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portion of the town had 〃an ancient and fishlike smell；〃 and most of the
trade seemed to be in cotton and naval stores and products of the sea。
The wharves were piled high with cotton bales； and there were acres of
barrels of resin and pitch and tar and spirits of turpentine。 The market； a
long； low； wooden structure； in the middle of the principal street； was
filled with a mass of people of all shades； from blue… black to Saxon
blonde； gabbling and gesticulating over piles of oysters and clams and
freshly caught fish of varied hue。 By ten o'clock the sun was beating
down so fiercely that the glitter of the white； sandy streets dazzled and
pained the eyes unaccustomed to it； and Rena was glad to be driven back
to the hotel。 The travelers left together on an early afternoon train。
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Thus for the time being was severed the last tie that bound Rena to her
narrow past； and for some time to come the places and the people who had
known her once were to know her no more。
Some few weeks later； Mis' Molly called upon old Judge Straight with
reference to the taxes on her property。
〃Your son came in to see me the other day；〃 he remarked。 〃He seems
to have got along。〃
〃Oh； yes； judge； he's done fine； John has； an' he's took his sister away
with him。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the judge。 Then after a pause he added； 〃I hope she
may do as well。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 she said； with a curtsy； as she rose to go。 〃We've
always knowed that you were our friend and wished us well。〃
The judge looked after her as she walked away。 Her bearing had a
touch of timidity； a shade of affectation； and yet a certain pathetic dignity。
〃It is a pity；〃 he murmured； with a sigh； 〃that men cannot select their
mothers。 My young friend John has builded； whether wisely or not； very
well； but he has come back into the old life and carried away a part of it；
and I fear that this addition will weaken the structure。〃
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V
THE TOURNAMENT
The annual tournament of the Clarence Social Club was about to
begin。 The county fairground； where all was in readiness； sparkled with
the youth and beauty of the town； standing here and there under the trees
in animated groups； or moving toward the seats from which the pageant
might be witnessed。 A quarter of a mile of the race track； to right and left
of the judges' stand； had been laid off for the lists。 Opposite the grand
stand； which occupied a considerable part of this distance； a dozen
uprights had been erected at measured intervals。 Projecting several feet
over the track from each of these uprights was an iron crossbar； from
which an iron hook depended。 Between the uprights stout posts were
planted； of such a height that their tops could be easily reached by a
swinging sword…cut from a mounted rider passing upon the track。 The
influence of Walter Scott was strong upon the old South。 The South
before the war was essentially feudal； and Scott's novels of chivalry
appealed forcefully to the feudal heart。 During the month preceding the
Clarence tournament； the local bookseller had closed out his entire stock
of 〃Ivanhoe；〃 consisting of five copies； and had taken orders for seven
copies more。 The tournament scene in this popular novel furnished the
model after which these bloodless imitations of the ancient passages…at…
arms were conducted； with such variations as were required to adapt them
to a different age and civilization。
The best people gradually filled the grand stand； while the poorer
white and colored folks found seats outside； upon what would now be
known as the 〃bleachers；〃 or stood alongside the lists。 The knights；
masquerading in fanciful costumes； in which bright…colored garments； gilt
paper； and cardboard took the place of knightly harness； were mounted on
spirited horses。 Most of them were gathered at one end of the lists； while
others practiced their steeds upon the unoccupied portion of the race track。
The judges entered the grand stand； and one of them； after looking at his
watch； gave a signal。 Immediately a herald； wearing a bright yellow sash；
blew a loud blast upon a bugle； and； big with the importance of his office；
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galloped wildly down the lists。 An attendant on horseback busied
himself hanging upon each of the pendent hooks an iron ring； of some two
inches in diameter； while another； on foot； placed on top of each of the
shorter posts a wooden ball some four inches through。
〃It's my first tournament；〃 observed a lady near the front of the grand
stand； leaning over and addressing John Warwick； who was seated in the
second row； in company with a very handsome girl。 〃It is somewhat
different from Ashby…de… la…Zouch。〃
〃It is the renaissance of chivalry； Mrs。 Newberry；〃 replied the young
lawyer； 〃and； like any other renaissance； it must adapt itself to new times
and circumstances。 For instance； when we build a Greek portico； having
no Pentelic marble near at hand； we use a pine…tree； one of nature's
columns； which Grecian art at its best could only copy and idealize。 Our
knights are not weighted down with heavy armor； but much more
appropriately attired； for 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 chivalryor 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
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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 fro