Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-19
he Lost waltz being played, and a crowd

the lost waltz being played, and a crowd
Of people taking leave of Lady Mary.
"Where is f;,ther:' asked Charles, as
Ralph came up. Gle ought to be here
to say good night"
"He's gone to bed" said Ralph.
Aunt Mary sent him. He was quite
done up. He has been on his legs all
day. Iexpect ho will be laid up to-mor.
row."
In a quarter of an hour the ball room
was empty, and Lady Mary, who was
dragging herself YEARLY toward the hall
as the last carriage rolled away, felt that
she might safely restore the balance of
her mind by n sudden lapse from the
gracious and benevolent to the acid and
severe.
''To bed! to bed" she kept repeating.
"Where is Evelyn I want her arm.
Gen. Marston, Col, Middleton, will you
have the goodness to go and CLEAN up
these young people? Mrs. Marston and
Lady Delmour, You must both be tired
to death. Let us go on, and they can fol-
low"
Gen. Marston and found whole
flock of the said young people in the Ii
brary, candle in hand, laughing and
talking, thinking they were going that
moment, but not doing it, and all, in
fact, listening to Charles, who was ex-
pounding theory Of his own respecting
ball dresses, which seemed to meet with
the greatest feminine derision.
"First take your silk Slip" he was say
ing as we came in. "There is nothing
indiscreet in mentioning slip, is there,
Evelyn? I trust not, for / heard Lady
Delmeur telling Mrs. Wright that all
well brought up young ladies had silk
slips. Then
"He exposes his ignorance more en-
tirely every moment" said Evelyn. "Let
US all go to bed and leave him to hold
forth to men who know as little as him
self"
ooh, Ralph!" said Aurelia, pointing to
the jewels on her neck and arms; "be-
fore we go want you to take back these.
don't like keeping them myself; l am
afraid of them" And she began to take
them off and lay them on the table.
Nonsense, my pet. Keep them your
self and lock them up in your dressing
case" And Ralph held them toward
her.
81 haven't got dressing case" said
Aurelia, pouting, "and my hat box won't
lock. don't like having them. Iwish
you would keep them yourself"
Bother" said Ralph, land father has
gone to bed. He can't put them back
into his safe, and he keeps the key him
self. Where is the bag they go ing''
Aurelia said that she had seen him
put it behind certain jar on the chin
neypiece in the morning room, and Car,
went for it, she following him with 8
candle, as all the lamps had been put
out. They presently returned with it
and Ralph, who bad been collecting al
the jewels spread over the table, shovel
ed them in with little ceremony.
"Bother," he said, again looking
round and swinging the bag, what on
earth am to do with them3 All, we'll
here goes.' and he opened a side drawer
in massive writing table and showed
the bag in.
"There," he said, locking it and put
ting the key in his pocket hey vii
do very well there till tomorrow. Are
you content now, Aurelia?'
"Oh, yes," she said, lam if you are.
And she babe us good night and follow
ed in theNwake of the others, who vert
really under way at last.
AS we all tramped YEARLY up stair.
to the smoking room l saw Charles
draw Ralph aside and whisper some
thing to him.
"Nonsense!' l heard Ralph say. "Saf,
enough. Besides, who would suspec
their being there? Just as safe as in th,
strong box. Brahma lock. Won't b,
bothered any more about them"
Charles shrugged his shoulders ani
marched off to bed. Ralph and Car
likewise went off shortly afterward Il
their rooms in the lodge. Carr looked
tired to death. went down with them
at Ralph's request, to lock the door be
| hind them, as all the servants had gon
to bed.
1t was a fine night, still and cold, will
a bright moon. 1t had evidently beef
showing afresh, for there was not |
trace Of wheels upon the ground, but i
had ceased now.
Goodnight" called Ralph and Car
as they went down the steps together.
watched the two figures for a momen
in the moonlight, their footsteps maxim.
a double track in the untrodden snow
The cold was intense. l drew bacl
shivering and locked and bolted tn
door.