharine left the field of Runny msnedo with John Valiant in the dun colored motor. She sat in the driver's seat beside him, while the bulldog ca 'pored, ecstatically barking, from side to side of the rear cushions. I-er father had declined the honor, remark ing that he considered a professional chauffeur a sufficient risk of his valua sblo life and that the Chalmers' ,.-ays .were good enough for him-a decision 'which did not wholly displease Katha Irine. The car was not the smart Pan. hard.in which she had so often spun down the avenue or along the shell. Iroads of the north shore. It lacked those fin-de-siecle appurtenances which imarked the no plus ultra of its kind, ,as her observant eye recognized; but !it ran staunch and true. The powerful {hands that gripped the steering-wheel were brown with sun and wind, and tho handsome face above it had a look ,of Leenness and energy she had never surprised before. They passed many vehicles and there were few whose oc 'cupants did not greet him. In fact, as ho presently remarked, it was a saving of energy to keel) his hat off; ,and he tossed the Parama into the. rear seat. On the rim of the villags. a group raised a cheer to which he .nodded laughingly, and further on 4 ltti- old lady ol a tihl vin-eolore porci beside a church, waved a blacb milted hand to him with a sweet old. time gesture. Katharine noted that he bowed to her with extra care, "'Thnt's Miss Mattie Sue Mabry," he said, "the quaintent, dearest thing you ever saw. She taught my father his letters." Where the Red Road stretched level before them, he threw the throttle open for a long rush through the thymy-sconted air. The light, late afternoon breeze drew by them, sweep ing back Katharine's graceful sinuous veil and spraying them with odors of clover and sunny fruit. They passed orchard clumps bending with young apples, boundless aisles of green, young-tasseled corn and shadowy groves that smelled of forn and sassa fras, opening out into more sunlighted -vistas overarched by the intense pene trable of the June sky. John Valiant had never seemed to 'her so wholly good to see, with his 'waving hair ruffling in their flight and the westering sun shining redly on his face. Midway of this spurt he looked nt her to say: "Did you ever know a more beautiful countryside? See how the pink-and-yellow of those grain f1ields fades into the purple of the hills. Very few painters have ever captured ta tint like that. It's like raspberries pcrushed in curdled milk." "I've quite lost my heart to it all," ishe said, her voice jolting with the ~speedj of their course. "It's a perfect )pastoral * * * so different from tour terrific city pace. * * * Of 'course it must be a trifle dull at times '*seeing the same people al ~ways * * * andl without the thea iter and the opera and the whirl about :one-but! * * * the kind of life ~one reads about * * * In the nov 'els of the South, you know * * * I suppose one doesn't realize that it 'actually exists until one comes to a 'Southern place like this. -And the negro servantsi IHow odd it must be to have a white-haired old darky in a * brass-buttoned swallow-tail for a but 1ler1 So picturesque! At Judge Chal mners' I have a feeling all the time that 'm walking through *a stage re *hearsal.". The car slackened speed as it slid by. a white-washed cabin at whose en trance sat a dusky gray-bearded fig ure. Valiant pointed. "D~o you see Sim?" ho asked. "I see a very 'ordlinary oid colored an sitting on the door-stop," Katha "That'seMd Anthony, our local iMother Shipton. Hie's a prophet and Soothsayer. Uncle Jefferson-that's ~my body-servant-insists that he fore old my coming to Damory Court. If we had more time you could have your fortune told." "How thrilling!" she commented Ith half-humorous irony, He pointed to a great white house et in a grove of trees. "That is ehwood," he told her, "the Beverly omostead. Young Beverley was the ight of the Siver Cross. A fine old Iace, isn't it? It was burned by the udians during the Wrench and Indian ar, My 'great-great-great-grandfath er '-" He broke off. "But then, those 1i things won't interest you." "They interest you a great deal, don't they?" she asked. "Yes," he admitted, "they do. You ,. my ancestors are such new a. quaintanoes, I