Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-09-19


The last half of the program was we'll
under way. Never had girl been moro
complimented and petted in the same
length Of time than Edith Carr. A
partners dance was called and the
floor was filed with couples waiting
for the music. Ammon stood whisper.
ing delightful things to Edith facing
him. From out af the night, in at the
wide front entrance to the pavilion
there swept in slow, wavering fight q
great yellow moth and futtered toward
the center cluster Of glaring electric
lights.
why. isn't thatT"- she began ex-
citedly.
"It's q yellow Emperor! This is
fatew cried Ammon. 1.-THE last one
Elnora needs for her collection. /
must have it! Excuse me-"
He ran toward the light. Hats!
Handkerchiefs! Fans! Anything" he
painted. Every n hold up some
thing and stop that!!"
HE wants it for Edith" ran in a
murmur around the hall. The girls
face flushed, while she bit her lip in
vexation. Instantly every one began
holding up something to keep the moth
from flying back into the night. One
fan held straight before it served, and
the moth gently settled on it.
"Hold steady" cried Ammon. Don't
nov for your life" He rushed to-
ward the moth. made a quick sweep
and held it up between his fingers.
Gall right" he called. Thanks, ev-
cry one! Excuse me a minute"
He raj to the Office.
can ounce of gasoline, quick!" he
ordered. "a cigar box. a cork and the
glue bottle"
He poured some glue into the bot
tom Of the box, set the cork in it firm
ly, dashed the gasoline over the moth
repeatedly, pinned it to the cork, pour
ed the remainder Of the liquid over it,
closed the box and fastened it. Then
he laid a bill on the counter.
"Pack that box with cork around it
in n twice its size, tie securely and
express to this address at once.
keep the change" called Ammon as
he ran back to the pavilion.
Edith Carr stood where he left her,
thinking rapidly. She heard the MUIR
muir that went up when Philip started
to capture the exquisite golden crea-
ture she was i~mpersonating. She saw
the fash Of surprise that went over
unrestrained faces when he ran from
tho ,.OcD m without nvap chou,irr 81 RI
her.
he had spoken Of a country girl he
had met who played the violin wonder
fully, and at times he had showed q
disposition to exalt her as a standard
of womanhood. Miss Carr had ignored
what he said and talked Of something
else. 1t was that girl who was collect
ing moths! No doubt she was the
competent Judge who was responsible
for the yellow costume Philip had de-
vised. Had Edith Carr been in her
room she would have torn off the
dress at the thought.
Being in a circle of her best friends,
which to her meant her keenest rivals
and hardest critics, she grew rigid
with anger. Her breath hurt her pain
ing chest. No one thought to speak
to the musicians, and, seeing the floor
filled, they began the waltz.
Edith Carr grew very white as she
stood alone. The idolized only daugh-
ter of the Carr family hoped that she
would drop dead from modification,
but nothing happened. She was too
perverse to step aside laughingly and
say that she was waiting for Philip.
Then came Tom lowering dancing
with Polly Ammon. Being in the
scales with the Ammon family, Tom
scented trouble from afar, so he whis-
pered to Polly, Edith is standing in
the middle Of the floor, and she's awful
mad about something"
They hurried to Edith.
Come, DEAR" said Polly. eve are
going to wait with you until Phil gets
back. Let's go for a drink. I am so
thirsty"
"My betrothed left me here" Edith
said. Here I shall remain until he
returns for me, and then-he will be
my betrothed no longer!'
Folly grasped Edith's arm.
"Oh. Edith" she implored. Don't
make a scene here, and tonight. He
can explain! It's only a breath since I
saw him SO out. I thought he had re-
turned"
"He has been gone just long enough
to show every one Of his guests that
he will leave me standing alone, like a
neglected fool, for any passing whim
of his. Explain! His explanation
would sound well! Do you know for
whom he caught hat moth? 1t is be-
ing sent to a girl be firted with all last
summer"
Speech Embossed the fountain. She
stripped off her gloves to free her
hands. At that instant the dancers
parted to admit Philip. Instinctively
they stopped as they approached and
with wondering faces walled in Edith
and Philip, Polly and Tom.
mighty good Of you to waltz" cried
Ammon. his face beaming with delight