The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-01-09
THE ROOT OF EVIL
Continued from Preceding Page

marched into the somber room.
The men We're dressed as shronded
skeletons and the women as worms.
The men wore light himsy gray robes
on which sEillful 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 hinge caterpillar.
The strange figures began TO move
slowly across the polished floor TO the
strains Of a ghostlike waltz.
From the corners of the high balco-
MES strange lights flashed. developing
in hldeous outlines and phnsphor-
escent colors of the skeletons and long.
fuzzy. exaggerated lines Of the ac-
companying worms. The effect was
thrilling.
Suddenly the music stopped with a
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 with 10000 electric lights. The
orchestra struck the first notes of a
thrilling waltz. and. presto, in an in
slant the women appeared in all the
splendor Of the most gorgeous gowns.
their bare arms and necks flashing
with priceless jewels and each man
bowed before her in immaculate even
ing clothes.
From the four corners of the vast room
were released thousands of gorgeous
ly tinted butterflies. imported from
the tropics for the occasion. As the
dancers glided through the dazzling
scene these wonderfully colored crea
lures futtered about them in myriads.
darting and circling in every direction
among the flowers and lights until the
room seemed a veritable fairyland
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 to
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, her
cheeks flushed and her lips parted in a
tender smile.
Come. I'm going to honor you by
sitting out the next two dances"
When she had seated herself by his
side under a bower of roses he was
very still for moment. She looked
up with a 0uizzical expression and
said:
"A penny for your thoughts. Am
so very wicked after all?"
Il don't think have ever seen any
thing more dazzlingly beautiful than
your banquet and ball. except the wo
man who conceived and executed ii. |
was Just wondering whether your
Imagination was vivid enough to have
dreamed half the splendors of such a
life when you turned from the little
| built for you.
A look of pain clouded the fair face.
and she lifted her jeweled hand.
Please. Jim. Id like to forget some
things"
And you haven't forgotten?"
She looked straight into his eyes and
answered in even tones:
No
Both we're silent for a long while.
and then they began to talk in low
tones of the life they had lived as boy
and girl in the old south and forgot
the flight of time.
To be Continued.