The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-27

were provided to meet It, resolutions
were adopted for the purchase and es-
tablishment of two steam-engines. and
in June a grand bazaar was held for
three days for the purpose of raising
money to perfect these plans.
On the closing evening of the bazaar
there was to be q ball, strawberry
fete, and the award of q prize to the
Queen of Love and Beauty.
The prize attracted universal inter-
est; it was an armchair, silk embroid-
cry of pattern of deep blue morning
glories on golden ground, and superb
" mounted in ebony and lapis lazuli.
Its price was covered by four hundred
tickets, and each purchaser, allowed to
buy but one ticket, had the privilege to
drop into the ballot-box on the night Of
the award the name of the woman to
whose possession of the treasure his
Judgment gave choice. There were, As
everyone we'll knew, but three actual
competitors, although, of course, room
was given for scattering votes; but the
weight of election lay between the
beautiful Lady Alice, the sweet Mrs.
Kent, a rustic belle of the village.
Flora felt exceedingly anxious to
know which of these names her hus-
band would write. She blamed her
self for caring, but a childish, she
would not say womanish, feeling had
taken possession of her; she felt, and
no reasoning with herself could make
her feel otherwise, that it would give
her pain to have Mark write "Lady
Alice" and that it would give her
pleasure if he should write the name Of
her intimate friend, Mrs. Harte.
The evening came, and the hour for
the award of the prize, after the straw
berry party, and just before the OPEN
ing of the ball.
Why was it that Flora Congreve
trembled and felt faint as she watched
the groups gather in the great hall
to vote, and, as her eye, with full
perception of their individual charms,
studied the three acknowledged COM
petitors for the prize? She saw Lady
Alice standing against . column be-
tween the elder Mrs. Congreve and
Mark, who had paused there in cross
ing the hall. Beautiful indeed she
looked in her dazzling white gown,
looped with satin bows of turquois and
amethyst, and holding boquets of vio-
lets and forget-me-nots; her costume
was in accord with the votive chair.
Indeed, Mrs. Congreve had insisted
upon that accord, and Lady Alice, con-
scious that it would be affectation to do
otherwise, yielded to her advice. Ma
mie Kent was in white, too, with blue
ribbons, and looked like q morning
glory herself; her eyes sparkled with
unconcealed hopefulness, and her CO.
quettish ways gathered new animation
as her admirers thronged around her
with gay compliments. Mrs. Harte-
dear Mrs. Harte, perfectly unconscious
that her friends had q thought of any
conquest for her-wore her usual cos
tune of rather dingy black silk, but
otherwise was quite radiant, as she
moved from place to place in her own
peculiar gracefulness, her sweet face
lighted with the unfeigned frendliness of
her gentle, generous soul.
Then Flora glanced at the chair, set
upon dais in conspicuous sight, and
by its side a floral booth for the recep-
ton of votes. There! Mark had gone
up, leaned against the screen, and
looked across the crowded hall, looked
at Lady Alice and then dropped his vote
in the box.
A chill gathered at Flora's heart; but
she was treasured when Mark, hasten
ing to her, put her arm in his, saying,
ave will 90 nearer the stand, where
you can see the Queen ascend her
throne. They are counting already;
believe mine was the last vote"
A few minutes afterward the treas
urer emerged from the booth and APP
peared upon the stage to announce the
result.
"Ladies and gentlemen" he said,
+" it is my privilege to congratulate you
not only upon the substantial success
of the last three days, but upon the
brilliancy of the concourse gathered
here this evening. need not direct
your attention to the unrivalled work
manship of the object designed as a
keepsake of this happy occasion, and
awarded by popular vote-a vote, ladies
and gentlemen, 50 nearly unanimous
that the choice of the Queen of Love
and Beauty may be said to express the
sentiment of the town. And the name
l have to announce is-Mrs. Mark Con-
greve.''
What q moment that, was to Flora
and to Marx! Indeed, the announce
ment was an unbounded surprise to all.
The truth was, no one who wrote
Flora's name imagined it would be
written by anyone else, but a certain
satisfaction had been felt in paying a
passing tribute to name that had
made itself dear by a recurrence of
kind acts. Not solely upon the night
of the fire, but afterwar1 in behalf of
the sufferers by that calamity, Flora's
kindness had been assiduous and of
admirable adaptation to actual wants.
Without one thought of self, she had
daily been, as her husband expressed
it, the evening he pointed her out to
Lady Alice, ''heart and soul helping"
Flora, conducted to the chair, did
not assume the position of royalty
with queenly grace. No! She blushed;
she trembled; her eyes filled
with tears. It seemed for a mo-
ment that she would prove utterly
unequal to the emergency. Only
a moment. She glanced at Mark;
his face glowed with love and pride.
Then her features Gained; she drew
herself erect; she made her speech-a
brief one, but with an accent that
melted every heart. II did not know, -
she said, "that had so many friends.
I wish you all much happiness always
and tonight
Heartfelt applause ran through the
hall as, with quick impulse, she
seized her husbands hand, and holding
it fast, took her place in the chair Of
state.
Then followed congratulations and
warm grasps of the hand. Mrs. Con.
greve beamed upon her daughter-in.