THE KNIGHTS OF MIDAS BALL
There were two separate and distinct sides to the annual carnival of the
Knights of Midas. The main object to which the many committees on
arrangements addressed themselves was the assembling in Clarkson of as
many people as could be collected by assiduous advertising and the
granting of special privileges by the railroads. The streets must be
filled, and to fill them and keep them filled it was necessary to
entertain the masses; and this was done by providing what the committee
on publicity and promotion proclaimed to be a monster Pageant of
Industry. The spectacle was not tawdry nor ugly. It did not lack touches
of real beauty. The gaily decked floats, borne over the street car
tracks by trolleys, were like barges from a pageant of the Old World in
the long ago, impelled by mysterious forces. From many floats fireworks
summoned the heavens to behold the splendor and bravery of the parade.
The procession was led by the Knights of Midas, arrayed in yellow robes
and wearing helmets which shone with all the effulgence of bright tin.
There was a series of floats on which Commerce, Agriculture,
Transportation and Manufacturing were embodied and deified in the
persons of sundry young women, posed in appropriate attitudes and lifted
high on uncertain pedestals for the admiration of the multitude. On
other cars men followed strenuously their callings; coopers hammered
hoops upon their barrels; a blacksmith, with an infant forge at his
command, made the sparks fly from his anvil as his float rumbled by. An
enormous steer was held in check by ropes, and surrounded by murderous
giants from the abattoirs; Gambrinus smiled down from a proud height of
kegs on men that bottled beer below. Many brass bands, including a
famous cowboy band from Lone Prairie, and an Indian boy band from a
Wyoming reservation, played the newest and most dashing marches of the
day. Thus were the thrift, the enterprise, the audacity, and the
generosity of the people of Clarkson exemplified.
Such was the first night's entertainment. The crowd which was brought to
town to spend its money certainly was not defrauded. The second night it
was treated to band concerts, a horse-show and other entertainments,
while the Knights of Midas closed the door of their wooden temple upon
all but their chosen guests. These were, of course, expected to pay a
certain sum for their tickets, and the sum was not small. The Knights of
Midas ball was not, it should be said, a cheap affair. Raridan and
Saxton had taken a balcony box for the ball and they asked Evelyn's
guests to share it with them. Raridan still growled to Saxton over what
he called Evelyn's debasement, but he had said nothing more to Evelyn
about it.
"Here's to the deification of Jim Wheaton," he sighed, as he and Saxton
waited for the young ladies in the Porter drawing-room.
Saxton grinned at him unsympathetically.
"Stop sighing like an air-brake. You will be dancing yourself to death
in an hour."
When the two young women came in, Raridan's spirits brightened. Evelyn
was, Miss Marshall declared, "perfectly 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 running account of the first families of
this community as they assemble," Raridan announced, when they had
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, while a band
high above played popular airs.
"We're all here," said Raridan, when the band rested. "The butcher, the
baker and the candlestick-maker; also probably some of our cooks. We are
the spectators at one of Nero's matinees; the goodly knights are ready
for combat, and those who have had practice in the adjacent packing
houses have the best chance of winning the victory. There comes Tim
Margrave, one of the merriest of them all, full of Arthurian valor and
as gentle a knight as ever held lance or bought a city council. And
there is the master of our largest and goriest abattoir. That is not a
star on his chest, but a diamond pig, rampant on a field of dress-shirt.
He used to wear it on his watch-chain, but it was too inconspicuous
there--
'On his breast a five-point star
Points the way that his kingdoms are.'"
Miss Marshall was scrutinizing the man indicated through her opera
glasses.
"Why, it _is_ a pig!" she declared.
"Of course it is," said Warry, with an aggrieved air. "I hope you don't
think I'd fib about it. Now, the girl over there by the window, with the
young man with the pompadour hair, is Mabel Margrave, whose father you
saw a minute ago. She is looking this way with her lorgnette; but don't
flinch; there's only the plain window glass of our rude western commerce
in it; she handles it awfully well, though."
"And the man coming in who looks like a statesman?" asked Miss Marshall.
