Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-10-20
A DRESDEN
SHEPHERDESS,
The Wolf That Saw Her and
Made Her His Own.
Ry r B. WRIGHT,

stupid and mut1nOuS ana at tue WUfSt
time had come a supervisor to criti-
else the lack of discipline. Miss Win
throp was too young, he 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, for
there were to be garden party and
masquerade at the Stonington place
near by. From the window she could
overlook the grounds, all a-twinkle
with innumerable Japanese lan,erns;
see the house itself, its lighted porches,
it's windows lively with many colored
passing figures, and watch the ladies
arriving at the entrance and floating
In like white moths out of the summer
night
At first it was enough just to sit
hearing the swing and rhythm Of the
faint dance music. But little by little
came over her longing to have some
part in the gayety her whole young
spirit craved. 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
so far off. and yet only two years sep
arated them from the present. Now
life was so different-no more girlhOOd,
nj
clothes or jolly parties. That last one,
the one just before her father died
that had been bal masQue too. The
costume was in her trunk nOw-aS if
she would ever get the chance to wear
it again!
set her heart humping. Why not go
to this one? Only for moment 1t
was masquerade. No one would
know her She could slip in through
the shrubbery unObserved, mingle with
the crowd and then The plan was
garnet window.
Two hours later Cicely-no, not Cice-
ly, but a Dresden china shepherdess-
who had stolen away from her own
life and forgotten all it's cares, found
herself one of a hundred or two other
gay, fantastic conundrums, who chat
ted, laughed, banded repartee, f1irted
in obscure corners, sat on shadow
porches or glided beneath soft lights
10 90
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, filled 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 If she,
too, belonged to the party.
Once in the swirl Of a waltz she
caught sight of herself in 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 floor as lightly as any thistledown.
That was what her last partner had
said, cavalier Of Charles H., when at
the end of a dance they were sitting in
the dimly lighted conservatory.
"Thistledown. l believe that's what
you are, or else fairy. No shepherd
ess could dance as you do, not even
one out of Vatican. and, besides, where
are your sheep? You haven't even one
little innocent snow white lamb
I've escaped for moment from
them
"Faithless shepherdess! Aren't you
afraid of wolves?'
lawfully. One came into the sheep
fold today, very savage one"
The poor lambs. My heart bleeds"-
1T needn't. They only eat shep-
herdesses."
THE brutes! Do you have to fight
them single handed?"
Cicely nodded. Its hard some
tines
Don't you need an assistant shep-
herd to help? l like to kill wolves,
and l adore sheep and-shepherdess-
es."
You wouldn't if you could see them
as they really are. The lambs are not
bit adorable. only stupid and tire
some, and the shepherdess-shed be
wearing a shabby gown and big shoes
and her hair Untitled. No; you'd best
remain with the court"
Hang the court! I'd heaps rather
be shepherd. Won't you take me on
trial?'
There was just note OF earnestness
in the cavaliers voice, and Cicely tried
to turn it away lightly. II don't think
you would do at all. You are much
| too fine gallant"
II may not be as fine as SEEM" he
| returned. Il may be something quite
different"
That's it. You might be a wolf,