Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-13

neighborhood when the chill
dren received their invita-
w tons to Helen's Birthday
Party. Just a party-any kind Of
party-would have been quite enough
10 cause exclamations of delight and
many happy hours of anticipation.
But at this one, If you please. every
guest was to wear a fancy costume.
Helen. as the hostess, you may be
sure, was quite the proud little lady.
And for days and days beforehand
she was busy helping her Mamma pre-
pare. She, of course. would not be
masked at first, since she must stand
with her Mamma and welcome each
guest as he arrived. But, once they
were all there. then she could don her
mask and mingle with the other
strange, grotesquely or beautifully
clad figures.
At last came the evening OF the
party. The big music room had been
cleared of every piece of furniture
and the floor more highly waxed than
ever-to afford a suitable place for
dancing. The dining room table was
aglow with. tiny shaded lights that
shed a soft radiance over the white
cloth and the polished silver. Masses
Of roses were to be seen on all sides.
The first guest to arrive was a
clown" Until he spoke neither
Helen nor her Mamma could tell who
he was. And then when he said
Good evening" they recognized him
ipu Of rtI
serious and studious boy in the neix6,
borhood. That he. of all the boA
should choose to come in such a COS
tune seemed particularly laughable.
The second guest was dainty Min
ME Clark, who came as Fairy" She
wore shimmering dress that seemed
to be made of silver cobwebs; and
circling the bottom of the skirt were
large gilt stars. Around her pretty
faxen curls was a bandeau of black
velvet which held a small silver star
In place on her forehead and two long
silver-grey plumes at the back of her
head. She looked sweet enough to
really be a fairy.
Then came Bobby Jones - the
worst boy" in the neighborhood.
OF course, had his costume been that
OF sailor, or a slave-trader, or a
miser, or any other bad character"
people might have said that the cos
tune suited him. But Bobby-mis-
chievous Bobby-appeared as Gen
tleman of Colonial Days"
He wore a smart blue coat with
large, fat gold buttons and lace al
the sleeves at least six inches deep
there was a lace collar around his
neck, too. and his vest was a delicate
fawn color. His breeches were O.
plum colored velvet and his stocking!
of black silk, with shiny black dane
ing pumps on feet. To cap it all, h
wore white wing, powdered. as dit
The gentleman of the old days. I
need scarcely be stated that Bobb,
was thoroughly uncomfortable.
Close behind him came a BOLD
Buccaneer" Straight out of the It'll
Century he seemed to have come. Hi
blouse was a blood red, with littl
white half-moons all over it; hi
breeches were of sky-blue corduro.
and his long stockings as bloody as hi
blouse. Around his head was wound
In true buccaneer fashion. a huge RET
handkerchief.
In his belt a wicked old-fashionet
pistol and a huge. murderous knit
cleaned. He was Tommy Towers
whose ambition had always been to b.
a pirate and sail the main with
Jolly Roger flag "a skull and cross
bones) at his masthead.
Then the guests came SO quickl.
that one couldn't begin to describe al