Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-02-15
CHAPTER vi.

Every vehicle that can, by the ex-
tremest courtesy, be termed fly, is In
requisition; every household which,
by a similar courtesy can be called
respectable, is in a ferment.
No other event, not even the cleo
ton can vie in interest with the an
nual county ball for is it not the hap
ply hunting ground upon which all the
county can meet on an equality
coutry squires, farmers, magistrates,
and lords of the manor?
1t is the one event which stirs the
county to its core, and has an inter-
est for gentle and simple alike.
In correct evening dress, with dia-
monds glittering in his shirt-front and
at his wrists, Mr. Dalton PAGES up
and down the hall over and over
again glancing at his heavy repeater
and glancing up the broad stairs.
1t is five minutes past the time at
which they had arranged to start, and
as yet there is no sign of Miss Dalton.
A fly-Mrs Goeffrey does not
possess a carriage-pulls up at the
door, and that lady, in all the bravery
of black satin and ancient diamonds,
enters the hall
Not ready YETI" she exclaims
"Punctuality is feature of the coun-
ty ball, my dear Mr.. Dalton"
I'm ready; I'm waiting for May;
he says, pathetically; land May never
was and never will be punctual"
Let me go up to her" says Mrs
Turner, and ascending the broad
stairs, she knocks at Mays door.
Come in" cries that pert young
ady's voice, and Mrs. Godfrey Turner
entering, sees her protege standing be
fore the glass, while the French maid
is lacing the white satin dress. and
Carrie is stretching the white gloves
Not ready, my dear!" exclaims the
old lady.
NO" says May curtly. 81 should
have been ready half an hour ago if
they would have allowed me to dress
myself, but they wouldn't. Are we
late?"
MY dear left your father literally
Tuning in the hall"
Don't let that alarm you, papa al
ways does fume-he likes it."
Then the last hole having been at
,,ined, she turns and confronts them.
Carrie on her knees, leans back in
apeechless admiration, and even Mrs.
Godfrey Turner can find no words
for the moment.
Pretty and piquant at all times, May
il IoOlSiuur her hest tonight
1t is wonderful how white satin, with
simple flower in the hair, will
heighten a young girls beauty.
With her sweet, oval face, and soft
brown eyes set off by the exquisite
dress. May burst like vision upon
them.
Even Mrs Gecffrey Turner is salts.
fed.
Come, my DEAR" she says. in awed
accents. 'your father is waiting. How
well you look"
why. satin is better that sackcloth
and ashes. after ALL" says May: what
a nuisance eight-button gloves are!
There, that is the last of them. Good
by, Carrie! I'll tell you everything
that happens. What are you staring
at, child?"
cat yout7 says Carrie, open eyed.
oh. you look beautiful. positively
beautiful Doesn't she, Mrs. Turner?"
"Humph! well enough Come, we
shall be late"
Then they go down to Mr.. Dalton
tuning and fussing in the hall, and
the two footmen usher them into the
carriage ard shut the door with a
bang, and they start.
Thanks to May they are late, and
by the time they reach the Town Hall
they find that the staircase is crowd
ed by noble army of young men,
who. bashful until they warm to it,
prefer to cling about the entrance to
entering the May dance.
Mrs. Geofrey Turner pilots them
through this and they enter the bali
room.
1t is Mays first ball For all her
self-assurance this is new expert
ence for her.
The dazzling lights and rich dresses
break upon her vision for the first
time-for the first time she enters a
veritable ballroom.
The ball is divided into two parts
At the bottom and by far the coolest
and most comfortable part of the
room. congregate the nobodies the
farmers and small people, the herd
that does not belong to the Crawford
society. Through this Mrs. Geoffrey
Turner has to fight her way, and af
ter a long and qrduous struggle, she
reaches the upper end of the room.
There. enthrOned on velvet fauteuils,
sit the elite of Crawford, and to this
privilege part Mrs Godfrey Turner
fights her way.
There is no cord drawn, as at some
similar assemblies. but the distinction
was quite as marked. At the upper
and worst ventilated part of the room
IS stationed the aristocracy-at the
lower and by far the healthier part
twirI the commoners
Pulling and insinuating. Mrs. GeOf-
frey Turner makes her way, and the
goal is reached.
Late as it is. the Letchfords. the i'm
portant people. have not arrived.
Rumors of Miss Vavasour's attendance
have gone forth. and the elite are on
the riptoe Of curiosity and expectancy.
Is e possible that she viii not grace