"That's Wilkins, the boy orator of the Range. He palpitates with
Ciceronian speech. He's our greatest authority on the demonetization of
wampum. The young man who's talking to him is telling him what hot stuff
he is, and that the speech he made at Tin Cup, Texas, last week on the
'Inequalities of Taxation' is the warmest little speech that has been
made in this country since Patrick Henry died. He's a good
thing,--Wilkins. The Indians back on the reservation, where he goes to
raise the wolf's mournful howl when white people won't listen to him,
call him Young-man-not-afraid-of-his-voice. Our Chinaman calls him Yung
Lung. Quite a character, Wilkins."
"And," Miss Warren inquired, "the grave, handsome man, who must be an
eminent jurist?"
"He does one's laundry," Raridan replied, "and," looking at his cuffs
critically, "he does it rather decently."
"There's another side to this," said Saxton to Miss Warren, while
Raridan babbled on to the pretty Virginian. "These people have had a
terribly hard time of it. They've been through a panic that would have
killed an ordinary community; a good many of the nicest of them have had
to begin over again; and it's uphill work. It isn't so funny when we
consider that these older people have tried their level best to make the
wilderness blossom as the rose, and after they'd made a fine beginning
the desert repossessed it. There's something splendid in their courage."
"Yes, it's hard for us who live on the outside to appreciate it. And
they seem such nice people, too."
"Don't they! They're big-hearted and plucky and generous! Eastern people
don't begin to appreciate the people who do their rough work for them."
The other boxes and the gallery had filled, and the main floor was
crowded, save where the broad aisle had been maintained down the center
from the front door to the stage. A buzz 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 dignified 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 procession 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 organization and had no parts in costume, sent
up the shout.
"Hail to Midas!"
"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 was
passed to those who did not know him, and everybody applauded. He was
really imposing in the robes of his kingship. He walked with a fitting
deliberation among his escort. He was conscious of the lights, the
applause, the music, and of the fact that he was the center of it all.
The cheers were subsiding as the party neared the throne.
"I'll wager he's badly frightened," said Raridan to Saxton.
"Don't you think it," declared Saxton, "he looks as cool as a cucumber."
"Oh, he's cool enough," grumbled Raridan.
"You see what envy will do for a man," remarked Saxton to Miss Marshall.
"Mr. Raridan's simply perishing because he isn't there himself. But
what's this?"
The king had reached his throne and faced the audience. All the knights
bowed low; the king returned the salutation while the audience cheered.
"It's like a comic opera," said Miss Marshall.
The supreme knight advanced and handed Wheaton the scepter and there 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 cheering. "It makes me think of old
times at football," he declared, sinking back into his chair with an air
of exhaustion, and wiping his face.
The king had seated himself, and expectancy again possessed the hall.
The band struck up another air, and a line of girls in filmy, trailing
gowns was filing in.
"There are the foolish virgins who didn't fill their lamps," said
Raridan; "that's why they have brought bouquets."
"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 impressive," Miss Warren declared, "and not
at all silly as I feared it might be."
"Well, _that_ is very pretty," replied Saxton.
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 scene was dispelled by Evelyn's loveliness and
dignity. Her white gown intensified her fairness, and her long court
train added an illusion of height. She carried 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 ceremony.
"She's as lovely as a bride," murmured 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 dais. The king came down to meet
her and led her to a place beside him, where they turned and faced the
applauding crowd.
The grand chamberlain now stepped forward and read the proclamation of
the Knights of Midas, announcing that the 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 before her,
she placed it upon his head. At this there was more cheering and
handclapping. Saxton glanced toward Raridan as he beat his own hands
together, expecting one of Raridan's gibes at the chamberlain's bombast;
but there was a fierce light in Raridan's eyes that Saxton had never
seen there before. He was staring before him at Evelyn Porter, as she
now sat beside Wheaton on the tawdry throne; his face was white and his
lips were set. Saxton was struck with sorrow for him.
There was a stir throughout the hall. The king and queen were
descending; the floor manager was already manifesting his authority.
"Let's 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 any more exercises--is it all over?" cried Miss Marshall.
"Bless us, no!" replied Raridan.
The evolutions of the grand march were now in progress and they stood
watching it.
"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
of his robe. "They ought to behead him for that."
"Mr. Raridan's terribly severe," said Saxton. The king and queen,
leading the march, were passing under the box.
"The king really looks scared," remarked Miss Warren.
