Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-22
"'Tiien-"

III Dt al llttlt ActOlCiltu ~ Jul WEE
tation:'
The girl laughed. and the mother be-
gan 10 turn over Z "BradshaW' in q
buSineSslike fashion.
The fancy hair was not 20 be opened
until the evening. y great number of
tickets had been sold. and there was
quite an imposing list of figures in the
account-book Mrs. Seymour carried. for
she had arranged to relieve Mrs. Wild
over Of all the mere business part of
the affair. and was really secretary and
treasurer rolled into one.
DO you know that Harry is here?"
exclaimed Nell. in a low voice, rs she
burst into Mrs. Seymour-s room on the
afternoon of the great day.
'Of course he is. l sent for him"
'But-'
How silly YOU are. Nell. You are
delicate. L could not allow you to dance
unless there were an efficient medical
man on the spot. Suppose you were TO
faint:'
But if Harry forms one of our
party
That would be absurd; no, he will
merely be there in case of an emer-
gcncy.'
At that momclt Mrs. WildOver's maid
appeared at tie door. with her mis-
treSscS' compliments and several mo-
rocco cases, ana a message that that
lady would like to see Miss Seymour
when she was quite ready.
~, ,--:.-F- L., - .-
dear calculated Mrs. WildOyer. when
the Girl stood before her dressed, and
let me tell You that You look worth
more hundreds of pounds than you
have lived Years."
1t soon became apparent that the at
traction of the fair was in the little
yellow-curtainel booth, where a stage
had been erected, and where several
people were content to crowd together
and endUre the efforts of several sing
ers In order to enjoy the sight of Miss
Seymour's dancing. Nothing was
spoken of but her grace. her charm and
the magnificent diamonds which Mrs.
Wildover had lent her.
Mrs. Seymour had. however, been so
busy looking after other people. taking
charge of their stalls during their tenn
porary absences, that it was late before
she was able To get hear the place
where her daughter "A dancing for
the sixth or seventh time.
The mother stood just inside the door,
conspicuous in the black gown which
she still wore; Nell IA floating across
the stage, her rlraperies weaving fan
tastic tigures around her. when sud
denly her steps grew uncertain, her
arms dropped ,imply to her side and
she fell like 4 l1g upon the stage.
4 cry ran through the little booth;
Mrs. Seymour pushed quickly for
ward.
"She haS faintcd.' she cried in
alarm. "A doctor. Is there no II who
will fetch Il dcctor:'
Il am at youf service. madam" said
Il young man. raaking his way rapidly
to the stage.
The mex moment he had raised the
fainting girl in his arms and was carry
ing her TO soma quiet spot. Everyone
WAS lost in pity for the poor widow.
who was beside herself with grief and
alarm.
In Il very short time. however. Il mel
ancholy little procession left the bazaar
by Il side entrance. The men carried
the still unconscious girl on Il species
of imprOvised hammock, and Mrs. Sey-
mour and the doctor walked sadly by
her side. They all entered the hotel;
the servants placed her on the bed. and
then the doctor declared that they
could do nothing more for their patient.
They were. in fact, few hands to be
spared. and the busy hotel-kecper was
delighted when Mrs. Seymour declined
all offers of help, and declared that she
would nurse her daughter herself.
1t was fully > o'clock in the morning
when the strange doctor left the hotel:
the night porter who let him out asked
for news o: mademoiselle. Her med
ical attendant shook his head:
Don't let anybody 80 bothering there
in the morning 10 inquire after her; ev-
erything depends oil keeping her quiet.
At midday, however. Mrs. Wildovcr
would take no further denial, and in
sisted on going to inquire for her
friends. Several time she knocked in
effectually: at last. growing alarmed.
she tried the door. 1t was locked.
After considerable delay the door had
to be forced open. and. white as death.
Mrs. Wildover rushed in before anyone
else. 1t was. indeed, Der cry which
made the others follow her with 4 rush.
expecting they hardly knew what trag-
ic spectacle. AS Il matter of fact. moth
ing met their eyes but Il couple of
mourning costumes. neatly folded on n
chair and the ~diaphanOus dancing
dress lying i'm Il heap on the floor. For
the rest-nothing-nobOdy.
The astonishoient was so great that
It was fully n minute before anyone
graSped the situation.
"Gott in himmel! My bill! They
are swindlcrs." gasped tie hotelkecp
er. finding his wits first.
"Swindlers," calculated Mrs. Wild