Amador ledger., 1904-04-15
A Drerden
Shepherdess
By F. B. Wright
Copyright. 1908, by t. c. Mcclure.

O@O1O@O@O@O@O O~O@O~O~O@O9S
1t had been a hard day for the little
Bchoolmistress. The children had been
stupid and mutinous and at the worst
time had come a supervisor to criti-
else the lack of discipline. Miss Win
throp was too young, he had said
Perhaps the board should get a more
experienced teacher.
What that meant Cicely did not dare
to think, and now, crouched in the
darkness by the garret window, she
was trying to forget her worries, for
there was to be a garden party and
masquerade at the Stonington place
near by. From the window she could
overlook the grounds, all twinkle
with innumerable Japanese lanterns;
see the house itself, its lighted porches,
its windows lively with many colored
passing figures, and watch the ladies
arriving at the entrance and floating
in like white moths out of the summer
night
At first it was enough just to sit
there, head on sill, watching it all and
hearing the swing and rhythm of the
faint dance music. But little by little
came over her longing to have some
part in the gayety her whole young
spirit craved. She was young too.
She was pretty-as her mirror told her.
She had loved dancing in the old days.
All, those days! They seemed so far
off, and yet only two years separated
them from the present. Now life was
so different-no more girlhood, no more
pleasure, no more pretty clothes or
jolly parties. That last one, the one
just before her father died-that had
been bal masque too. The costume
was in her trunk now-as if she would
ever get the chance to wear it again!
And yet, why not? A sudden thought
set her heart humping Why not go
to this one? Only for a moment. 1t
was q masquerade. No one would
know her. She could slip in through
the shrubbery unobserved, mingle with
the crowd and then The plan was
very dazzling to the little girl in the
garret window.
Two hours later Cicely-no, not Cice-
ly, but Il Dresden china shepherdess-
who had stolen away from her own
life and forgotten all it's cares. found
herself one of a hundred or two other
gay, fantastic conundrums, who chat
ted, laughed, banded repartee, fiirted
in obscure corners, sat on shadow
porches or glided beneath soft lights
to the dreamy music of a hidden or
chestra.
The life and movement, the kaleido-
scopic play of color, the sheen and
luster of silk and satin, the gleam of
snowy arms and shoulders, the fra
GRANGE Of flowers, the admiration of
her partners, filled the girls heart with
delight, and her courage rose to the
how behind the protection of her mask
she could act her part even as if she,
too, belonged to the party.
Once in the swirl of q waltz she
caught sight Of herself in long mir
ror and doubted her eyes. Could that
be she, that dainty, graceful madcap
with her cheeks flushed, her eyes spar
king through the Sits in her visor.
her hair in golden disorder at her neck
that Cicely Winthrop, with her own
living to make and shabby clothes to
wear? And the music-it seemed to
lift her on its wings and bear her over
the floor as lightly as any thistledown
That was what her last partner had
said, cavalier of Charles IL, when at
the end of dance they were sitting in
the dimly lighted conservatory.
'Thistledown! / believe that's what
you are. or else fairy. No shepherd
ess could dance as you do, not even
one out Of Watteau, and besides where
Rre your sheep? You haven't even one
little innocent snow white lamb!'
I've escaped for a moment from
them"
"Faithless shepherdess! Aren't you
afraid of wolves?"
lawfully! One came into the sheep
fold today, very savage one."
1.-THE poor lambs! My heart bleeds"-
at needn't. They only eat shepherd
esses''
1.-THE brutes! Do you have to fight
them single handedT
Cicely nodded TITS hard some
times"
Don't you need an assistant shep-
herd to help? like to kill wolves, and
adore sheep and-shepherdesses."
you wouldn't if you could see them
as they really are, The lambs are not
a bit adorable, only stupid and tire
some, and the shepherdess-she'd be
wearing a shabby gown and big shoes
and her hair Untitled. No; you'd best
remain with the court"
Hang the court! I'd heaps rather
be a shepherd. Won't you take me on
trialT'
There was just a note Of earnestness
In the cavaliers voice, and Cicely tried
to turn it away lightly. Il don't think
you would do at all, You are much too
fine a gallant"
II may not be as fine as l seem," he
returned. II may be something quite
different"
That's 1t. You might be wolf, you
know, and then what would happen to
my flock? No; can't take the risk"
"Then when is the shepherdess COM
ing to court again7"
Never. I'm afraid. You see, she's
only allowed one evening off in years,
and, besides. she has no court costume.
Oh, this-a fairy godmother touched the
shabby gown and the big shoes and
When the night is over they change
back eS they were"