"Yes; he's rather conscious of his clothes," said Raridan. "His train
rattles him." Evelyn glanced up at them and laughed and nodded.
Before the march broke up into dancing they went down from the gallery.
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 burst upon him with congratulations.
"You must he dying of pride," exclaimed Miss Marshall.
"Evelyn never looked better," declared Miss Warren. "It was splendid!"
"We are proud to know you, sir," said Raridan, shaking hands.
"I surely came to Clarkson in the right year," said Saxton.
Porter regarded them with the patronizing smile which he kept for those
who praised Evelyn to his face.
"The only thing now," he said, "is to get that girl home before
daylight."
"Oh, the queen gives her own orders," said Raridan. "You'll never be
boss at the Hill any more!" He was bringing up all the unattached men he
knew to present them to the visitors. He never forgot any one, and not
merely the debutantes of other years, but girls that were voted slow in
the brutal court of social opinion, were always sure of rescue at his
hands. Evelyn and Wheaton were bearing down upon them; Evelyn, flushed
and happy, and Wheaton in a glow from the exercise of the march and a
dance with her. There was a fusillade of interjections as many crowded
about with praise of the leading actors. It was all breathless and
incoherent. The crowd was uncomfortably large, and the hall was hot.
Porter found General Whipple and escaped with him to the smoking room.
Young men were everywhere writing their names on elaborate dance cards.
"Save a few for us," Raridan pleaded airily as the men he had introduced
hovered about Evelyn's guests. He made no effort to speak to Evelyn, who
was besieged by a throng that wished to congratulate her or to dance
with her. She gave Saxton her fingers through a rift in the crowd and he
turned again to find himself deserted. Raridan was dancing with Belle
Marshall and Annie Warren nodded to him over the shoulder of a youth who
had waltzed her away. While Saxton waited for the quadrilles to which
his dancing limitations restricted him, he made a circuit of the room.
Mrs. Whipple was holding forth to a group of dowagers but turned from
them to him.
"I'm hardly sure of you without Warry, and this is the first time I've
seen you alone. Of course, you were looking for me!"
"That's what I came for."
"Please say something more like that. I saw you come in, young man; they
are very nice girls, too."
She was trying to remember who had told her that Saxton was stupid.
"How did you like it? This was your first, I think."
"Beautiful! charming! An enchanting entertainment!"
"Is that for you and Warry, too? He always has to approve everything
here."
"Oh, I can't speak for him," John answered; "we don't necessarily always
agree."
"I'll have to find out later, from him. You and Warry appear to be fast
friends, and he talks a great deal. What has he told you about me?"
"He said you were kind to strange young men; but that wasn't
information."
"You'll do, I think. Here comes Warry now."
Raridan came along looking for a country girl whose brother he knew, and
with whom he had engaged the dance which was now in progress.
"I think she's hiding from me," he complained to Mrs. Whipple, "but the
gods are kind; I can talk to you. The general is a generous man." He
regarded critically a great bunch of red roses which she held in her
lap. "That's why the florist didn't have any for me."
"Oh, these are Evelyn's," explained Mrs. Whipple. "She asked me to keep
them for her--the king's gift, you know. I feel highly honored."
"By the king? Impossible! I'll give you something nice to let me drop
them into the alley."
"Is it as bad as that? Well, good luck to you!"
He stood with his hands in his pockets looking musingly out over the
heads of the dancers. Mrs. Whipple eyed him attentively.
"You know you always tell me all of them," she persisted; but he was
following a fair head and a pair of graceful shoulders and ever and anon
a laughing face that flashed into sight and then out of range. His rural
friend's sister loomed before him, in an attitude of dejection against
the wall, and he hastened to her with contrition, and made paradise fly
under her feet.
Saxton was doing his best with the square dances, and had finished a
quadrille with Evelyn, who had thereafter asked him to sit out a round
dance with her; still Raridan did not come near them. He was busy with
Evelyn's guests or immolating himself for the benefit of the country
wallflowers. Supper was served at midnight in an annex of the hall.
"Here's where we forget to be polite," Raridan announced. "If we die in
the struggle I hope you fair young charges will treasure our memories."
The king and queen and the high powers of the knights enjoyed the
distinction of sitting at a table where they were served by waiters,
while the multitude fought for their food.
