the belles and beauties on the floor.  Her dress was an exquisite personation of the stars and stripes, from the crown of stars on her golden brown hair, to the gaily ribboned white satin slipper.  Her white muslin skirts showed the red stripes at intervals; a soft blue sarcanet sash across her breast was stamped with the outstretched wings of the American eagle, and in every detail this unique costume was alluring to a degree.

Dr. Mason was more than impressed by her extreme youth, in its setting of precocious womanly grace and charm.  She was so happy and bright, a sans souci maiden whom he lost no time in winning to his own colors, by the magic of a well-stored mind and an eloquent tongue.  A sonsie, sweet-sixteen lassie, not yet out of school, but wonderfully developed, like the southern girls of the period, whose parents were possessed of ample means.  He sounded her fresh, rich stores of mind and found she had indeed been carefully taught, wisely trained.  Not at once did he learn it all, but soon enough to resolve to win and wear this jewel, if only Providence were kind.  Providence?  Ah, there swept across his face the shade of one bitter memory—­one foul wrong that had darkened his earlier manhood.  A woman’s fatal wiles, a man’s trust betrayed.  He forgot that she had vowed vengeance if it took a lifetime.  He thrust it all aside, and turned to the purity and innocence of this fair young womanhood, with the infinite longing of a starved nature.

The evening of the ball did not close without another surprise for Egbert Mason.  Eleanor Carleton was challenging him in a spirited quotation contest when her mother approached leaning upon the arm of the Governor of the State.  She was a handsome, dark-eyed woman, young enough to seem the elder sister of the lovely girl who called her mother.

“Eleanor, my child,” she said, barely glancing at her daughter’s companion.  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.  Have you been in the draughts of those halls?  Supper is ready.”

“Oh, I’ve been in very good hands,” was the merry reply, as the girl introduced Dr. Mason, and shook hands with the Governor, who was looking down at her with his kindliest smile.

“Madam,” he said gallantly, “I must compliment you upon this exceedingly pretty and patriotic dress.  I have been watching it from afar all evening.  How could you conceive such a marked hit for the occasion.”

“I hope it in order for me to say she never fails,” proudly answered Senator Carleton, an imposing looking man, who had come up in time to hear the last remark.  “The march is playing for supper—­”

“Oh, mother—­what is it?” cried the girl, suddenly directing attention to Mrs. Carleton’s face, which was colorless, almost ghastly, while her eyes seemed gazing afar off into space.

“Allow me,” said Dr. Mason, with concern, advancing quickly, and amid the excited gathering of the little circle about him, he gently bore her to one of the large windows, as the Senator in visible alarm threw up the sash.