find theue absorbing. . iwow when I lived in 'Naw AumN sTouT YT~rk-" "Last month." le laughed a little-not quite the laugh she had known in the past. "Yes, but I can hardly believe. it; I seem to have been here half a lifetime. To think that a month ago I was a double-dyed New Yorker." "It's been a strange experience for you. When you come back to New York-" le looked at her, oddly she thought. "Why should I go back?" "Why? Because it's your natural habitat. Ins't it?" "That's the word," he said smiling. "It was my habitat. This is my home." She was silent a moment in sheer The Tournament Ball at Damory Court That Night Was More Than an Event. surprise. She had thought of this Southern essay as a quickly passing Incident, a colorful chapter whose page might any day be turned. But it was impossible to mistake his mean Ing. Clearly, he was deeply infatuated with this Areadian experience and had no thought at present but to continue it indefilituly. They were p/assing the entrance of a cherry-bordered lane, and without tak ing his hands from tle gear, he nodded toward the low broad-eaved dwelling with its flowering arbors that showed in flashing glimpses of brown and red between the intervening treos. "The palace of .he (Iien!" he' saild "Rosewood, by name." She looked in some curiosity. Clear ly, if not a refuge of genteel poverty, neither was it the abode of' w%'ealtl; ro, from her assured ramupmrt of thei0 1arfo millions, Katharine retflcted complacently. The girl was a local favorite, of course-ho had been tact ful as to that. It was fortunate, in a way, that he had not seen lier, Katha rine, in the grand stand until aftek ward. Feeling toward her as she be lieved he did, with his absurd direct ness, he would have been likely to drop the rose in her lap, never re flecting that, the tourney being a local function, the choice should not fall up on an outlander, The slowing of the car brought her back to the present, and she looked up to see before them the great gate of Gladden Hall. She did not speak till they had quite stopped. Then, as her hand lay in his for farewell, "You are right' in your de cision," she said softly. '"This is your place. You are a Valiant of VirgInia. I didn't realize it before, but I anm be ginning to see all it moans to you." 1-fr voice held a lIngering indefin able quality that was almost sadness, and for that one slender instant, she opened on hIm the unmasked batteries of her glorious gray eyes, * * * * * * * * The tournament ball at Damory Court that night was more than an event. The old mansion was an Irre sistible magnet. The floor of its yel low parlor was known to he of delecta ble hugeness, Its gardens were a le gend, The whole place, moreover, was steeped In the very odor of old mys tery and new romance. Small wonder that to this particular affair the elect --the major was the high custodian of the rolls, his decIsions being as the laws of the Modes and Persians-came gaily from the farthest county line, and the big houses of the neighbor hood were crammed with over-nlght guests. By half past nine o'clock the pha lanx of chaperons decreed by old cuis tom had begun to arrive, and the great iron gate at the front of the drive erect and rustless now-saw an impos ing processional of carriages, These passed up a slope as radiant with the fairy light of paper lanterns as a Japa nese thoroughfare In festival season. The colored bulbs swung moon-like from tree and shrub, painting their rainbow lusters on grass and drive way. Under the high gray columns of the porch and into the wide doer, framed in its small leaded panes that glowed with the merry light within, poured a stream of loveliness: in car riage-wraps of light tints, collared and edged with fur or eider, or wide sleeved mandarin coats falling back from dazzling throats and arms, hair swathed with chiffon against the night dews, and gallantly cavaliered by ma. culine black and white. These from their tiring-rooms over. Sowed presentl, garbed lim das. and then t'o drift through flowor-I'ned corridors, the foam on recurrent waves, of discovery. Behind the rose-bower in the hall, which shielded a dozen' colored iusiiains-violins, cello, gui. tars and mandolins-came premonitory chirps and shivers, which