The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-04-05

Ralph True turns to her. II do
not skate. Will l stay at homer
mo indeed! Poor little boy. will
teach you how
Daisy looks pity from her eyes, and
Ralph thinks how rarely pretty those
same eyes are.
"You do" Gerry says, "come!''
And they all rise from the table. An
hour later a merry group is on the
river: Ralph is awkwardly trying to
stand on his skates while his eyes tol-
low q little figure, skating alone, some
distance beyond the others.
"Watch your feet! Look OUT"
Gerry is expostulating, when, with
cry. her awkward pupil dashes over
the ice as only an experienced skater
can, to where little figure is strug.
Cling in the water. Gerry foreets her
vexation in her fright for her sister.
"Oh. Daisy, darling! Save her! save
her!" she cries. Ralph True has sue
ceeded in catching long braid of fair
hair, but as willing hands draw
her from the water, he looses his
hold and disappears in the dark
water. Some one dives for him and
saves him, bnt the merry party of the
! morning return to Hazeldene with
two unconscious burdens. Ralph is
! none the worse for his ducking the
next morning, but Daisy does not
come down until evening, when even
then she looks pale and languid.
Ralph eazes at her az he turns Gerald.
ines music, and catching her eye he
wonders why she bushes so prettily
and why she always turns away so
quickly.
"Chess?" Gerry rattles on, do you
| play it, True? Let us form q set.
You and !. and Mr.. Sage, and-and"
''Daisy," Ralph supplies. The party
is soon formed, but some how, Gerry
can never tell how, Daisy is Ralph's
partner. while her lot is cast with
that of Mr.. Sage. She ooks at Daisy's
dropping face rather angrily. and
when the game ends declaring Ralph
and Daisy victors, she rises with a
small grimace and goes over to her
mother at the other side of the room.
"Poor Gerry" Daisy says, compass
sionately. II think that you must
be q wonderful player. Mr.. True.
Gerry always wins at any game she
ever tries"
docs she?" Ralph quizzes, ut will
do her good to get left sometimes.
Come out, Miss Daisy. and see the
Hudson by moonlight. Do you feel
able?"
When they return sets are forming
for dance.
Come" Gerry's clear voice cries,
l want you, True"
Ralph crosses to her side. "You
dance?'
mo, do not.'
"How am to know but what you
are deceiving me like you did yester.
day."
Take my word for it,
"Won't you dance this set With
me?'
"I'll walk through it,"
"W.e-l-l," doubtfully.
| Never was Gerry so provoked. New.
CT was Ralph 50 delighted. They
managed to get through, somehow.
and when the music ceases, Ralph
pauses with laugh.
DO you like to dance with me, Miss
Gerry?"
MOI" she cries. "Go away 1hate
your
He walks away to little figure al.
most lost in great chair by the open
CRATE.
"W,ll you dance the next with me?"
he asked.
"Yes."
odd you see how very awkwardly
step?"
Eyes. But I'm not afraid"
! Geraldine looks after them in
anazement as they float past her.
"So|d again." she murmurs. "What
in the world am to do with such n
mani"
The days fled by. If person could
have judged as to the success of the
wager by the fact that Ralph and
Ger aldene were often together, then, in.
deed, Harry is in a fair way to win.
Each excursion planned; each game
played, each tableau; each theatrical;
these two are partners. The fact that
quiet Daisy is often with them. too,
does not seem to count. Harry is
puzzled. And Gerry, has to confess
that she has met a man who does not
make love to her after one weeks
acquaintance. The friends who are
in the secret look on with interest. not
knowing who will win that most un-
fortunate wager. They are planning
a masquerade ball.
Each guest is to keep his own coun-
sci and not let person know what
character he intends to personate.
Such mystery, such locked doors, such
secrets, as reign for week before the
eventful evening arrives, is wonderful
to relate. At last time brings around
the evening. The house guests have
oil managed to glide into tho rooms
with an outsider. so that all identity
is lost, and they mingle together as
one unknown whole.
Geraldene's shril voice would have
betrayed her, even if one long tendril
OF hair had not escaped from it's con-
finement ard hung almost to her feet.
She is Venus, go 1dess of love. and
never has she appeared so beautiful.
She looks in vain for Ralph True tall
figure to betray him. She cannot de-
eide whether that tall soldier, or yon-
der Romeo, or the cavalier by her
side, is he. She sees Romeo bending
over q small Juliet all in blue. and she
wonders if Daisy knows who her Ro.
meo is.
"Juliet," Romeo is whispering, ':fol.
low me. want yon."
Daisy rises and follows his lead.
Does she know him? The little lady
keeps her own counsel, if she does.
They stand on the terrace. The
stars sparkle overhead; the frozen
Hudson CLEANS in the distance.
''Daisy; overheard you telling
Gerry OF your costume, and I Dress
ed to match you. Daisy, do you
know me? I love you. Will you be
my wife?''
| And Daisy, without thought of
her conquest or OF Gerry's anger, looks
up at her tall Romeo answers both
question. with a happy Eyes, Ralph"
How surprised they all were when
the announcement is made at the
breakfast table the next morning.
Silence falls at first, and then with