Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-18

contrast, like q picture painted and framed. The other girls all wore their hair after the fashion introduced to Canaan by Mamie Pike the week be- fore on her return from visit to Chi cago. None of them had "crimped' and none had bedecked their tresses with artificial flowers. Her alterations of the wedding dress had not been sue cessful: the skirt was too short in front and higher on one side than on the oth- CT, showing too plainly the heavy soled shoes, which had lost their polish in the walk through the snow. The ribbon TO- settes were fully revealed, and as she glanced at their reflection she 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 handkerchicfs over their mouths and retreat hurriedly to m alcove. All the feet in the room except ArieFs were in dainty kid or satin slippers of the color of the dresses from which they glim- mered 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 in 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 aunts were haled forth O nights to duenna the junketings of youth. Ariel sat conspicuously alone. There was nothing else for her to do. ], It was not an easy matter.
 ! Once or twice between the dances she saw Miss Pike speak appealingly to one of the super1uous, glancing at the same time ill her own direction, and Ariel could see, too, that the appeal proved unsuccessful, until at last Ma mic approached her leading Norbert Flitcroft partly by the hand. partly by will power. Norbert was an excessively fat boy and at the present moment looked as patient as the blind. But he asked Ariel if she was engaged for the next dance'' and, Mamie having fitted away, stood disconsolately be- side her waiting for the music to begin. Ariel was grateful for him.
 The orchestra fourished into "I.a Paloma;' he put his arm mournfully about her and, taking her right hand with his left, carried her arm out-to a rigid right angle, beginning to pump and balance for time. They made three false starts and then got away. Ariel danced badly; she hopped and lost the step, but they persevered, pumping against other couples contin. ually.
 She caught her partner making a
 burlesque face of suffering over hel
 shoulder and, turning her head quick ' ly, saw for whose benefit he had con
 structed it. Eugene Bantry, flying ex
 pertly by with Mamie, was bestowins
 upon MT. Flitcroft a condescendingly
 commiserative wink. The next in
 stant she ripped in her train and fel
 to the floor at Eugene's feet, carrying
 her partner with her.
 There was a shout of laughter. Tht
 young hostess stopped Eugene, wht
 would have gone on, and he had nt
 choice but to stoop to Ariel's assist
 ance.
 Tt seems to be habit of mine,
 she said, laughing loudly.
 She did not appear to see the hant
 he offered, but got to her feet with out help and walked quickly ava. with Norbert, who proceeded to liv up to the character he had given him , self.
 Perhaps we had better not try , again." she laughed.
 . "Well, should think not" he re turned, with the frankest gloom
 With the air of conducting her hom
 he took her to the chair against tn . wall whence he had brought hel , There his responsibility for her seen
 ed to cease. twill you excuse me? ! he asked, and there was no doubt tha r he felt that he had been given nor . than his share that evening, eve a though he was fat.
 Ariel sat through more dances. il !. terminable dances and intermissions. 1 ,- that same chair, in which, 1t began f seem, she was to live out the rest (
 her life. Now and then if she thougi d people were looking at her as the F. passed she broke into laugh and no'
 ded slightly, as if still amused over h' e mishap.
 il After long time she rose and, laug V ing cheerfully to Mir. Flitcroft, wi d was standing in the doorway and r e piled with wan smile. stepped o1 e quickly into the hall, where she almo $ ran into her greatuncle, Jonas Tabo # He was going toward the big frol n doors with Judge Pike, having ju F. come out of the latter's library, dow r. the hall.
 E. Jonas was breathing heavily and wi F. shockingly pale. though his eyes we
 very bright. He turned his back up' le his grandniece sharply and went o r. of the door. Ariel turned from hi IS quite as abruptly and re-entered t
 room whence she had come. She laue
 ed again to her fat friend as she pass
 him and, still laughing. went iowa r. the fatal chair. when her eyes caug d. sight of Eugene Bantry and Man rs coming in through the window. s or went to the window and looked o' '. The porch seemed deserted and W te faintly illuminated by few Japane Id lanterns. She sprang out. dropped up