Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-04-06

and carcanet OF plue Oo"''' "A
her white throat.
The band--two fddles and horn,
played by three energetic colored men
was wrestling with climbing up
De Golden Stairs" and about twenty
couples we're romping up and down the
floor in the famous Highland Schot-
tische" when she came IN.
"Where is Miss Olmer?" asked the
master of ceremonies, stalwart young
lumberman.
Halcyone made him low courtesy
sam [ Miss Diners keeper?' said
she, satirically.
''No. But she boards at the same
place, doesn't she?"
"For all that, I'm not answerable
for her movements! Halcyone re-
torted.
"Will you dance with me, Hal
cvone?" called out Ross Duncan.
And with a quick glance around the
room to satisfy herself that Mr.. Dale
was not there, Halcyone accepted the
challenge.
81 may as we'll amuse myself until
he comes" she thought.
Her tawny eyes sparkled, her cheeks
glowed rich carmine, and her pulses
bounded joyously to the time of the
music Opportunity was all that she
had needed, and surely she should
triumph now
"And of course" she added, within
herself, "Grace Olmer will know that
it was all mistake. How was ! to
know that the door swung shut?"
Slowly the evening passed by.
Dance after dance succeeded each
other; the music clashed loudly; peo-
shple came and went, and Halcyone
reigned the undoubted queen of the
rustic merry-makers, yet still the
"man of men" did not dawn upon her
horizon.
And to the universal query, "What
has become of Aleck DaleY' nobody
was ready with a rejoinder.
Out in Buckleton the people did not
keep late hours, and it was not very
much past midnight when Halcyone
Marden's escort left her at the pic
turesque little garden gate, and,
sauntering up the box-bordered path,
!; she saw in the level May moonlight
two figures on the porch.
"Who is that?" she called out
; "Why, it is never Grace Olmer?"
''Yes, Grace Olmerl" responded I
well-known voice, and Alexander Dale
stepped out into the full pearly Ugh
terrace DINER and your humble
servant as we'll. | happened to b
coming down Buckle Mountain lat
> this afternoon with some squirrels
had shot. and to my surprise | en-
countered captive princess IN an en-
cbanted tower-Grace Olmer in tn
old witch's hut-and [ had the happl
= ness of releasing her and being he
escort home.
! "Halcyone, said Grace, looking tn
! golden haired girl full in the face
f "did you know that when yon swun
that heavy door shut that it fastene'
me in?"
! ooh, Oracle" !"
! The color came and went on Hal
cyones cheek; but the tawny eye
revealed their secret and Grace kne'
all. though her companion spoke II
+ word.
p "But," spoke Dale, joyfully, "hoT
e ever it may have happened, it gave m
the opportunity for which l had lon
hoped. Congratulate me, Halcyone-
. Miss DINER has promised to be m
p wife
Halcyone's smile was cold and mean
ingless as the moonlight around her
and her heart was colder sblll as sh
= held out her hand to her successfr
rival and mechanically uttered tn
words,
q I-congratulate-you|
For in all life's contests, where on
wins another must fail -Saturda
- Night.
Starting Pineapple Plantation.
The first operation in starting q pine
80 Lo of ho ho n,