presently wove into the low and dreamy melody of "Carry Mo 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-colored 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 a 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-flowing sleeves of satin, and from her shoulders roso a stiff pointed medieval collar of Vene tian lace, against whose pale traceries hot bronze hair, glowed with rosy lights. Tho 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 'resh white ros'-buds (Nancy Chalmers had la bored for a frantic half-hour in the dressing-room for this effect) was held by the seven-year-old Byloc twins, beribboned kniekerbockers. duly impressed with the grandeur of their privilege and grimly intent on acquit. ting tihemselves with glory. Shirley's face was still touched with the surprise that had swept it as Valiant had stopped to her side. She had looked to see him in the conven tional panoply a sober-sided masculino modo decrees. What she had behold was a figure that might have stepped out of an Elizabethan picture-frame. Ile was in deep purple slashed withi gold. A cloak of thin crimson velvet narrowly edged with ermine hung from his shoulders, lined with tissue. like. cloth-of-gold. From the rolling brim of his hat F, 't. a curling purple plume. le wore a .wnder dress-sword, and an order set with brilliants spar. kled on his breast. The costume had been one he had worn at a fancy ball of the winter be. fore. It had been made from a paint ing at Windsor of one of the dukes of itucingham, and it made a perfect foil for Shirley's white. The eleven knights of the tourney, each with his chosen lady. if less splendid, were tricked out in suMcient ly gorgeous attire. Many an ancient brocade had been awakened for the nonce from its lavender bed, and ruffs and gold-braid were at no preiium'. To the twanging of the deft black fingers, they passed in gorgeous array between illes of low-cut gowns and flower--like faces and masculine swal low-tails, to the yellow parlor. Once there the music ceased with a splendid crash, the eleven kniglhts each dropped upon one knee, the eleven ladies-in. waiting curtsied low, and Shirley, seat ed upon the dais, leaned her burnished head to receive the crown. What though the bauble was but bristol board, its Jeweled chasing but tinsel and paste? On her head it glowed and trembled, a true diadem. As Valiant sot the glittering thing on those rich 1and wonder-ful coils, the music of her presence was singing a swift melody in his blood. H-is coronation address hold no sucth flowery periods as would have rolled from the major's soul. He had chosen a single paragraph he had lighted on in an old book in the library-a history-of the last Crusade in French black-let ter. Hej had translated and memorized the archaic phrasing, keeping the quaint feeling of the original: "These noble knights bow in your presence, fair lady, as their leige, 'whom they know as even in Judgment, as dainty in fulfilling the our acts of arns, and do recommend thou- all unto your Good Grace in as lowly wise as they can. O queen, in whom the Katharine Had Never Looked More Handsome. whole story of virtue is written with the language of beauty, your eyes, which have been only wont to discern the bowed knees of kneeling hearts and, inwardly turned, found always the heavenly solace of a sweet mind, see them, ready in heart and able with hands not only to assailing but to pre. vailing." A hushed rustle of applause-not loud: the merest whisper of silken feet and feathered fans tapped softly testified to a widespread approbation. It was the first sight many there had had of John Valiant and in both looks and manner he fitted their best ideals. The on'a c'nseLAv a. ttna i n for the imusic, which throbbed sudden. ly into a march, and she stepped down beside him. Couple after couple, knights and ladies, ranged behind them, till the twenty-four stood ready for the royal quadrille. It was the old fashioned lancers, but the deliberate strain lent the familiar measures some thing of the stately effect of the mini. uet. Quadrilles were not invented as aids to conversation, and John Valiant's and Shirley's was necessarily limited. "The decorations are simply deli. clousl" she said as they faced each other briefly. "How