Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-04-23

,
the heart of those blossoms?" Aunt
Aphrodtc said, taking u long spray of
white blossoms from among the jewels.
each dewdrop is a diamond. You
must be very careful with them;
should so hate to lose one, and this
iloweri is little loose, but | will fasten
it securely in your hair. Here is your
fan and wrap and the carriage is wait
ing at the door
at is just like the fairy tale of Gin
derella, Aunt Aphrodite,' Cecil said,
pausing for 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 cXtacy of bliss as sho
felt herself being borne away to that
scene pictured but fccbly in her imagi-
native mind. What music the creak-
ing OF the wheels was to her ears now
she too was rececding with the sOuLd
as they rooled away from the silent
house which had but half an hour be-
fore held her prisoner.
Had she not sObbed conyulSivcly and
thought the world us black rs the star
less pail without, and everyone rs
unklnd, ah! so unknd to her. Yet
now those sobs were forgotten, and the
blackncss had given away to light;
and if any one had been unkind she
had been 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 neared the great
amusement hall and the cold shlvers
caused her teeth to chatter uncon-
trollably, Cecil with almost ncrvelcss
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, ii Mr.. Sias Pcppcrton were there
he would, for were not the diamonds
she wore most magnificent, and her
dress of extreme lOvelncSs rs well as
richness, and Mr. Pepperton had a
great pcnChcant for costly fabrics In
deed, he never could see anything in a
woman to admire whose clothes were
cheap or fashionable. If Professor
MCgs was there and he had the least
suspicion of her presence he would be
sure to seek her as apartner. 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 oftcncr
than mere friendship would warrant,
much to the disapproval of ambitious
designing mammas with marriageDle
daughters. Cecil had spoken scarcely
half II dozen words to him during his
frequent visits ut the house; ii 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. Now
John don't forget, half past II exactly
and solemn promise to secrecy"
Cecil said rs the man passed her
through the great entrance aud up the
crowded stairway TO the dressing
room. As Cecil stood for moment
watching the brilliant scene before en-
tering the room, she suddenly became
conscious that two men were watch
ing her. They stood together little
at her right. She turned involuntarily
and met the steady gaze of her uncle,
and Jack ThurstOn, the latter still
wearing his OvcrcOat, the collar of
which was turned up about his ears,
for the night was very cold and he had
apparently just arrived.
Surprised and n little dismaycd ut
the encounter, Cecil quickly sought
another quarter of the crowded room.
Had she been recognized, she Won
dcrcd, Impossible. Yet rs she turn
ed to cast backward glance at her
uncle she saw that his eyes were fol-
lowing her, but his companion had
disappeared.
Cecil pressed hurricdly forward to
lose herself in the crowd but she stum-
blcd and fell with some force against
Prussian officer, who was Just entering
one of the exits, and who, with that
gallantry in accordance with his call
ing, assisted her to her feet She apol-
Ogizcd cOnfuScdly and hurried away,
and when at safe distance turned to
look about her. Her Uncle Padding
ton, she had eilectually escaped, and
the PrusSian officer stood where she
had left him, but he seemed intent
upon examining something he held in
his hand; bundle, no doubt, lost by
an unfortunate rovcllcr,
BY and by, when the music of the
band startled her with u loud, sudden
noise she preceived that numerous sets
were being formed for Il quadrille.
She felt throb Of disappointment;
was no one going to ask her to dance?
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 exagera-
ton, yet withall, certain grace.
"Will you honor me by joining in
this quadrillc?" he asked Cecil, who
seemed like some dainty butterfly lost
in strange land. for she had been
moving restlessly about, undecided
what spot to choose for u resting place,
She started nervously; that voice be-
longed unqucstionably to Mr.. Pepper
ton, she felt certain of it. The habit
he had of dropping his his, and his
propensity to hop when hc walked
convinced her of it.
Cecil stepped forward scarcely dar.
ing to allow herself to speak, fearing
mutual recognition. Should sEo rs
disguise assume deep masculine tone
of voice, or one squcaky suggestive of
inanimatlon like asmatic Professor
Megs.
II have danced but little" Cecil
said, land il an Indifferent partner
will not be Objectionable, will"
81 am not proficient in that sort of
thing myself so there Is little to fear
on either side" he said, leading Cecil
out upon the floor.
81 see some fine costumes display
ed tonight" MIR. Pepperton said in
his familiar, jerky way, which was
habtual, but as Mr.. Pepperton was an
admirer of attractive habiliments
rather than personal beauty or clever
ness, Cecil did not wonder at the re-