Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times

ly lighted, even the twinkling stars overhead seemed brighter than usual, as if th

r carriages, and flew up the s

usual, to be sure, but in a fine old suit of livery that mad

resented her salver, and each little guest laid a card upon it, with the name of the character which she represented. These were merely

irls' costumes would not tell which girl wore it, the chara

great hall, and into the long drawing-r

king, his beautiful wife in velvet and ermine as hi

, cloak-like dominoes of red, blue, pink, green, w

ost and hostess through the eyeholes in their dominoe

led laughter told how greatly

raised her sceptre, and when the litt

h you to wear the long dominoes which keep us guessing who you are. And now we will

maid entered, followed by five other maids in

sounded through the room, coming from be

the merry music set little feet

la and Patricia, and while they sat eating their bonbons, they talked softly, that no one might hear them. A little figure in

hed them, and his eyes t

ne and told each other who they are. I'd like to know

he room, and soon was st

triangle marked the measures, and Reginald's red

ey thought to be a very low tone, but when suddenly th

then, surprised at hearing he

could not guess who the red-cloaked figure might be. Oh, it was fun to be

eautiful quee

you, my merry subjects, shall form, two by two, and march to grandest music. After the march, the dominoes shall

red velvet throne, the stately lady-in-waiting followed, and then the bright-hued

t their colors appeared, the light shimmering upon a pink cloak beside a blue one, a green cloak

the march, the colored cloaks were cast asi

ou kno

guess w

w you were t

and the gracious king and queen looked down upon their

all, Dorothy, as an elf in gauze and sp

ton, made a charming page, while his sister, Aline, was a flower girl. Regina

e had said, "but I want a suit like the one he

ke a tiny cavalier about to sally forth in

hood, while, as usual, close beside her

this crook in my hand," said Flossie, "but

ttle puzzled face, "I am a rose, and she's a crocus," she continued, "and

ty butterfly. Her frock of yellow gauze matched her wings, which were edged wit

ttle Puritan, and really, Patricia'

umes. The room was alive with color, and when, later, they

y old one to be the most delightful. Some one asked if they might play it, and th

chairs, back to back, down the centre of the roo

f chairs, but when the music should stop abruptly, they must rush to g

d of the line they paused, believing that the music would cease, but the musicians played on and on. The laughi

o chair, and she knew th

Russell, who liked Nancy, asked

e said: "I'll ask something, Nancy, that I kn

d sweetly, "if they will play a w

en space, danced till those who watched her were wild with delight. And

can you do it

knew how long I studied, and how

hat if I practised for t

for dancing, for only the other day he told me that at dancing-school, just as

Russell, joining in the laught

chairs, and each time the one caught standing was ma

ormed a great ring. Dorothy, in the centre

d you gai

if, just

ng which h

d my deare

ruest fri

arest, co

the others, clasping hands, d

happy,

own eyes, o

rk and on

will join

oose a friend from the ring,

e little guests, and she was d

oom. They were a few of Mrs. Dainty's nearest neighbors who had b

o circled around them, and was about to choose Mollie, when she spied Uncle Harry, and she laughed wi

, may I?"

do," laugh

e Harry," she cried

and always ready to please the children,

arming young ladies," he said, while the laughing

A brave, athletic young man he was, with a heart full of lo

to sing," said Flossie. "Do you

ch belongs in this game, but I'll sing

charming, al

w of which s

t choose, th

t Mollie to c

mprovised verse to the music of one of

verses," Jeanette said impulsively, and h

their hands were unclasped. Patricia thought that t

spered, and Ara

their playmates, and soon they were flying around in a

avy. The fountain plashed in its shallow basin, and it seemed like a glimpse of fairy

o show you," she said. "You s

Arabella

e other one is. I'll let you try to find it first

where it is?" que

ooked very

ause I do kn

ip over some small pots of valuable plants, but the music and laughter in the drawing-room

there's two fou

I know. Just see here," and she pointed to the jet of water

in playing. I was in here once when I saw him turn that littl

tched Patri

ther fountain?" sh

nd. Come over here," Patr

t's another

ath a shelf filled with flowering plants; "that's another fountain,

fountain!" s

ill you in a second, for I'm go

z-z-

hat nothing less than an explosion had happened. The servants rushed in and quickly turned off the steam, while

which were now completely ruined, and Mrs. D

ed, and no one had ever

st succeeded in calming her, and when the little banquet was announced, they joined the other