The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1907-05-02

II noon over her mothers we'd
| ! ding gown, and two hours
4 n were required by her toilet for
the dance. She curled her hair frizzily.
burning it here and there. with a slate
De sought LOT IKE oIner girls.
1t was in the Pike dressing room that
the change began to come. There was
a big cheval glass at one end of the
room, and she faced it when her turn
came-for the mirror was popular
with sinking spirit. There was the
contrast. like 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 a 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 9TH
er, showing too plainly the heavy soled
shoes, which had lost their polish in the
walk through the snow. The ribbon ro-
|
glanced at their reflection she heard
the words, Look at that train and
those rosettesr' whispered behind her
and saw in the mirror two pretty
young women turn away with their
handkerchiefS over their mouths and
retreat hurriedly to an alcove. All the
feet in the room except Ariels 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 a hanging
thread in her sleeve.
| Ariel sat in one of the chairs against
the wall and watched the dancers with
smile of eager and benevolent inter-
est. In Canaan no parents, no guard
ians, no aunts were hailed 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 SuperfluouS, glancing at
the same time in 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-
Ariel was grateful for him.
The orchestra fourished into La
] 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 hoped and
lost the step, but they persevered,
| humping against other couples contin-
ually.
She caught her partner making a
burlesque face of suffering over her
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 bestowing
| upon Mr.. Flitcroft a condescendingly
| commiserative wink. The next in
slant she tripped in her train and fell
| to the floor at Eugene's feet, carrying
her partner with her.
There was a shout Of laughter. The
young hostess stopped Eugene, who
would have gone on, and he had no
choice but to stoop to Ariel's assist
ance.
1T seems to be habit of mine,'
she said, laughing loudly.
She did not appear to see the hand
he offered, but got to her feet with
out help and walked quickly away
with Norbert, who proceeded to live
up to the character he had given him
self.
Perhaps we had better not try it
| again." she laughed.
swell, should think not" he re-
| turned, with the frankest gloom.
With the air of conducting her home
he took her to the chair against the
wall whence he had brought her.
There his responsibility for her SEEM
ed to cease. "Will you excuse me?'
he asked, and there was no doubt that
he felt that he had been given more
than his share that evening, even
though he was fat.
Ariel sat through more dances, in
| terminable dances and intermissions, In
that same chair, in which, 1t began to
seem, she was to live out the rest Of
her life. Now and then If she thought
people were looking at her as they
passed she broke into a laugh and nod
ded slightly, as II still amused over her
mishap.
After long time she rose and, laugh
ing cheerfully to Mr.. Flitcroft, who
was standing in the doorway and re-
piled with a wan smile, stepped out
quickly into the hall, where she almost
ran into her greatuncle. Jonas Tabor.
He was going toward the big front
doors with Judge Pike, having just
come out Of the latter's library, down
| the hall.
Jonas was breathing heavily and was
shockingly pale, though his eyes were
very bright. He turned his back upon
his grandniece sharply and went out
Of the door. Ariel turned from him