Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1905 — SEQUEL OF A MINUET [ARTICLE]

SEQUEL OF A MINUET

It was on the first day of Peggy’s arrival at tier summer home that Polly Dexter, her most intimate friend, came bursting in. “Thank goodness you’ve come at last!” she exclaimed by way of greeting. “You have saved my life, I wanted you to take part In the minuet which I rashly promised to get up for the yacht club masquerade ball a week from tonight. I’ve had an awful time with the old thing, and now if you don’t help me I shall give It up.” “Poor Polly!” commiserated the teasing Peggy. “Who is to take part?” “Oh, Just the ones you know,” replied Polly. Then she added abruptly, “Did you know that the Thurbers bad taken a cottage here for the season?” She looked at Peggy curiously as she spoke, but her friend’s face was as ealm and Innocent as that of a baby. Peggy rose and said In a carefully Indifferent voice: “I certainly did not, although It makes absolutely no difference to me where they are. But I may as well tell you now, Polly,” she continued warmly, “If Jack Thurber is to dance In the minuet I shall not.” “So they have quarreled!” thought Miss Dexter gleefully. “No wonder poor old Jack looked so down In the mouth. I’ve a good mind to help him along a bit.” r \ Aloud she merely said: “Oh, there’s not much chance of Jack’s taking part. I asked him, but be said he would probably be away. Joe Brewer Is to dance with you. “All right, then,’’ said Peggy, once more smiling cordially. “I’d love to take part. What are you going to wear?” “We will have our hair powdered and wear masks.” She gave a little gasp as she said this, and Peggy looked at her astonished. “Swallowed a fly?” she asked. “No! A new Idea has dawned upon me! Something most exciting! I’m sorry I can’t tell you what it is, but I can’t possibly! Oraclous me! Is It 12 o’clock already? I must fly! I promised Billy I’d go sailing with him at half past 11. It’s lucky he Is well trained to wait for me."

With a merry laugh Polly ran downstairs and out on to the board walk. Peggy watched her a moment from the window, and her eyes lingered almost enviously on the two figures that presently cast off In the trim little boat. “I never saw any one so happy as she is since she became engaged to Billy Scott,” she murmured. "Oh, dear! I wish I hadn’t said what I did that day. hut I’ll never let Jack know that I’m sorry." She shook her pretty head, and her lips tightened firmly, though there was a suspicious cloudiness in her eyes. “Mercy! Were you ever so hot In your life?” cried Peggy the night of the ball as she entered the little room where the dancers of the minuet were to assemble. “I am positively certain that I shall smother to death In my mask!” “You may lie hot, but you are most bewltehiugly pretty,” remarked Tolly Dexter as she applied a bit of black court plaster to the tip of her rosy tongue. “Oh, by the way, you mustn't ask any of these men to answer you!” she cried. “I have put my magic spell upon them, and they cannot say a word.” “The gods grant Jack doesn’t forget,” thought Polly gleefully, “He is au Impetuous soul. Fortunately be and Joe Brewer are about the same height, and behind all that black mask Mistress Peggy will never know the change in her partner!” Jack Thurber looked at bis dainty partner and blessed the quick witted girl who had made it possible for him to hold his sweetheart’s hand once more. This minuet would settle it. If Teggy refused to listen to him tonight he would cease to trouble her. But his heart ached at the thought, and he put the Idea away from him almost fiercely. He waited until the stately march and the first figure were over. Then as they stood in graceful pose while the second couples repeated it he whispered softly: “Peggy!” The girl started. “Are you speaking to me, Mr. Thornton?” site replied, slightly emphasizing the pronoun. “It isn't Mr. Thornton. I am Jack,” came the reply. Peggy bit her lip and half withdrew her hand as she aud Jack moved forward to the center of the square. The rich color flooded her cheeks, but somehow after her first movement of angry surprise she could not repress the glad Joy that surged In her heart. "Don’t be angry, Peggy," pleaded Jack In a low voice as they once more stood together. “But yon absolutely refused to see me, and you would not read my letters, and I had to talk with you somehow." The girl listened quietly, waving her fan nonchalantly. They were separated again before she could reply, but In the next figure as Jack knelt at her feet It was in real and not pretending adoration, Peggy knew. Their quarrel seemed so foolish now, so trivial a thing to mar the happiness of two lives! Peggy drew a long sigh as she courtesied low to her handsome partner. “Tell me, sweetheart, Is it ‘forgive and forget?’ ” whispered Jack as he kissed her hand. “If It is give me the dance that comes Just after the minuet.” For answer Peggy looked at him as she moved slowly in the last figure of the minuet. Then as she turned tap one final deep courtesy she gently slipi>ed her dance card Into her partner’s band. "It’s ‘Yes,’ Jack,” she said softly. And there was no envy this time In the look ahg bent upon pretty Polly Dexter and her flance.—Boston Herald.