a day like this, in costumes that
recall the picturesqueness, without the discomfort, of the old knightly
harness. For an iron-headed lance we use a wooden substitute, with
which we transfix rings instead of hearts; while our trusty blades hew
their way through wooden blocks instead of through flesh and blood. It
is a South Carolina renaissance which has points of advantage over the
tournaments of the olden time."

"I'm afraid, Mr. Warwick," said the lady, "that you're the least bit
heretical about our chivalry--or else you're a little too deep for me."

"The last would be impossible, Mrs. Newberry; and I'm sure our chivalry
has proved its valor on many a hard-fought field. The spirit of a
thing, after all, is what counts; and what is lacking here? We have
the lists, the knights, the prancing steeds, the trial of strength and
skill. If our knights do not run the physical risks of
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, they have all the mental stimulus. Wounded vanity
will take the place of wounded limbs, and there will be broken hopes in
lieu of broken heads. How many hearts in yonder group of gallant
horsemen beat high with hope! How many possible Queens of Love and
Beauty are in this group of fair faces that surround us!"

The lady was about to reply, when the bugle sounded again, and the
herald dashed swiftly back upon his prancing steed to the waiting group
of riders. The horsemen formed three abreast, and rode down the lists
in orderly array. As they passed the grand stand, each was conscious
of the battery of bright eyes turned upon him, and each gave by his
bearing some idea of his ability to stand fire from such weapons. One
horse pranced proudly, another caracoled with grace. One rider
fidgeted nervously, another trembled and looked the other way. Each
horseman carried in his hand a long wooden lance and wore at his side a
cavalry sabre, of which there were plenty to be had since the war, at
small expense. Several left the ranks and drew up momentarily beside
the grand stand, where they took from fair hands a glove or a flower,
which was pinned upon the rider's breast or fastened upon his hat--a
ribbon or a veil, which was tied about the lance like a pennon, but far
enough from the point not to interfere with the usefulness of the
weapon.

As the troop passed the lower end of the grand stand, a horse, excited
by the crowd, became somewhat unmanageable, and in the effort to curb
him, the rider dropped his lance.