Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-08-04
THE BALL OF FIRE
By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER
and LILLIAN CHESTER
ILLUSTRATED BY c. D. RHODES
ILLUSTRATED BY c. D. RHODES
Copyright lsi4 by the Red Book corDorstiouJ

( they expressed their worry again. At
that hour Ted and Lucille Teasdale and
Arly Fosland came in with the exuber-
ance Of New Years eve celebration.
lis great sleighing tonight" stated
Lucile's husband, who was a thin
wasted young man. with a splendid
natural gift for dancing.
"All that's missing is the bells" chat
tered the lack-haired Arly. breaking
| straight for her favorite big couch in
the library. THE only way TO have
| any speed in an auto is to go sidewise. p"
We're to get up skiddIng match,
so can bet on our chauffeur" laughed
Lucille. flufing her blonde ringlets be-
fore the big mirror in the hall. I'VE
slid a complete circle coming down
through the park, and never lost a rev.
olution!"
I've been thinking it must be bad
driving" fretted Mrs. Sargent. Gall
should be home by now!"
"Allison's a safe driver" comforted
Ted. who liked to see everybody
happy.
Jim Sargent came to the door of the
study. in which he was closeted with
Rev. Smith Boyd. Jim was prac-
tically the young rector's business
guardian.
Hello. folks" he nodded. Gail
homer"
Not yet" responded Mrs. Sargent.
in whose brow the creases were be-
coming fixed.
TITS hardly time" estimated Jim.
and went back into the study.
I'm terribly yexed." confded Lu-
Gle, stopping behind Ted's chair, and
idly tickling the back of his neck. 81
thought it would be such a brilliant
scheme to give a winter weekend
party. but Mrs. Acton is going to give
one at her country place"
Before or after?" demanded Mrs.
Davies, with whom this was a point of
the utmost Importance.
"a week AFTER" answered Lucille,
'but her invitations are out l wish
hadn't mailed mine. What can we do
to make ours nOtable?"
That being a matter worth consider
ing, the entire party, with the excep-
ton of Aunt Grace, who was listening
for the doorbell. set their wits and
their tongues to work. Mrs. Helen Da-
vies took a keener interest in 1t than
any of them. The invitation list was
the most important of all, for it was
long and arduous way to the heaven Of
the socially elect, and IL took genera
tons to accomplish the journey. The
Murdoch girls, Grace and herself, had
no great-grandfather. Murdoch Senior
had made his money after Murdoch
Junior was married. but in time to
give the girls thorough polishing in
an exclusive academy. Thus launched,
Helen had married a man with a great
great-grandfather, but Grace had mar
ried Jim Sargent. Jim was a dear,
and had plenty of money. and was as
with whom he had been great chuns;
but still he was Jim Sargent Calls
mother, who had married Jim's broth
er, had seven ancestors, but a moth
er's family name is so often over
looked Nevertheless. when Gail came
to marry. the maternal ancestry, all
other things being favorable, might
even secure her an invitation to Mrs.
Waverly-Gaites' annual Reaching
this point in her circle of speculation,
Mrs. Helen Davies came back to her
starting place, and loked at the library
clock with shock. Ten; and the girl
was not yet home!
Rev. Smith Boyd came out of the
study with his most active vestryman,
and Joined the circle of waiting ones.
He was a pleasant addition to the
party. for, in spite of belonging to the
clergy, he was able TO conduct himself
in Rome In quite acceptable Roman
fashion. Pleasant as he was. they
wished he would go home, because 1t
was not convenient to worry in his
company; and by this time Lucille her
self was beginning to waSch the clock
with some anxiety. Only Mrs. Sar-
gent felt no restraint. An automobile
honked at the door as If it were stop
ping, and she half arose; then the
same honk sounded half way down the
block, and she sat down again.
I'm so worried about Gall" she
stated, holding her thumb.
I'VE all are" supplemented Mrs. Da-
vies. quickly. "She has been dining
with a party of friends. and the
streets are so slippery"
81 should Judge Mr., Allison to be a
very capable driver" said Rev. Smith
Boyd; and the ladies glared at Jim. II
envy them their drive on night like
this. wonder IL there will be good
coasting."
Fine" judged Jim Sargent, looking
out OF the window toward the adjoin-