4 C
THE MAHA SUNDAY BEE: SEPTEMBER 30. 1917.
NOTED NOVELIST'S
STORY OFTHE BALL
' Meredith Nicholson's Account
of the Crowning of the Queen,
as Seen at One of the
Early Coronations.
By MEREDITH NICHOLSON.
rondrnsrd ilcarrlptlnn of Ihr rnrunathin
V bull In one of hix first nuvrln, "Thr Main
rhanrc," in which Omaha hi lrlKiitcd an
"C'UrkMin" and th knilil of Aa-SuMlm
renamrd 'The Knight f Miilaa."
The Knights of Midas ball was not,
it should be said, a cheap affair. Rarjj
dan and Saxton had taken a balcony
box for the ball and they asked Eve
lyn's guests to share it with them.
When the two young women came
in, Raridan's spirits brightened. Eve
lyn was. Miss Marshall declared, "per
fctly adorable" in her gown; but the
young men did not see her. She was
to go later with her father.
They were early at the hall, whose
bareness had been relieved by a gay
show of bunting and flags..
"I will now give you a succinct run
ning account of the first families of
this community as they assemble,"
Raridan announced, when they bad
settled in their chairs. ; There were
no seats 'on the main floor, as the
ceremonial part of the entertainment
was brief, and the greater number of
the spectators stood until it was over.
An aisle was kept down the middle of
the hall and on each side the crowd
gossiped. ,whi!c a band high above
played popular airs.
. All Eyes to the Front.
The other boxes and the gallery
had filled, and the main floor was
crowded, save where the broad aisle
had been maintained down the cen
ter from the front door to the stage.
A buzi of talk floated over the hall.
The band was silent while its leader
peered down upon the floor waiting
his signal. He turned suddenly and
the trumpets broke forth into the
" notes of a dighifitd march. All eyes
turned to the front of the hall, where
the knights, in their robes, preceded
by the grand seneschal, bearing his
staff of office, were emerging slowly
from the outer door into the aisle.
When the stage was reached, the pro
cession formed in long lines, facing
inward on the steps', making a path
through which the governors, who
were distinguished by scarlet robes,
came attending the person of the king.
"All hail the king!" A crowd of
knights in evening dress, who , were
honorary members of the organiza
tion and had no parts in costume,
sent up t!.e shout. , ,
"Hail to Mida.
"Isn't he noble and grand?" shouted
Raridan in Miss Marshall's ear. A
murmur ran through the hall as
Wheaton was recognized: his name
wis passed to those who did not know
i him, and everybody applauded, lie
was realty imposing in the robes of
his kinpship. He walked with a fit
ting deliberation t anion? his escort.
He was conscious of the lights, the
applause, the rjhusic. and of the fact
that he was tM center of it all. ' The
cheers were subsiding as the party
nearcd.the throne.
; Is the? Noble King Frightened?
f- 'Til wager he's badly frightened,"
said Raridaa, to Saxton.,
' ('Don't you think it," declared Sax
ton, "he looks as cool as a cucumber."
v.'Oh. he's cool nouui," urunrWed
'Raridan.' - ',,;;, .. I
"Vou see what envy wiU do for a
man,'' remarked Saxton to Miss Mar-
shall. "Mr. Raridan's simply perish
ing because he isn't here himself. But
what' this?" . V" i
The kinat had reached his tlfronc
and faced 4hc audience. All ,the'i
knights bowed low; the king returned,
'tne salutation wnna ;iiinc auaiuuc
sheered. ' V
rit's like a comic opera," said Miss
Marshall. 'v-V ' .-V;.-; '
The supreme knight advanced and
handed Wheaton the scepter and
Ihtti was renewed applause and
Cheering. ; ' "' '
: "Only funnier," said Raridan. "Yell,
"Saxton, yell!" He rose' '-to his feet
and led his end of the house in cheer
infir. "It makes me think of old times
at foot balir he declared, sinking baclcj
' i into his chair with an air of exhaus-p
tion, and wiping his face. '(-
The king, had seated himself, and
expectancy again possessed the hall.
The band struck up another air, and
Gendarms, or Mauhandlers, at the Den
9 -JCSTm. VjS
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aahaatranmr!!
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H. Forbes, Harry Johnston, W, 0. Larson. E. L. Potter.
