The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-12-26
CHAPTER XIV
THE RED DOMINO.

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Fashionable hours were early In the
days OF Queen Anne, andAit was a
WeI-known fact that the imperions
sarah Churchill did not easily pardon
the slight of unpNnctuality at her en-
tertalnments. So by 8 O'Clock the
gorgeous drawing-rooms were we'll
filled and the steady stream OF rank
and beauty poured up the great stair
case as fast as chariots and chairs
could discharge their glittering loads.
The sight was a dazzling one; every
nationality, every celebrity was repre-
ssnteda Cardinals paid court to Clip
sizes, Gharlemagne and Henry the VIII.
commended for favor OF Helen OF
Troy, and In front OF the dais upon
which h duchess stood unmasked. to
recetyas her guests, an endless process
sion passed, Of monks and devils, kings
and clowns. swashbucklers, nuns.
fairies, prfncesses. aHegorical and
NEUROLOGICAL personages-a yeritable
phantasmagoria. In which the mask
cealment as the wearer desired, but
no more "
A ripple OF laughter or a murmur
OF edmiration at frequent intervals an
nounced the arrival Of some specially,
brilliant or humorous masker. and
when the crowd was at It's densest. q
couple approached the dais. followed by
- as ~ COMMITMENTS. L- VI
Foremost came Prue, dressed as a
sh~epneTdess Over a skirt of her
grandmother's priceless lace. she wore
a. Watteau dress of white silk. bro
caded with punches or rosebuds
and forget-ne-nots, and codilettishIy
perched upon her luxuriant curls was
a little straw hat, adorned with a
wreath OF roses and a flowing knot Of
blue ribbon. The pearl-embroidered
gloves covered her hands. ia one az
which n carried a crook all laced
with fluttering ribbons. and In the
other Q snkenl cor, by which she led
Peggie, admirably disguised as a
ianlbi Of gigantic growth. to be sure,
nj delightfully."- and gracefully gro
tesque as she ambled and n be-
side the little shepherdess, who an ey-
cry other step, stopped Il caress and
encourages her.
The little procession was 30 IRE.
sisttbly funny that the duchess. at
first rather disturbed by the rising tide
Or n applause, as soon as
she set eyes Upon the cause of it.
Joined In with the utmost heartiness'
and even p queen, who sat beside her
In q chair OF state, vouchsafed a smile
or genuine amusement, rare enough
upon the face Of that woman Of few
emotions.
Dancing was going on in the great
DA1ohAt bhl NTu6 TeIuSoQ TO dance.
II dare not leave my lamb at the
mercy OF all these WoIVes.p she de-
clared. In a falsetto voice that de-
cefved mo- one, rs there no grassy
nook where ! can repose. while my pet
frolics round me?"
Certainly" said a voice, which she
recognized as Sir Geoffrey's. There
are secluded retreats In the conserva-
tories sacred to Chloris and her
flock -T7l
Including Strephon? No, thank
you" and warning him off with her
crook, she roamed about, launching
the harmless arrows OF her ready wit
against such of the guests as she rec
ognized, or pretended to.
Presently O voice began to murmur
close behind her
Her hair, T..
In ringlets rather dark than fair,
Does down her ivory bosom roll.
And hiding half, adorn the whole.
In her high forehead's fair h~aIf-round
Love sits In open triumph crown'd.
Her lips, no living bard, i weet,
say how red. how round, how
sweet"
'Oh. hush!" cried Prue, In q great
~flutter: how could you be so rash7
You will be recognized" She turned
a quick, timid glance backward, and
was promptly reassured. The tall,
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