Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-02-09
CHAPTER III.

A1.AsiasaS tWCSA Cul III SlaIS, ulSSON-
cred single brilliant and resonant
spot, set in the midst of the dark, quiet
town like a jeweled music box on a
black cloth, for that night was the be-
ginning of Miss Betty's famous career
as the belle of Rouen and was the date
from which strangers were to hear Of
her as 1.-THE beautiful Miss Carewe" I'M
til beautiful was left off, visitors to
the town being supposed to have heard
Mt least that much before they came.
There had been much discussion Of
her, though only one or two had caught
glimpses of her, but most of the gal
lants appeared to agree with Crailey
Gray, who aired his opinion in an ex-
ceedingly casual way at the little club
on Main street. Mr.. Gray held that
when the daughter of man as rich as
Bob Carewe was heralded as beauty
the chances were that she would prove
disappointing, and, for his part, he was
not even interested enough to attend
and investigate. So he was going down
the river III canoe and preferred the
shyness of bass to that Of girl Of
eighteen just from the convent, he said
| Tom Nanreyel was not present on the
occasion of these remarks, and the gem
eral concurrence with Crailey may be
suspected as a purely verbal one, since
when the evening came two of the most
enthusiastic dancers and lovemakers Of
the town, the handsome Tappingham
Marsh and that doughty ex-dragoon
and Indian fighter, stout old General
Trumble, were upon the field before the
enemy appeared-that Is to say, they
We're in the new ballroom before their
host; indeed, the musicians had not ar
rived, and Nelson, an aged negro serv-
itor, was engaged in lighting the house.
The crafty pair had planned this ear
~ descent with a view to monopoly by
right of priority in case the game prov
ed worth the candle, and they were
leaning effectively against the little
railing about the musicians platform
when Mr.. Carewe entered the room
with his daughter on his arm.
| She was in white touched with count
less small lavender flowers. There
were rows and rows of wonderful silk
and lace founces on her skirt, and her
fan hung from rope of great pearls.
All, hideous, blue rough cloth Of the
convent, unforgotten, but laid aside
forever, what chrysalis you were!
Tappingham twitched his compan-
ions sleeve. but the general was al
ready posing, and neither heard the
words Of presentation, because Miss
Betty gave each Of them quick look,
then smiled upon them as they bowed.
The slayers We're Frustrated before
their prey. Never were lady killers
more instantaneously tanned and subju-
gated by the power of the feminine
eye. Will Cummings came in soon,
and, almost upon his heels, Eugene
Madrillon and young Frank Cheno-
weth. No others appeared for half an
hour, and the five gentlemen looked at
one another aside, each divining his
own diplomacy in his fellows eye, and
each laberiously explaining to the 9TH
ers his own mistake in. regard to the
hour designated upon Mr.. Carewe's
cards Of invitation. This small embar-
rassment, however, did not prevent
General Trumble and young Mr.. Chen
oweth from coming to high words over
Miss Carewe's little gilt filigree "pro-
gramme" Of dances.
1t may be not untimely to remark
also of these five redoubtable beaux
that during the evening it occurred to
every one of them to be glad that Grail
ley Gray was betrothed to Fanchon
Bareaud, and that he was down on the
Rouen river with canoe, rod and a
tent. Nay, without more words, to de-
clare the truth in regard to Crailey,
they felt greater security in his alb
sence from the field than in his be-
trothal. AS Mr.. Chenoweth, youth as
open as out Of doors both in counte-
nance and mind, observed plaintively
to Tappingham Marsh In a corner,
while they watched Miss Betty's laven-
der flowers miraculously swirling
through quadrille, "Crailey, you
know-well, Crailey's been engaged be-
fore" 1t was not Mr.. Chenoweth's
habit to disguise his apprehensions,
and Crailey Gray would not fish for
bass forever
The same Chenoweth was he who,
maddened by the generals triumphant
~ familiar way Of toying with Miss
Betty's fan between two dances, at
tempted to propose to her during the
sunrise waltz. Having sung "Oh, be-
lieve mew in her ear as loudly as he
could, he expressed the wish, quite as
loudly, "that this waltz might last for
alwaysp
/ That was the seventh time 1t had
been said to Betty during the night,
and, though Mr.. Chenoweth's predeces-
sors had revealed their desires in a
guise lacking this prodigious artless-
ness, she already possessed no novel &C.
luaintance with the exclamation. but
she made no comment Her partners
style was not stimulant to repartee.
1T would be heaven" he amplifled
earnestly; sit would be heaven to dance
with you forever-on a desert isle
where the others couldn't Gomez he
finished with sudden acerbity as his eye
caught the generals.
lie proceeded, and only the cessation
Of the music aided Miss Carewe in stop
ping the declaration before 1t was al
together out, and at that point Franks
own father came to her rescue, though
In fashion little saving of her con
fusion. The elder Chenowsth was one
of the gallant and kindly southern col
ony that made 1t natural for Rouen al
ways to speak Of Miss Carewe as Miss
Betty. He was handsome old fellow