The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-06-06

race EiON11E Will ltll-ui IL wv tiI'iShN'
'And. Claude. ask barbara to come down
for it.. | am sure she will he pleased
I'VE shall soon have Christmas here,
and my mother promised To spend it at
Bayncham," said Claude. Suppose we
wait until then. and give a ball that all
the country will remember. BERTHE prom
Used us a week. What do you say"
1T will be hest" she replied. more So
dately. for, though longing To see Bar
hara. and enjoy a ball. IIilda looked for
ward with more than delight to the
visit of her stately mother-in-law.
Hilda had almost forgotten the little
incident that happened in the summer.
once or twice she thought, with wonder
and admiration, of that beautiful, sad
face. 50 worn and pale. and then in her
heart felt thankful that those mysterious
trials and troubles which wreck other
lives had not Swallowed hers.
King Winter did not appear in his usual
gHrb: there was no snow or frost when
Christmas came. but. contrary to all nat
ural laws, the weather was ever warm
and mild. There was an attempt at rain,
Il feeble CLEAN of sunshine. but none Of
what English people call Reasonable
cold"
Notwithstanding the absence of snow
and frost. there was no lack of holly ard
mistletoe in the Castle. II was many long
years since Christmas had been kept in
such royal state at Bayneham. nor was
there any lack of gayety among the guests
assembled there.
One night was given TO charades -Rer-
tie being stage manager. and thoroughly
well did he accomplish his task. He had
what he called "magniticent Materials"
and he knew how to use them.
Il have a grand idea" said Bertio one
morning to Lord Bayneham; they spoke
of having some tableauX-yivantS tonight.
! consider that we have amongst Us the
three most perfect types of beauty. We
could manage a beautiful picture-'The
Gift of the Golden Apple You may be
Paris, Miss Earle would make q magnii-
cent Minerva. Miss Deyerncy is Il perfect
Juno, and Lady lIilda would represent
the goldcn-haired .A~phroditc as few others
could. What do you think, Claulc:"
Let us have a rehearsal at once re-
piled Lord Bayncham. charmed with The
idea. IF the ladies are willing"
When the curtain was drawn up it was
acknowledged by all that Berries idea
was Il brilliant success. 1t would lave
been difficult to have found tire" women
more beautiful. or differing more drcid-
edly in their style of beauty.
Miss Deyerney-tall and majestic. with
a figure and carriage full of dignity. a
face of the purcst Grccian type. straight
lr,,+s n,,J .I,,I- l,s. $780,. "
her majestic beauty. BERTHE declared the
wonderful tissue of her robe must have
been woven moonbeamS.' Barbara
Earle's pure, eloquent face. the calm. Sc
renity of eye and brow. the expression SO
full of intellect and feeling, fitted her
we'll for the part of Minerva. the wise.
beautiful. serene daughter of the gods.
Hetween them stood Aphrodite, a fair.
lovely face, bright as a morning sun
beam. a profusion of golden HAIR falling
over the white shining robe.
Lord Rayneham had refused the part Of
Paris. 50 BERTHE took il. and he stood be-
fore the beautiful Aphrodite, just offer
ing 10 her the golden apple he held in his
hands.
1t was a beautiful picture. so perfect in
A'7 YEA NAA''t IiI'lf WAS IL ulllNAlSHI to
mand for a second opportunity of seeing
it.
Bertie had enjoyed the rehearSalS. for
he made an invariable rule, the moment
they We're finished, of Offering the apple
10 Barbara. telling her he was a second
Paris. with Il far better Judgment than
his predecessor.
That evening, when Barbara Earle,
tired and exhausted. reached her own
room, she saw a small packet addressed
to her, lying On the toilet table. She
broke the seal and found q small box.
hen that was opened, lying in 4 soft
nest OF White velvet was a most beautiful
little golden apple. 1t was made with a
small loop, SO that it could be worn ut the
end of a chain, or suspended to a brace
let; there was a slip of paper. and on il
these words We're written:
Barbara, will you accept this from mo
IN my W character of BERTHE Carlyon?"
Miss Earle, understanding exactly how
much that meant, resolved upon taking
time for deliberation before she made
any reply.
On the morning following, BERTHE was
anxiously waiting for her appearance; bur
Barbara avoided any tete-a-tete with him
The day after was spent in preparing for
the grand ball, which Lord Bayneham
declared should excel any given in the
county; II its queen was TO be his fair
young wife.
The evening so anxiously looked for
came az last. The whole neighborhood
round B~ayneham seemed alive with the
rolling carriages. The Castle was one
blaze of light and warmth. The ball was
brilliantly and numcrously attended. II
was something like a dream of fairyland
the rich hangings, the fragrant ~exotics.
the little scented fountains that rippled
so musically, the cleaning of jewels. the
sweet, soft music. the bright. beautiful
faces.
II was a brilliant and successful even
ing more SO. perhaps, to BERTHE than any
one else. He secured two waltzes with
IN rIo rc and prnhoh 1r $780,.