The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-31
CHAPTER Nv.

RIEI had worked all tho after.
"A noon over her mothers wed
ding gown, and two hours
= were required by her toilet for
the dance. Sho curled her hair frixxIiy.
burning II here and there. with u slate
pencil heated over lamp chimney, and
she placed above one ear three or four
large artificial roses. taken from an old
hat Of her mother's. which she had
found In trunk In the Htorcr0oin.
Possessing no slippers, she carefully
blncked and polished her shoes. which
had been cluinsily reaoled. and fasten.
<ed into the strings Of each small
roscttcs OF red ribbon. after which she
prncticed swinging the train of her
skirt until she was proud Of her ina.
nipulatl0n OF II. She had no powder.
but found In her grandfather's room n
lump OF mngnesln that he was In the
habit or taking for heartburn and pass
cd IL over and over her brown face and
hands. Then lingering gaxe into her
small mirror gave her Joy nj last. She
yearned no hard 10 see herself charm.
ing that she did mea herself no. Ai.
mirntion came. and she told herself
that she was more attractive 10 look NJ
than she had ever been In her life and
that perhapa at last she might begin 10
be sought for iike other girls.
II was In the Pike dressing room that
tho change began 10 come. There was
a biz cheval glass at one end Of the
room. and shc faced II when her turn
camc~~for the mirror was popular
with sinking spirit. There was the
contrast. like picture painted and
framed. The other girls all wore their
hHir after the fashion introduced to
pCannan by Mamie Pike the week be.
fore ON her return from a visit to Chi.
cago, None OF them had "crimped"
and mono had bedecked their tresses
with artificial flowers. Her alterations
Of tho wedding dress had not been sue.
cessfnl: the skirt was too short In front
and higher on one side than on tho 9th.
sr. showing too plainly the heavy scled
shoes. which hnd lost their polish in the
walk through the snow. Tho ribbon TO
settles were fully revealed. and 40 she
glanced az thek reflection .sshs heard
the words. Look at that train and
those rosettes!' whispered behind her
and saw In the mirror two pretty
young women turn away with their
handkerchlefa over their mouths and
retreat hurrIediy to IN alcoye. All the
feet In tho room except Ariel's were iu
dainty kid or satin slippers OF the color
OF the dresses from which they glIm.
raered out, and only Ariel wore train.
She went away from the mirror and
pretended TO be busy with hanging
thread In her sleeve.
Ariel sat Ia one OF the chairs against
the wall and watched the dancers with
Q smile Of eager and benevolent inter.
est In Canaan no parents. no guard. |
ians. no atints were hailed forth o
nights TO duenna the junketIngs Of |
youth Ariel sat consplcuously alone.
There was nothing else for her 10 do.
II was not an easy matter.
Once Or twice between the dances
she saw Miss Pike speak appealingiy
to one Of the supernuous, gianclng at
the same time In her own direction.
and Ariel could see, too, that the appeal
proved unsuccessful, until at last Mn /
mile approached her leading Norbert
Flltcroft partly by tie hand, partly ty
will power. Norbert was az excessively
fat boy aud at the present nomen,
looked ns patient ~ the blind. Eut be
asked Arie! II she was engaged for
The next dance and, Mamie. having
alttei away. stood Gisconsolately be,
side her waiting t9g the music to beg j.