The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-01

nook ana corner of-tfe- liuge cornice
and pillars. Draperies of filmy Grape
flowing gently in the breeze were
| lighted by sulphurous hued electric
rays from the balconies. Tiny electric
lights brinked in every skeletons
sunken eyes and behind each grinning
row of teeth. Suddenly two white
figures drew aside the heavy curtains
in the archway and the dancerA
marched into the somber room.
The men were dressed as shroudei
skeletons and the women as worms.
The men wore light flimsy gray robei
on which skllful artists had painted
on four sides in deep colors the pic
lures of human skeletons.
The women wore curious light robes
of cotton fiber which were drawn over
the entire body and gave to each figure
the appearance Of huge caterpillar.
The strange figures began to move
slowly across the polished floor to the
strains of ghostlike waltz.
From the corners of the high balco
MES strange lights flashed. developing
in hideous outlines and phosphor'
escent colors of the skeletons and long,
fuzzy, exaggerated lines of the ac-
companying worms. The effect was
thrilling.
tSuddenly the music stopped with n
crash. Each ghostly couple, skeleton
and worm. stood motionless. The
silvery note of trumpet called from
the sky. The blinking eyes of the
death heads in the ceiling and on the
walls faded slowly. The trumpet
pealed a second signal-the darkness
fed and the great room suddenly
blazed witht0.000 electric lights The
orchestra struck the first notes of a
thrilling waltz, and, presto, in an in
stant> the women appeared in all the
spleudor of the mostgorgeous gowns,
their bare arms Nhd necks flashing
with priceless jewels, and each man
bowed before her in immaculate even
ing clothes.
From the four corners of the vast roo;l
were released thousands of gorgeous,
ly tinted butterflies, imported from
the tropics for the occasion. AS the
dancers gided through tthe dazzling
scene these wonderfully colored crea.
lures fluttered about them in myriads,
darting and circling in every direction
among the flowers and lights until the
room seemed a veritable fairyiand.
A burst of applause swept the crowd
as Mans radiant figure passed, encir'
cled by the arm of the leader.
Stuart nodded and clapped his hands
with enthusiasm.
A more marvellous transformation
! scene could scarcely be imagined.
When Nan had passed he turned tc
speak to Harriet, but she had gone
A soft hand was suddenly laid on his
arm, and he turned to confront Nan
her eyes flashing with triumph, hel
cheeks flushed and her lips parted in g
tender smile.
Come. I'm going to honor you by
Sitting out the next two Dances"
When she had seated herself by hit
side under a bower Of roses he was
very still for moment She looked
up with a quizzcal expression ant
said: So, @r"jj
"a penny for your thoughts. Am
so very wicked after all?"
81 don't think have ever. seen any
!, thing more dazzlingly beautiful thar
your banquet and ball, except the wo
man who conceived and executed 1t.
was just wondering whether you
Imagination was vivid enough to hav,
dreamed half the splendors of such
] life when you turned from the littl'
cottage l built for you"
. A look of pain clouded the fair face
and she lifted her jeweled hand.
"Please, Jim. I'd like to forget SOM
, things"
"And you haven't forgotten?"
She looked straight into his eyes ant
/ answered in even tones:
, "No."
Both were silent for q long while
! and then they began to talk in loy
/. tones Of the life they had lived as bo
l and girl In the old south and forgo
. the flight of time.
Z Continued in Fridays Issue.)