Smyrna times., 1911-04-19
The Blue ~
Brocade Dress

pretty Anita Craven. 81 shall see
Rupert at all events.''
eff you go to the ball." snapped
Anita's aunt, Grossly, "Rupert's
people will see you-and incident
ally, snub you. Also you will want
a new frock. Her old one, Inez, is
too disgraceful.
'It she goes to the ball." an
swered gentle Mrs. Craven's sweet
voice, "she will look as charming
as anyone, despite her old frock.
And Rupert will be there as she
says, which will be compensation
for both the frock and the snubs-if
there are any. l hardly think
Captain Birkett will allow my
daughter to be snubbed by his fam
lily, Alicia.
Alicia, Lady Broome, shifted. She
herself had three exceedingly plain
and awkward daughters, AMI she re-
sented her niece's youthful pretti-
ness and grace as distinct slight
to herself on the part of Providence.
Her mother, looking at her as she
stood on the great evening, ready
to depart, could almost have fancied
that the years had rolled back, and
that the radiant figure in the pale
blue brocade and powdered hair, who
curtsied laughingly before her, was
Inez Wynncotte who had dreamed
rosy dreams of the future on just
such another night a score of years
ago.
She was thinking of the night
across the years when she had
danced so gaily in the dress Anita
wore tonight. He had been there,
the handsome young soldier lover who
had given her the fan she treasured
yet. And his family had snubbed
the girl who had no dover except the
pretty face, just as Rupert Birkett' s
people held aloof fom Anita.
History was repeating itself, as
Alicia Broome' had said. But Inez
Wynncott had resented the attitude e
of Gerald Blandford's family, and
resented still more the fact that
Gerald had given to those naughty
aunts and cousins some of the time
he might have spent with her on
that memorable evening. She had
revenged herself by flirting wildly
with Craven, whom Gerald hated.
The result had been a.quarrel.
Both had said regrettable things,
And Gerald had changed into ar
outward-bound regiment before his
temper had had time to cool, and she
had married the Honorable Dick wht
had drunk himself into poverty anC
death within five years.
| "Do you mind sitting this out
darling?" whispered Rupert Birk.
ett, as he rescued Anita from tn,
clutches of a. hunting squire VIII,
was endeavoring 10 convince her tha
the next waltz was certainly his
"Come into the conservatory, Anit
My uncle, the Colonel, has just ar
rived and l want you to know him
He's the dearest old boy in tn
world and a jolly good pal to me
He's sure to love you, and he'll hell
to bring the matter round. How
ripping you look tonight, darling
to be sure"
He led her to seat in a veri
table fairy bower of flowers. "H
was talking to the Duchess, jus
now. I'll go and fetch him.
He went and the girl, leanil
back in her cosy corner. smile
happily. What a dear boy Ruper
was, and what happy time she wa
, having. She wondered what he
mother was doing, and suddenl
thought of her mothers fan.
: To her horror, she found it wa
. gonel She must have dropped i
Mothers fan, the priced possessic
of 20 years. She must find it. St
sprang to her feet and wandere
along the sweet-smelling alley {
l flowers, seeking the lost treasur
with anxious eyes.
i A dance was in full swing nov
and the conservatory was almost d.
serted. Yet the fan was not to |
seen. Anita, really upset, raise
her eyes from the ground, ar
j paused to consider where the fl
could possibly be.
II AS she did so, she became AVA
of a man who stood a few pac
ahead, his back turned toward he
His hend was bent; apparently
was intent upon something he he
Y in his hand. 1t occurred to Ami
that he might have found the pre-
ious fan. At all events, the
could be no harm in asking him.
y "Oh, please, have you found n
Ell fan? have lost it, she said, al
- at the sound of her voice the stran