Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-23

/ DuSlubSSllht IuSulOl.
The fancy hair was not to be opened
until the evening. 4 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 low voice, as she
burst into Mrs. Seymour's room on the
afternoon of the great day
"Of course he is. | 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 We're 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
| gency."
At that moment Mrs Wildover's maid
| appeared at the door, with her mis-
tresses' compliments and several mo-
rocco cases, and message that that
! lady would like to see Miss Seymour
when she was quite ready.
you are positively charming, my
dearw calculated Mrs. WiIdover, 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-curtained booth, where 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
! Scymour's dancing. Nothing was
spoken of but her grace, her charm and
the magnificent diamonds which Mrs.
Wildoyer 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 near the place
where her daughter was dancing for
the sixth or seventh time.
The mother stood just inside the door,
conspicuous in the black gown which
she still wore; Nell was floating across
the stage, her draperies weaving fan
tastic figures around her, when sud.
denly her steps grew uncertain, her
arms dropped Imply to her side and
she fell like Il log upon the stage.
a cry ran through the little booth;
Mrs. Seymour pushed quickly for
| ward.
"She has fainted! she cried in
| alarm. "A doctor. Is there no one who
will fetch a doctor?"
Il am at your service, madam" said
Il young man, making his way rapidly
TO the stage,
The next moment he had raised the
fanting girl in his arms and was carry.
ing her to some quiet spot. Everyone
was lost in pity for the poor widow,
who was beside herself with grief and
alarm.
In very short time, however, n mel
ancholy little procession left the bazaar
by II side entrance. The men carried
the still unconscious girl on 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 We're, in fact. few hands to be
spared, and the busy hotel-keepcr 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 of mademoisellc. Her med,
ical attendant shook his head:
Don't let anybody go bothering there
in the morning TO inquire after her; ev.
erything depends on keeping her quiet.
At midday, however, Mrs. Wildover
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, her cry which
made the others follow her with rush
expecting they hardly knew what trag
ic spectacle. AS matter of fact, moth
ing met their eyes but a couple OF
mourning costumes, neatly folded on a
chair and the diaphanous dancing
dress lying in heap on the floor. Fol
the nothing-nobody.
The astonishmenU was so great that
it was fully minute before anyone
grasped the situation.
"Gott in himmel! My bill! They
are swindlers." gasped the hotel-keep
er, finding his wits first.
'Swindlers" calculated Mrs. Wild
over. "Ah, my diamonds"
Everyone gazed at her speechless; in
n moment the whole thing was as clear
ne nOon6ny and in thn confusion of