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

you see the dewdrops lying in
the heart of those blossoms?" Aunt
Aphrodite said, taking a long spray of
white blossoms from among the Jewels.
Each dewdrop is q diamond. You
must be very careful with them; l
should so hate to lose one, and this
flower is a little 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 a moment upon the stone
steps, land you are my good, fairy
godmother; only, / don't believe poor
Cinderella was half as happy as / for
after the ball she had nothing bnt Gin
ders to return to, that is, If the Prince
had not found the slipper"
Cecil clasped her small gloved hands
together in an extacy of bliss us 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.
Hat he not sobbed c~onvulsivelv and
thought the world as black as the star
less pail without, and everyone as
unkind, ali! SO unkind to he Yet
now those sobs were forgotten, and the
blackness had given away TO light;
and II my one had been unkind she
had beer compensated for ail, in the
twofold goodness and sympathy of
Aunt Aphrodite. So run the world; so
together are ever woven the sunbeams
and shadows OF life. So true it is
Laugh aud the world laughs sss.h yud,
Weep and you weep alone.,'
As the carriage neared the great
amusement hall and the cold shlvers
caused her teeth to chatter uncon-
trcllably, Cecil with almost nerveless
fingers slipped the mask over her face,
fearing when she stepped from the
carriage she might be recognized.
would anyone ask her to Dance"
Cecil questioned herself. All! to be
sure, if Mr.. Silas Pepperton were there
he would, for We're % the diamonds
she most magnificent, and her
dress of extreme l%ovclincss rs we'll rs
richness, and Mr.. Pepperton had a
great penchennt for costly fabrics. In
deed, he never could see anything in a
woman to admire whose clothes were
cheap pr fashionable. If Professor
Megs was theie and he had the least
suspicion of her presence he would be
sure to G her as apartner, But then
he was such an abominable dancer, al
ways choosing his partner 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 marriageole
daughters. Cecil had spoken scarcely
half q dozen words t o him during his
frequent visits ut the house; if his ac-
quaintance with her was so slight
without her mask. he would not
likely recognize her beneath the dis
guise.
The carriage stopped suddenly, and
the door was thrown open .sNow
John don't forget, half past II exactly
and solemn promise to ~secrecy,f'
Cecil said as the man passed her
through the great entrance and up the
crowded stairway to the dressing
room. As Cecil stood for u moment
watching the brilliant scene before en-
tering the room, she suddenly became
conscious that two men wers watch
ing her. They stood together a little
at her right. She turned involuntarily
and met the steady gaze of her uncle.
and Jack Thurston, the latter still
wearing his Overcoat, 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 at
the encounter, Cecil quickly sought
another quarter Of the crowded room.
Had she been recognized, she won
dered. Impossible. Yet rs she turn
ed to cast a backward glance at her
uncle she saw that his eyes were fol-
lowing her, but his companion had
disappeared.
Cecil pressed %hurriedly forward to
lose herself in the crowd, but she STUN
bled and fell with some force against o
Prnssian officer, who vas Just entering
one of the exits, and who, with that
gallantry in accordance with his call
ing. assisted her to her feet. She apol-
ogized c%onfusedly and hurried away,
and when at a safe distance turned to
look about her. Her Uncle Padding
ton. she had etfectually escaped, and
the Prussian officer stood where she
had left him, but he seemed intent
upon examining something he held in
his hand; u bundle. no doubt, lost by
an unfortunate reveller,
BY and by, when the music of the
band startled her with a loud, sudden
noise she preceived that numerous sets
were being formed for n quadrille.
She felt a throb of disappointment;
was no one going to ask her to dancep
Scarcely had the thought formed it
self in her mind than she felt a light
touch upon her arm. 1t was the Prus-
sian officer, who bowed with
ton, yet withall, a certain grace.
s.Will YOU honor me by Joining in
this quadrille?n he asked Cecil, Who
seemed like some dainty butterfly lost
in a strange land. for she had been
moving restlessly about, undecided
what spot to choose for a resting place,
She started nervously; that voice be-
longed unQ~uestionably to MI. Pepper
ton, she felt certain of it. The habit
he had Of dropping his his, and his
propensity to hop when he walked
convinced her of it.
Cecil stepped forward scarcely dar-
ing to allow herself to speak, fearing
y mutual recognition. Should she as a
disguise assume q deep masculine tone
of voice, or one squeaky suggestive Of
Illumination like asmatic Professor
Megs.
II have danced but little" Cecil
said, land if an Indifferent partner
will not be objectionable, ! will"
II am not q proficient in that sort of
thing myself 50 there is little to fear
on either side.'' he said, leading Cecil
out upon the floor.