ensed attention. Its
importance, naturally of the greatest in the assembled popular mind,
was enhanced--as mathematicians would say, to the nth power--by the
gown of Alice. It was resplendent indeed in the simple, unaccustomed
eyes upon which it flashed with a buff silken glory. Matrons stared at
it; maidens gazed with fascinated and jealous vision; men young and old
let their eyes take full liberty. It was as if a queen, arrayed in a
robe of state, had entered that dingy log edifice, an apparition of
dazzling and awe-inspiring beauty. Oncle Jazon caught sight of her, and
snapped his tune short off. The dancers swung together and stopped in
confusion. But she, fortified by a woman's strongest bulwark, the sense
of resplendency, appeared quite unconscious of herself.

Little Adrienne, hanging in blissful delight upon Rene's strong arm,
felt the stir of excitement and wondered what was the matter, being too
short to see over the heads of those around her.

"What is it? what is it?" she cried, tiptoeing and tugging at her
companion's sleeve. "Tell me, Rene, tell me, I say."

Rene was gazing in dumb admiration into which there swept a powerful
anger, like a breath of flame. He recollected how Alice had refused to
wear that dress when he had asked her, and now she had it on. Moreover,
there she stood beside Lieutenant Beverley, holding his arm, looking up
into his face, smiling, speaking to him.

"I think you might tell me what has happened," said Adrienne, pouting
and still plucking at his arm. "I can't see a thing, and you won't tell
me."

"Oh, it's nothing," he presently answered, rather fretfully. Then he
stooped, lowered his voice and added; "it's Mademoiselle Roussillon all
dressed up like a bride or something. She's got on a buff silk dress
that Mo'sieu' Roussillon's mother had in France."

"How beautiful she must look!" cried the girl. "I wish I could see her."

Rene put a hand on each side of her slender waist and lifted her high,
so that her pretty head rose above the crowding people. Alice chanced
to turn her face that way just then and saw the unconventional
performance. Her eyes met those of Adrienne and she gave a nod of
smiling recognition. It was a rose beaming upon a gilliflower.

M. Roussillon naturally understood that all this stir and crowding to
see was but another demonstration of his personal popularity. He bowed
and waved a vast hand.

But the master of ceremonies called loudly for the dance