Former Ak-Sar-Ben Kings and Queens
E. M. Bartlett,....'..' 1895 '..'...!. .Mcliora Wool worth (Mrs. E J M. Fairfield)
Casper E. Yost 18S6 .".-.May Dundy (Mrs. E. W. Lee, New York)
Edward P. Peck.... 1897 Gertrude Kountze (Mrs. J. T. Stewart, 2d)
R. S. Wilco-: 18:8 ...Grace Allen (Mrs. H. T. Clarke, jr.)
W. D. McHugh 1C53 ....Ethel Morse
F. A. Nash .' 1900 Mildred Lomax
II. J. Penfold.. 1901 ....Edith Smith (Mrs. C. R. Day, Washington)
T. A. Fry 1902 Ella Cctton (Mrs. Jerome Magee)
Fred Met 1903 Elizabeth Brady (Mrs. T. L. Davis)
Charles H. Pickens..'. 1904 Ada Kirkendall (Mrs. filen Wharton)
Gurdon W. Wattles 1905 ..Mary Lee McShane (Mrs.. Willard Hosford)
Gould Dietz 1906 Margaret Wood (Mrs. W. H. Crammer, Denver)
V. B. Caldwell 1907 Natalie Merriam (Mrs. Barton Millard)
Will L. Yetter. 1908 Jean Cudahy (Mrs. Frank Wilhelm, Chicago)
Arthur C. Smith 1909 Brownie Bess Baum (Mrs. John Rouse, Baltimore)
E. Buckingham 1910 i Frances Nash
Joseph Barker 1911 1 ..... .Elizabeth Davis
Thomas C. Byrne 1912 Elizabeth Pickens (Mrs. Kenneth Paterson)
C. E. Black , 1913 Elizabeth Congdon (Mrs. R.Forgan, Chicago)
Charles D: Beaton.. 1914 Frances Hochstetler (Mrs. Fred Daugherty)
Ward M. Burgess 1915 , Marion Howe
John L. Webster 1916 Mary Megeath
a line of girls in filmy, trailing gowns
was ruing in.
"There are the foolish virgins who
didn't fill their lapips," said Raridan;
"that's 'iy they have brought bou-
quets."
"But they' ought to have got their
gowns at. the same place," said Miss
Marshall, who was abetting Raridan
in his comments. Miss Warren and
Saxton, on the other side of her, were
taking it all more seriously.
"It's really very pretty and impres
sive," Miss Warren declared, "and not
at all silly as I feared it might be."
"Well, that is very pretty," replied
Saxton. f
DANCES BEFORE THE HIGH
MUCK AT THE DEN. .
41k ii
H. E. KREBBS
The queen, following her ladies in
waiting, had appeared at the door.
There was a pause, a murmur, and
then a great burst of applause as those
who were in the secret identified the
queen, and those who were not
learned it as Evelyn's name passed
from' lip to lip. Whatever there was
of absurdity in the cene was dis
pelled by Evelyn's loveliness and dig
nity. ' Her white gown intensified her
fairness, and her long court "train
added an illusion of height. She car
ried her head high, with a serene air
that was habitual. The charm that
(set her apart from other girls was in
no wise lost in the mock splendor of
this xeremony.
"She's as lovely as a bride." mur
mured Belle Marshall, so low that
only Raridan heard her. Something
caught in his throat and he looked
steadily down upon the approaching
queen and said nothing. The supreme
knight" descended to escort the queen
to the datSrf The king came down to
meet her and led. her to a place be
side him, where they turned and faced
the applauding crowd.
Crowning is the Crowning Feature.
The grand chamberlain 'now stepped
forward and read the nroclamation of
ithe Knights of Midas, announcing
mat tne king Had reached their city,
and urging upon all subjects the duty
of showing strict obedience. He read
a formula to which Evelyn and
Wheaton made responses. A page
stood beside the queen holding a
crown, which glittered with false
brilliants upon a richly embroidered
pillow, and when the king knelt be
fore her, she placed it upon his head.
At this there was more cheering and
harldclapping. Saxton glanced toward
Raridan as he beat his own hands to
gether, expecting one of Raridan's.
gibes af the chamberlain's bombast;
but th,ere wal a fierce light in Rari
dan's eyes that Saxton had never seen
there before. He was staring before
him at Evelyh Porter, as she now sat
beside Wheaton on the tawtrjj throne;
his face was white and his lips were
set. Saxton was struck with sorrow
for him.
There vas a stir throughout the
hall. The king and queen were de
scending; the floor manager was al
ready manifesting his authority.
'Lets stay here until the grand
march is over," said Raridan. He had
partly regained his spirits, and was
again pointing out people of interest
on the floor below.
"Now, wasn't it magnificent?" he
demanded.
"Wasn't Evelyn lovely?" exclaimed
the girls in a breath.
"We didn't need this circus to prove
it, did we?" asked Raridan cynically.
"Aren't there arty more exercises-
is it all over? cried Miss Marshall,
i. "Bless us, jio!" replied Raridan.
The evolutions of the grand march
were now in progress and they stood
watching it.
Marches Sometimes Awkward.
"They didn't get enough rehearsals
for this," said Raridan. "Look at that
mix up!" One of the knights had
tripped and stumbled over the skirt
ot his rabe. I hey ought to behead
mm tor tnat.
"Mr. Raridan's terribly severe," said
Saxton. The king and queen, leading
tne march, were passing under the
box.
