The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-30
CHAPTER XVIII

OElhI HEN AVAAA
 The social climax of the cruise was the Fancy Dress Ball the fol- lowing evening. No passenger, no matter how conservative, was im- mune to the excitement of it. Few of them however, were prepared to the extent of having brought their own costumes.
 "But l haven't a thing to wear!" Joyce protested to Dr. Gray, and I hate rented clothes"
 Never mind. Mrs. Bates will fix you up with something. Why a young girl like you can't stay out of Fancy Dress Ball!"
 I'm not going to dress up!" Dick declared emphatically.
 "Of course you are" the doctor ordered. i've got just the suit for you, down in my cabin. You come along with me"
 Their protests were of no avail. They would go to the ball, and they would be dressed up. Mrs. Bates was waiting outside of Joyce's cabin.
 "The doctor said you wanted a costume, miss," she offered cheer fully.
 "The doctor said I had to have costume" Joyce corrected with smile.
 Mrs. Bates nodded brightly. "I'n fix you up right smart. The doctor has a Pilgrim costume for the young man -a a John Alden outfit, you Americans call it. How would you like to go along as Priscilla?"
 Well, since I must dress up, l can't think of anything that would please me better. John Alden and Priscilla were practically next door neighbors of mine."
 So the stewardess was off to some hidden recess in the linen closet, from whence she returned promptly with quaint gray cos tune, freshly laundered, volumn- nous with petticoats and stiff, starched white shawl and bonnet. Within half an hour, Joyce emerged as a demure Pilgrim maid, lacking only her prayer-book and spinning wheel.
 "Mind the petticoats," Mrs. Bates cautioned. They're only on a draw string ."
 Up in front of the purser's office, she met young mal whose costume, even to the high z. owned hat and the buckle-boots, pro- claimed him a fitting companion to her own sedate state, but whose bright blue eyes danced with a happy abandon which would have disbarred him in stantly from the stately ranks of the old Puritan elders.
 So, my lovely Priscilla| he beamed. Think not that I come to speak of our Captain Miles Standish this merry evening""
 She laughed. You look as if VOL could speak for yourself John!"
 Together they went up to the lounge all cleared now of furniture and rugs, with the hardwood floor waxed and polished for the dancing.
 They wandered through a vague wonderland of familiar faces. Not only here in the lounge, but all over the ship, strange creatures poped into sight. Ghosts and skeletons roamed the deserted decks and booed at young couples who dared to seek moments TO- mantle privacy; fierce red deVliS slipped in and out of staterooms; Napoleons and Josephines, Pier rettes and Pierrots, farmer and farmetrettes, jostled each other on the dance floor. A small, mild Pop-Eye, badly in need Of his spinach, danced with tall, doml- mating Olive Cyl white his rowing eve approved the bathing beau- ties. Every child who had been permitted to remain up Tor thls gala evening was stiff but chat tering Charlie Mccarthy, without the subduing Bergen influence.
 Look, quickly, l dare you! Dick whispered as they came In for the dancing. over there' across the room"
 Joyce looked She saw the im- perious Mrs. OHara coyly be- decked in the grassy trimmings of Hula maiden - short straw skirt, lowered lei, deep sun-tan complexion. Her hair, which hung in kittenish curls to her shoulders, was held in place with fresh gar denias. Dozens of the novelty bracelets which the Kingston boys had been selling on the wharf adorned her fat arms, and ankles. In only one respect did she fail to follow the traditional style. She was not barefooted. Instead, she wore high spiked-heel evening slippers, an incongruous founda- tion for the ankle bracelets.
 "She looks like a round fat shredded wheat biscuit, with straw berries on top," Dick grinned. And look at the old man , Lord, is he a picture for Puck!
 Indeed, it was difficult to de- cipher. MT. O'Hara's characteriza- tion. They assumed that he was a Boy of the Islands, fitting part ner to his Sweet Lalanie wife. He wore the flowery lei. But MT O'Hara, for all his ventures from the straight and narrow path of temperance, was modes t man. He did not expose his manly bos- om. Hawaiian style, to the stares of the multitude. Instead he wore a sort of Roman toga, perhaps the foundation garment of the ancient kings of the South Pacific, and across his shining bald head he