Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12

such fun. Doris. Why shouldn't | enjoy
myself for once? Look. here is the card:
why shouldn't l use it,
The speaker was a young and striking
ly lovely girl. with a tall. splendidiy
carried figure, masses of reddish auburn
hair and deep blue eyes. She and her
companion were employed by Nine.
Carine the leading dressmaker and mill
liner in the great town Of Dorcaster.
Madame gave you this ticket for the
ball: she said 1t would amuse YOU to
look on. but she never thought that you
would dress up and go and pretend you
were a guest" said Doris uneasiy. 1T
seems $3.50 daring. May"
Rubbish retorted May. her blue eyes
flashing. Madame gave me the card
and said 1 could go. I've got that lovely
blue and silver that madame let me have
at cost price, because Miss WOODBURY.
wouldn't take it after it was finished. l
shall see heaps Of the frocks that we've
had made at our place.
AS she spoke May took from its linen
wrappings the dress of misty chiffon and
silver and regarded 1t with rapt eyes.
"I'll have a cab to the assembly rooms.
and for once in my life I'll be real
lady who never does a hands turn, and
has money enough for everything. she
declared. with a. happy laugh. do you
think people win ask me to dance, or
dance, among themselves? anyway. /
shall see all the lovely frocks and be
with the people who are enjoying them
seives-and that's something"
Dorcaster was celebrated for its pretty
women. and at the assembly ball that
night it was quite remarkable thing to
see plain face: yet, when May Yorley
passed up the wide staircase that led to
the ballroom a tall, radiant vision. muir
murs of admiration were heard on every
side
Who on earth is she?" murmured a
tall, dark-faced and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
man. whose upright bearing had in it
something soldierly. DO find out, Car
ton: she's the most beautiful girl here
tonight
You'll hear her name called out in a
moment" retoined Carton. slim. CHEEKY
looking boy with gray eyes. You know.
Warford, We in Dorcaster do things diff
ferently to other towns. At charity
ball we always have a hostess to receive
the guests. This time it's Mrs Faussett;
she's the wife Of our county member.
very short-sighted and deaf. but a good
old sort Now. listen. the servants just
asking your lovely unknown her name"
The man called Warford moved little
forward so that he could get good
view of Mays lovely flushed face, that
paled. however. slightly as the man serv-
ant inquired her name. She had not been
prepared for this. and the knowledge that
she was in false position was forced
upon her. She lost her presence OF mind
gave the name of that client Of ma
DANES who had rejected the dress that
May was wearing.
Miss WOODBURY." she said. and the
man echoed it in stentOrian tones.
Mrs. Faussett, fat, good natured, blaz-
n tov do no o0I rOh
of the name and was holding out both
hands to May.
why. of course. it's little May Wood
burn. grown out of all knowledge, Mrs.
Faussett exclaimed, kindly. I've not
seen YOU since you were a child. but you
and your people have been away so long
from Dorcaster you're all strangers. I'm
glad you're settling here again. Are
you alone? In my young days girls re-
quired 'chaperons, but they don't now.
it seems. Well. well, I'll look after you;
run away and enjoy yourself.
AS May entered the ball room one of
the stewards approached her. bringing
with him a would-be partner for May.
May l introduce Col. Warford, Miss
WOODBURY." he said, and also, may l
get you program?
May glanced up shyly through her eX-
travagantly long eyelashes at the colonel:
He was very good looking, she decided
hastily. with a square, strong race and
kind, dark eyes. He put out MS mana
and took her program.
MAY I set down my name for as many
as 1 want" he said. audaciously, and
May, ignorant of the ways of bathrooms,
said frankly that she would be very
pleased.
She gave a little gasp. however, when
the colonel returned her her card with
his initials against more than half the
dances. :,
.'Oh, but you can't want all those. "
she protested: why, it's absurd"
I'VE needn't dance them, you know,
Warford told her smilingly; we can slt
them out if you're tired; we might try
a turn, though. before the room gets too
full. I've a friend who wants to be In
troduced-Jack Carton. His people I'VE
near the place your father has taken.
MAY. murmured that she was not ac-
onainted with Mr.. Carton, and was thank
full to begin dancing. She soon found.
however, that her partner preferred to
talk.
Its awfully hot and crowded in here,
he said after few turns; suppose we
20 to one of those jolly little sitting-out
places that they have On the roof. Sort
of tents they've made, you know. and
you see all Dorcaster at your feet.
May agreed, and the colonel led her to
what to her seemed an enchanted garden
of palms and roses, with orlentai TUES
upon the ground. Below the lights OF
the town sparkled and shone like Jewels
in the darkness. May looked down upon
the scene thoughtfully, all unconscious
that the colonel was watching her WITH
eager, admiring eyes.
at looks Jolly from here" he said, eut
7 should hate to live in town, Wouldn I
you
May sighed.
"One has to do such a lot OF things one
hates" she answered. zone wants 70
live in ones own life and enjoy ones seir'
but one can t.
She turned her lovely, wistful face
toward Warford as she spoke, and he was
puzzled to hear one who was SAID 10 De
an heiress. with the power OF gratifying
every whim, speak in such a fashion.
>"You ought to have everything you
want" he said, frankly, IF | could, MISS
Woodburn, I'd give il you.
He spoke sincerely; Mays beauty, her
soft charm of manner, had captivated
one who hitherto had troubled little
about women. For the rest OF the even
ing he devoted himself to her, and May
was herself strangely happy. The colonel
took her to supper, where Jack Carton
was introduced and proved himself a
lively. agreeable companion.
How lovely all those wax candles
look on the tables May said admiringly.
as she looked about her. ever so much
nicer than electric light. Here comes
Mrs Faussett. aren't her diamonds beau
tiful? Oh" she gave little cry,
look. OH
Mrs Faussett had stopped to speak to
leaned forward knocked over one of the
candle fell upon her dress, and the next