"If you lose our seats while we're gone," Raridan warned Miss Marshall
and Miss Warren, "you shall have only six olives apiece." He led Saxton
in a descent upon an array of long tables at which men were harpooning
sandwiches and dipping salad. The successful raiders were rewarded by
the waiters with cups of coffee to add to their perils as they bore
their plates away. There was a great clatter and buzz in the room. On
the platform where the distinguished personages of the carnival sat
there was now much laughing.
"Margrave's pretty noisy to-night," observed Raridan, biting into his
sandwich, and sweeping the platform with a comprehensive glance.
"You mustn't forget that this is a carnival," replied Saxton. He had
followed his friend's eyes and knew that it was not the horse-laugh of
Margrave that troubled him, but the vista which disclosed both Wheaton
and Evelyn Porter.
"Mr. Raridan's really not so funny as Evelyn said he was," remarked
Belle Marshall.
"The truth is," Raridan answered, rallying, "that I'm getting old. Miss
Porter remembers only my light-hearted youth."
"Well, let's revive our youth in another food rush," suggested Saxton.
They repeated their tactics of a few minutes before, returning with
ice-cream, which the waiters were cutting from bricks for supplicants
who stood before them in Oliver Twist's favorite attitude.
"Mr. Saxton's a terrible tenderfoot," lamented Raridan, when they
returned from the charge. "He was giving your ice-cream, Miss Warren, to
an old gentleman, who stood horror-struck in the midst of the carnage."
"You'd think we rehearsed our talk," Saxton objected. "He wants me to
tell you that he got the poor old gentleman not only food for all his
relations, but took away other people's chairs for him, as well."
"Lying isn't a lost art, after all," said Raridan.
As they returned to the hall they met a crowd of the nobility who were
descending from their high seats.
"So sorry to have deserted you all evening," said Evelyn to her girl
friends as they came together in a crush at the door; "but the worst is
over." She looked up curiously at Raridan, who seemed purposely to have
turned away to talk to Captain Wheelock, and was commenting ironically
on the management that made such a mob possible. There was only a moment
for any interchange, but she was sure now that Raridan was avoiding her
and it touched her pride.
"I hope you won't forget our dance, Mr. Saxton," she said, struggling to
follow a young man who had come to claim her. Raridan turned again, but
hung protectingly over Miss Marshall, whom the noisy Margrave seemed
bent on crushing. Raridan had not asked Evelyn to dance, though she had
been importuned by every other man she knew, and by a great many others
whom she did not know. As the gay music of a waltz carried her down the
hall with a proud youngster who had been waiting for her, the lightness
of her heart was gone for the moment. She remembered Raridan's curious
mood on the night before her friends came, and his unfriendliness to the
idea of her taking part in the carnival. She was piqued that he had
studiously avoided her to-night. The others must have noticed it. Warry
needed discipline; he had been spoilt and she meant to visit punishment
upon him. She did not care, she told herself; whether Warry Raridan
liked what she did or not.
But something of the glory of the evening had departed. She was really
growing tired, and several of the youths who came for dances were told
that they must sit them out, and she welcomed their chatter, throwing in
her yes and no occasionally merely to impel them on. Wheaton had grown a
little afraid of her after the glow of his royal honors had begun to
fade. It is often so with players in amateur theatricals, who think they
are growing wonderfully well acquainted during rehearsals; but after the
performance is concluded, they are surprised to find how easily they
slip back to the old footing of casual acquaintance. There was a flutter
about Evelyn at the last, when her father made bold to ask her when she
would be ready to go.
"The girls have already gone," he said, replying to her question. When
they were in the carriage together and were rolling homeward, she gave a
sigh of relief.
"Are you glad it's over?" asked her father.
"Yes, I believe I am."
"Well, they all said fine things about you, girl. I guess I've got to be
proud of you." This was his way of saying that he was both proud and
grateful.
As they reached the entrance to the Hill they passed another carriage
just leaving the grounds. Saxton put his head out of the window and
called a cheery good night, and Evelyn waved a hand to him.
"It was Warry and Saxton," said Mr. Porter. "I thought they'd stop to
talk it over."
Evelyn had thought so too, but she did not say so.