"The king really looks scared," re
marked Miss Warren.
"Yes; he's rather conscious of his
clothes, said Raridan. His train
rattles him." Evelyn glanced up at
tnem ana laughed and nodded.
Before the march broke. up into
dancing they went down from the gal
lery. On the floor the older people were
resolving themselves into lay figures
against the wall. They found Mr.
Porter leaning against one of the rude
supports of the. gallery, wondering
whether he might now escape to the
retirement of the cloak-room to get
his hat and cigar. The young people
luirst upon him with congratulations.
"IfOu must be dying of pride," ex
claimed Miss Marshall. N
' Evelyn never looked ' better," de
clared Miss Warren. "It was splen
did!"
"We are croud to know you. sir.
said Raridan, shaking hands.
"I surely came to Clarkson in the
right year," said Saxton.
Municipal Tunne! Driven
Through Twin Peaks
The Twin Peaks tunnel near San
Francisco, the longest municipal tun
nel in the world, as well as the longest
to be used exclusively for street car
traffic, has been bored through.
In the forenoon the two gangs
Makers of "NEBRASKA QUALITY" Goods
Tents, Awnings, Water Bags, Camp Furniture, Etc.
Automobile Covers, Cement Covers,' Paulina, "Stack
Covers, Machine and Wagon Covers. x . .
Let us take down your awnings, store them for the
V winter and erect them in the spring at any time you may
"elect '-..;'' '
Why send your money away , when you can buy
cheaper at home? i;
. If you appreciate prompt service, full size and full
weight goods, we want your business.
Nebraska Tent & Awning Co.
HENRY S. M'DONALD, Mgr.
Pbon Douglas 3329 and 3330.
1204 Farnam Street. , Omaha, Nebraska.
J
K.&P.
1
WELCOME
Producemen
To th
FALL FESTIVAL
i : VISIT US
Our Supplies and Prices Will
Interest You.
Kennedy & Parsons
1307-9-11 Jones Street,
OMAHA.
HK.&P.
K.&P.H-
iiRsmi-iinK!ati!itani.'uii
close to the end of three years' labor
and each a mile from daylight could
hear each other's drills. When the
morning shift went to work only ten
feet of rock separated the east and
west sides.
At 1 :30 p. m., the shots fired by the
east side crew brought the cool ocean
breeze from the west into the heated
air of the east side..
. "Holed through!" came the drillers'
cry, which is heard every time a tun
nel is connected.
Excitement reigned. From Muir and
Storrie down to the youngest mucker.
every man in the big bore was jubil
ant as the crucial hour in the $4,000,
000 job arrived.-
"My father acted like kid." re
marked young Bob Muir, himself one
of the big bosses on the big job.
Sam Campbell, one of the drillers,
was first to crawl through the narrow
opening, which will soon be widened
big enough for two municipal trolley
cars. Everyone on the job wanted to
go throughand most of them did.
Persistent Adverrisrng Is the Road
to Success.
..,..,..!fsf!iaii!,l. &
c-4 B' .sr -at K;.t.:k r ;n:.Kr I'tii
Put a Piece of
PLATE GLASS
On Your Dresser
It will preserve the original finish
and protect the surface, besides im
proving the appearance. Let us fig
ure the cost. Use our phone--
DOUGLAS 791
j
We'll send a man to take the measure
ment and figure the cost.
Glass and Paint Co.
OMAHA
Of Course You re Coming
To Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha
September 26 -October 6
A, WARM welcome and royal entertainment will be provided for every citizen fcf
the realm of Quivera. There are rumors abroad that this year King Ak-Sar-Ben
is going to outdo himself in the spectacles he will furnish the crowds of sight
seers within his gates.
After a year of hard work you're certainly entitled to a week or ten days of recrea
tionand you and thi family will enjoy the Ak-Sar-Ben Festival, every minute of It
, 'the parades the carnival and the general fun-making. You will add to your n
joyment if you make your headquarters during Carnival Week at
M. E. Smith & Company
For twenty-two years this house has welcomed Ak-Sar-Ben visitors, and every year
the crowd gets bigger. There can't be too many to suit us-rthere is an abundance of
room here for all our friends and their friends, too.
V
And Those Fall Goods You Need
can be found right here. There is a big array of goods here from which you can make
selections. Our lines are still very complete--we invite your inspection and we as
' sure you it will be a pleasure to show you the new fall goods. '
-. - , ,
And m any case, don't forget to drop in and say "Hello"-use our telephones for the '
calls you want to makeand tell all your friends to meet you at
M. E. SMITH & COMPANY
: , "The Market Place of the Market Town"
!
Douglas, Ninth and Farnara Sta. Omaha, Nebraska.
jagiiliMisg
Wright & Wilhelmy
Company -
' Wholesale
Quality
Hardware
OMAHA
Special Attention to Mail Orders
EajiaWll liaililitilHl
fa
