Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-03
Tanning A Bu.. ~

thin circlet Of gold was gone from
Alice Errington's slender finger, and
the engagement had been broken for
their common happiness The quar-
rel had hinged on trivial matter, the
question Of their wedding and their
future lives; together with the stub
born refusal of either side to acknowl
edge being in the wrong.
AS Alice had planned it, their we'd
ding was to be the wedding of the
season. one that those who were bid
den would long remember, and those
who were not would neI er forget. Her
entertainments would border on the
magnificent; her gowns and jewels
would be the envy of all who knew
her, and none but the most exclusive
of the ultra-fashionables would ever
find the way into her drawingrooms.
Her eyes glowed and the sweet warm
color flowed into her lips and cheeks
as she planned her life of future bril-
lance, the life of social butterfly.
Paul Quenten shook his head gent
ly, while sad smile fitted across his
face. That was not welded life as he
had planned it. His wife must be
something more than a butterfly of
fashion; his home must be real
home; his life one of peace and hap
piness. The wedding must be simple
and take place during the autumn in
the quaint little chapel at Cedarhurst,
the home Of their early childhood. Au-
tumn leaves in varying tints from the
FURNISHED quivering colds to the won
derful royal scarlets must be the only
decoration, and the silver sweet
strains of the grand old organ would
mingle with the goldenthroated SYM
phony of the birds, and everything
would be true to Nature and autumn,
Alice Errington could never quite
forget the winter that followed. With
Bobby GWynn, Paul's Oldest and best
friend, as her devoted cavalier, she
tasted every form OF pleasure-from
the pretty dances at the Club that
Bobby gave her in her honor to the
magnificent society functions at the
Gwynn mansion.
Bobby's one passion was dancing.
He was never happy except in. the
midst OF the dancers with Alice as his
partner. Paul Quenten had cared for
1t only to suit Alice's pleasure, and
Bobby, strange to say, generally suit
ed his own while Alice looked help
lessly on.
There were no more quiet intervals
during the dancing when Paul would
take her from the over-heated ball
room into the cool. deserted conserva-
tories where the fountains played
unsteady, filling the air with silver
mist and falling like benediction on
the dropping flowers. There they
would sit minute in silence, watch
ing the ever changing scene of light
and color In the rooms beyond, while
the music, softened by distance, float
ed all around them.
The summer was no different. Bob
by was tireless in his attentions, I'M
til, as the season waned, Alice &C.
knowledged to herself that she was
weary Of the butterfly existence that
had been hers all her life.
1t was the last night at Cliffhaven
and the last grand affair at which all
the ultra-fashionables would appear.
Alice had slipped away from Bobby
and the rest Of the dancers and seclud-
ed herself in a corner of the broad.
deserted veranda.
Her thoughts flowed dreamily
along, back through the space of time
since she and Paul Quenten had brok-
en- with each other, back to the dear
old days when his ring had blazed
on her finger. She had never missed
him so much before. Perhaps it was
her dreams that brought him. Per-
haps-. But whatever the reason, as
she raised her eyes wide with dream
ing shadows from the ocean, Paul
Quenten was standing beside her.
Alice was Just tired enough and
generous enough to submit without a
murmur, and before she knew it the
old blood-red ruby was back on her
finger and she was once more Paul
Quenten's affianced bride.
laughing clatter in the hall dis
turbed their condolences as bevy Of
girls in fluffy ball gowns. Bobby in
their midst, besieged the piazza.
"They are trying to keep me away
from you, Alice" he cried, struggling
with laughter, his boyish, handsome
face aglow with mischief. But at
sight Of Paul Quenten his face went
white under the tan. Perhaps the
others understood the little tragedy
that was being enacted before them
and slipped quietly away.
Paul had drawn Bobby aside. Il
can never thank you enough for help
ing me out of this" he said, grasping
his friends hand. Through your eff.
forts in giving her a surfeit of these
pleasures, Alice has discovered how
absolutely useless the life of butter
fly of fashion is. OF course, you are
coming down to Cedarhurst for the
wedding?"
81 think not" Bobby answered, his
eyes resting wistfully on Alice. I'm
fact" he went on, 81 am leaving for
Europe in a few DAYS and will now