The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-23

illness.
do you see the d~ewdrops lying in
the heart of those blossoms?n Aunt
Aphrodite said. taking a long spray of
white blossoms from among the Jewels.
Each dewdrop is a diamond. You
must be very careful with them; I
should SO hate to lose one, and this
flower is alittle loose, but l will fasten
it securely in your hair. Here is your
fan and wrap and the carriage is wait
ing at the door,"
"It is just like the fairy tale of Gin
derella, Aunt Aphrodite," Cecil said,
pausing for q moment upon the stone
steps. "and you are my good, fairy
godmother; only, l don't believe poor
Cinderella vas lralf rs happy as 1 for
after the ball she had nothing bnt Gin
ders to return to, that's, if the Prince
had not found the slipper"
Cecil claspedher small gloved hands
together in an extacy of bliss as she
felt herself being borne away to that
scene pictured but feebly in her imagi-
native mind. What music the creak-
ing OF the wheels was to her ears now
she too was receeding with the sound
as they rooled away from the silent
house which had but half an hour be-
fore held her \ prisoner.
Had she not sobbed conyulsively and
thought the world as black MS the star
less pail without, and everyone as
unkind, ali! so unkind to her. Yet
now those sobs We're forgotten, and the
b~lackless had given away to light;
and if any n had been unkind she
had 9 9 compensated for all, in the
twofoid goodness and sympathy of
Aunt Aphrodite. So runs the world; so
together arc ever woven the sunbeams
and shadows of life. So true it is
Laugh and the world laughs with you,
Weep AID you weep alone.''
AS the carriage ncared the great
amusement hall and the cold shlvers
caused her teeth to chatter uncon-
trollably, Cecil with almost ~nerveless
fingers slipped the mask over her face,
fearing when she stepped from the
carriage she might be recognized.
s.WOuld anyone ask her to dance"
Cecil questioned herself. All to be
sure, ii Mr.. Silas Pepperton were there
he would, for were not the diamonds
she wore most magnificent, and her
dress Of extreme loneliness as we'll rs
richness, and Mr.. Pcpperton had a
great %pencheant for costly fabrics. In
deed, he never could see anything in q
woman to admire whose clothes were
cheap or fashionable. If Professor
Megs was there and he had the least
suspicion OF her presence he would be
sure to seek her as a partner. But then
he was such an abominable dancer, al
ways choosing his partners feet rather
than the floor to dance upon. Then
there was Mr.. Jack Thurston, who
came to see her cousin Alice oftener
than mere friendship would warrant,
much to the disapproval of ambitious
designing mammas with marriageple
daughters. Cecil had spoken scarcely
half a dozen words to him during his
frequent visits ut the house; il his ac-
quaintance with her was so slight
without her mask, he would not
likely recognize her beneath the dis
euise.
The carriage stopped suddenly, and
the oor was thrown open. "Now
John don't forget, half past II exactly
and o solemn promise to secrecy"
Cecil said as the man passed her
through the great entrance and up the
crowded stairway to the dressing
room. As Cecil stood for a moment
watching the brilliant scene before en-
tering the room, she suddenly became
conscious that two men were watch
ing her. They stood together a little
at her right. She turned involuntarily
and met the steady gaze of her uncle,
and Jack Ihurston, the latter still
wearing his Oyercoat, the collar OF
which was turned up about his ears,
for the night was very cold and he had
apparently just arrived.
Surprised and a little dismayed al
the encounter, Cecil quickly sough,
another quarter OF the crowded room.
Had she been recognized, she won,
dered. Impossible. Yet as she turn.
cd to cast a backward glance at hel
uncle she saw that his eyes were fol
! lowing her. but his companion hae
disappeared.
Cecil pressed hurriedly forward tt
lose herself in the crowd, but she stun
bled and fell with some force against
Prussian officer, who was just entering
one of the exits, and who. with tina
gallantry in accordance with his call
!, ing, assisted her to her feet. She apol
, ogized %confusedly and hurried away
and when at a safe distance turned t.
look about her. Her Uncle Padding
} ton, she had eifectually escaped, am
the PruSsian officer stood where sh,
, had left him, but he seemed inten
!. upon examining something he held il
: his hand; n bundle, no doubt, lost b
l an unfortunate reyeller,
BY and by, when the music of TIL
band startled her with u loud, suddel
i noise she %preceived that numerous set
: were being formed for a quadrille
She felt a throb of disappointment
vas no one going to ask her to dance
( Scarcely had the thought formed il
self in her mind than she felt a ligh
: touch upon her arm. II was the Prus
5 sian officer, who bowed with exagera
ton, yet withall, a certain grace.
s.Will you honor me by joining il
, this guadrillep" he asked Cecil, VIII
seemed like some dainty butterfly los
in Il strange land. for she had bee
5 moving restlessly about, undecide,
what spot to choose for a resting place
i She started neryously; that voice be
: longed unquestionably to NJ. Pepper
ton, she felt certain of it. The habi
} he had Of dropping his his, and hi
: propensity to hop when he wake
convinced her of it.
Cecil stepped forward scarcely dan
ing to allow herself to speak, %fearin;
. mutual recognition. Should she as
disguise assume a deep masculine ton
8 Of voice, or one squeaky suggestive Q
inanimat1on like asmatic Professo
t Megs.
t II have danced but little" Gee
0 said, land if an Indifferent partne
r will not be Objectionable, ! will"
81 am not a proticentin that sort c
thing myself so there IS little to fea
/, on either side," he said, leading Gee
ont ,,nnu Tho Nna.