The broad ax., 1910-11-19
4 DRESDEN
SHEPHERDESS,
The Wolf That Saw Her and
Made Her His Own.
BY 2. 3. WRIGHT.


1t had been a hard day for the Httle
schoolmIstress. The children had been
stupid and mutInous and at the worst
time had come a supervisor to criti-
else the lack Of discipline. Miss Win
throp was too young, be had said.
! Perhaps the board should get a more
experienced teacher.
What that meant Cicely did not dare
to think, and now, crouched in the
darkness by the garnet window, she
was trying to forget her worries, fol
there were to be a garden party and
masquerade at the StOnington place
! near by. From the window she could
overlook the grounds, all a-twlnkle
with innumerable japanese lanterns;
see the house itself, its lighted porches,
fits windows lively with many colored
passing figures, and watch the ladies
arriving at the entrance and floating
in IKE white moths out Of the summer
night.
At first It was enough just to sit
there. head on sill, watching IL all and
hearing the swing and rhythm Of the
faint dance music. But little by little
came over her a longing to have some
part In the gayety her whole young
spirit crayed. She was young too.
She was pretty. as her mirror told
her. She had loved dancing in the old
days. All. those days! They seemed
80 far OF, and yet only two years sep
arated them from the present. Now
life was so diferent-no more girlhood,
no more pleasure, no more pretty
clothes or jolly parties. That last one,
the one just before her father died
that had been a bal masque too. The
costume was in her trunk now-as II
she would ever get the chance to wear
IT again.
And yet why not? A sudden thought
set her heart humping. Why not 60
to this one? Only for a moment. It
was a masquerade. No one would
know her. She could slip in through
the shrubbery unobserved, mingle with
the crowd and then The plan was
very dazzling to the little girl In the
garnet window
Two hours later Cicely-no, not Cice-
", but a Dresden china shepherdess-
who had stolen away from her own
life and forgotten all its cares, found
herself one Of hundred or two other
gay, fantastic conundrums, who chat
ted, laughed, banded repartee, flirted
ntn.-Fa - -
pOrches or glided beneath soft lights
to the dreamy music Of a hidden or
chestra.
The life and movement, the kaleido-
scopic play Of color, the sheen and
luster Of silk and satin, the CLEAN Of
snowy arms and shoulders. the fra
GRANGE of flowers. the admiration Of
her partners, filed the girls heart with |
delight, and her courage rose to the |
occasion. She was surprised to find |
how behind the protection Of her mask |
she could act her part even as II she, |
too, belonged to the party.
Once in the swirl of a waltz she |
caught sight Of herself in a long mir
ror and doubted her eyes. Could that |
be she, that dainty. graceful madcap |
with her cheeks flushed. her eyes spar
king through the Sits in her visor,
her hair in golden disorder at her neck
that Cicely Winthrop, with her own
living to make and shabby clothes to
wear? And the music-it seemed to
lift her on its wings and bear her over
the door as lightly as any thistledown.
That was what her last partner had
said, a cavalier Of Charles H., when at