did you manage it?" "Homo talent with a vengeance. Un. cle Jefferson and I did it with our lit tie hatchets. But the roses-" They were swooped nipart and Shir ley found herseli curtsying to Chilly Lusk. "More than queen!" he said under his breath. "I had my heart set on naming you today. I reckon? I've lost my rabbit-foot!" I Opposite, in turn, Betty Page had slipped her dainty hand in John Val lant's. "Ah haven't seen such a lovely dance for yealis!" she sighed. Isn't Shirley too sweet? If Ah had hair like hers. Ah wouldn't speak to a soul on earth!" The exigencies of the figure gave no space for answer, and presently, after certain labyrinthine evolutions, Shir 1ey's eyes were gazing into his again. "low adorable you look!" he whis pered, as he I)owe(l over her hand. "Ilow does it feel to be a queen?" "This little head was never maide to wear a crown," she laughed. "Queens should be regal. \Iiss Fargo would have-" The music swept the rest away, but not the look of blinding reproach he gave her that made her heart throb wildly as she glided on. The last note of the quadrille slip ped into a waltz dreamily slow, and Valiant put his arm about Shirley and they floated away. Once before, in the moonlighted garden at Rosewood, she had lain in his arm for ono brief in stant then she had seemed like some trapped wood-thing resisting. Now, her slender body swaying to his every motion, she was another creature. Un der the drooping tawny hair her face was almost as pale as the white satin of her gown; lier lips were parted, and as they moved, he could feel her heart rise and tall to her languorous breath, (Continued Next Weelk.) Dr. T. L. 'ri ini m n Denti People's Barik Buildilg U-Itrens, S. C. j( Nine tracts of la 1and near Barksdale Sbargain in every one (1) The Glenn tRoad containing 236 (2) Creswell Fr' (3) Second Kn, acres. 4) Permelia SI 5) Nathan Bar ~6 Catherine F (7 Part of Cat (8 The Bill Ar ii (9) The Mitche rens Road containing One concrete sto House and lot < Featherstone Place o The A. 3. Taylo Nice Bungalow c S. S. Boyd Plac( One house and Ic Thad. Nelson hol Four Hundred a Mars Place. Five Hundred ac: as Henry Place. Two Hundred ac place, know as Motte Four Hundred ac - known as Alsie Coler, Mary C. Sullivar Two houses and]i Lauir en R. A. COOPER, Preu REAL HARVEST. PUT IT AWAY BAN T WLL ALWAYS. B E HERE WH4EN YOU NEED It doesn't matter whether you are a farmer or not. YOUR HARVEST is the money you earn. Who gets the money you carn? The farmer saves some of his grain for seed. You should put some of yours in the banI< for seed. Nothing wili grow if you plant nothing. The money you have SPENT will not protect youf old-dge--the money you plant ir Our BANK WILL. ' Make OUR bank YOUR bank. We pay interest in Savings Department ENTERPRISE BANK N. B. DIAL, Pres. G. H. ROPER, Cashier 0: 4 elIo+: ++++++++++*e+++++++, $200,000 Worth of Real Estate for Sale! 0tore Rooris on the ii. s L kai %.i ry m:1 ae tbleI) s; I alksniith Shop al Tols;, the &ry & She:ly 3 hine Sh ip and i -re oi ba~ig.C yh m a . All 0 10Al I%11-11 of a m ul. ies and terms righ1t. I h'my and 'k-11a Also write L~ift, mnd De ! urance B. M. WOLFF The Real 1-:state \Ian La n s. C. )R SS nd belonging to Mrs. Mattie D. Putnam at station will be sold in the next five months---a of these tracts: Place one mile of Greenville and Laurens acres. anklin or Kgob Place on road from Barksdale containing 78 acres. ab Place j~ining above tract containing 30 iockley Tratt containing 27 acres. ksdale Tract containing 58 acres. utnam Home Place containing 19 acres. herine Putnam Place containing 34 acres. mstrong Place containing 65 acres. LI Place at Blarksdale on Grtenville and Lau 126 and 1-2 acres. re room at Barksdale Station. >f Anna C. West and known as the C. C. n West Main Street in city of Laurens. r house and lot on East Main Street. n South Harper Street. on East Main Street. >t in town of Gray Court. ise and lot on West Hampton Street. tcres five miles of Whitmire, known as the res one-half miles of Madden Station known res, bounded by lands of T. M. Shaw home Place. res, bounded by T. M. Shaw home-place and ian Place. i house and lot on Sullivan Street. Lots on Laurel Street. s Trust Cornpany ident. 'J. S. MACHEN,.Sec and Trea.