ken the honors, or, if the stranger must win
them, why he could not have selected some belle of the town as Queen of
Love and Beauty instead of this upstart girl who had blown into the
town over night, as one might say.

Warwick and his sister, standing under a spreading elm, held a little
court of their own. A dozen gentlemen and several ladies had sought an
introduction before Tryon came up.

"I suppose John would have a right to call me out, Miss Warwick," said
Tryon, when he had been formally introduced and had shaken hands with
Warwick's sister, "for taking liberties with the property and name of a
lady to whom I had not had an introduction; but I know John so well
that you seemed like an old acquaintance; and when I saw you, and
recalled your name, which your brother had mentioned more than once, I
felt instinctively that you ought to be the queen. I entered my name
only yesterday, merely to swell the number and make the occasion more
interesting. These fellows have been practicing for a month, and I had
no hope of winning. I should have been satisfied, indeed, if I hadn't
made myself ridiculous; but when you dropped your handkerchief, I felt
a sudden inspiration; and as soon as I had tied it upon my lance,
victory perched upon my saddle-bow, guided my lance and sword, and
rings and balls went down before me like chaff before the wind. Oh, it
was a great inspiration, Miss Warwick!"

Rena, for it was our Patesville acquaintance fresh from
boarding-school, colored deeply at this frank and fervid flattery, and
could only murmur an inarticulate reply. Her year of instruction,
while distinctly improving her mind and manners, had scarcely prepared
her for so sudden an elevation into a grade of society to which she had
hitherto been a stranger. She was not without a certain courage,
however, and her brother, who remained at her side, helped her over the
most difficult situations.

"We'll forgive you, George," replied Warwick, "if you'll come home to
luncheon with us."

"I'm mighty sorry--awfully sorry," returned Tryon, with evident regret,
"but I have another engagement, which I can scarcely break, even by the
command of royalty. At what time shall I call for Miss Warwick this
evening? I believe that privilege is mine, along with the other honors
and rewards of victory,--unless she is bound to some one else."

"She is entirely free," replied Warwick. "Come as early as you like,
and I'll talk to you until