It was a perfect summer day. The hedges and lawns were so green and everywhere, beautiful flowers were in full bloom. Birds twittered joyfully, flitting from branch to branch in the shade trees along the sidewalks. Laura Gene held tightly to her mother's hand while they walked block after block down from Colonial Heights until, at length, they reached the city library. Laura Mae liked to go there often. There, she could think of Gene and of the day they visited the library together.

Little Laura Gene knew which was the children's department, for she had been there many times with her mother. Laura Mae always cautioned her little girl about crossing the street corners so she would hold tightly to her mother's hand until they entered the front door of the beautiful building. There, Laura Gene would break loose and hurry on ahead of her mother, to greet the kind lady who was always ready to help them find the books that had the best pictures and stories in them. After looking through several of them. They decided upon a much-used book of Fairy Tales.

When they left the library, Laura Mae led her little girl farther down the street, until they came to Patricia Lane's Park. They entered it and went to look at the animals in the cages. The mother had visited the park many times alone, now she thought that her baby was old enough to enjoy seeing the animals there.

"Oooh, Mony May, what's 'at?" The little eyes were wide with wonder.

"That is a full-grown coyote, dear; there used to be lots of them in the little town where I used to live."

"Where did you used to live, Mony May?" The little child was in a mood for asking questions.

"I lived in Oakdale. Would you like to see a big bear now?"

"A weally bear?"

"Yes, darling, a real live bear." So, they went from cage to cage until they had looked at all of the animals and birds. Laura Mae saw the pond and the rowboats, and when she closed her eyes for a second, she imagined that she and Gene were again drifting over the still water. When she opened her eyes again, she looked at her wristwatch and decided that it was time to go back home.

When they neared the house on Colonial Heights, Laura Gene asked if she might carry the precious book of Fairy Tales that would soon be read to her. Her mother gave her the book and she skipped on ahead and up the drive to the house. John came out to meet her."

"What have you there, Dimples?" he asked the pretty little girl.

"A dood book to wead," she said, smiling up at him, "It is about 'ittle fa-wees, I dess."

"Where did you get it?"

"In a library," Laura Gene answered promptly. "Oh, John, we saw a big bear and a cowote in the pa'k."

"What does she mean?" John turned and asked Laura Mae as she came smiling up the walk to where the man and little girl were talking.

"She means she saw a big bear and a coyote in the park," the mother laughed.

"Oh, I see. By the way, May, won't you please say that you will go to the Charity Ball with mother and Me to tomorrow evening?" he implored.

"I have not danced for so long, I am afraid I might be very awkward on the floor," she answered with a wistful smile.

"I am sure that your feet will not be able to go anyway but perfect when you hear the music. The orchestra they have engaged is wonderful! Please, say that you will go with us. Mother will be very disappointed, too, if you do not," he pleaded.

"You tan go, Mony May," the baby said when she saw her mother hesitate. "I want Celia to watch me some more, 'tuz her sings nices' songs 'bout wobbins wif wed bwests."

"Bless your little heart," Laura Mae said and took the little hand the baby offered her. "All right, John, I will go to the ball with you and your mother."

"Thanks, I am glad," he said and smiled.

***

Thursday evening found Mrs. Chatterton trying to fight off a miserable headache, but the attempt seemed in vain. At last, she gave and decided to not go to the Charity Ball. She succeeded in persuading the young couple to go without her.

Laura Mae went to her wardrobe to choose a dress to wear. Her eyes fell upon the creamy white satin that Gene had helped her buy on their wedding day. She slipped it on and stepped to the mirror to look at herself. It had never been worn. As she saw her reflection in the mirror, she imagined that she could hear Gene saying, "My bride you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." She saw tears beginning to glisten in her soft brown eyes and felt a lump in her throat. "I can't wear it, I can't," she sobbed in a whisper. "I never will until he comes back to me." She took the dress off again and put in back on the hangar in the closet. She wiped her eyes as she heard Celia in the hall. "Celia," she called.

"Yes, Miss May?" Celia answered and stepped to the door.

"Come in, I am ready to dress." Laura Mae had never had a maid to help her dress until she came to the home on Colonial Heights. It still was easier for her to dress herself than to submit to Celia's pats and strokes, but it always pleased the maid so much to be asked to help, that she called her in quite often.

At ten minutes to eight, John arose and stepped forward to meet Laura Mae, as she descended the stairs. She was dressed in the soft black lace that had been her Christmas gift from Mrs. Chatterton. Her eyes were usually sad but tonight they were bright and her cheeks were all aglow. Every lock of her golden-brown hair lay perfectly in place. Celia had taken special pains to make her beautiful for John.

The ballroom was decorated to represent a Japanese garden. There were artificial cherry trees with gay blossoms on them around the sides and one end of the hall. All of the light was furnished by brightly colored Oriental Lanterns that hung low overhead. The orchestra was partly hidden by cherry blossoms and latticework, but their melodious strain came out clearly on the calm air. In a latticed booth, a huge punch bowl glistened. Somehow, with all of the little glass cups around it, it reminded Laura Mae of a fat old setting hen basking there, with all of her baby chicks close to her. It had been so long since she had heard the "peep" of a fluffy baby chick! She was so homesick! She thought of the dances she used to attend at the high school auditorium in Oakdale. If Gene were only here to come and claim the first dance now like he always did in those days. John awakened her form her dreaming when he spoke.

"Would you like to watch for a while or shall we dance?" The orchestra was playing a beautiful waltz that went through Laura Mae's body and made her feet tingle.

"Let's dance now," she said, returning John's happy smile.

There were several couples already dancing when they began to glide over the highly polished floor. Time had not made Laura Mae forget how to dance with perfect steps. John held her closely and they moved with ease and rhythm beneath the shadowy lights. She could smell the delicately fragrant perfume that Celia had touched to the girl's hair. He was thrilled. "She is beautiful," he thought. "And Cousin June cannot waltz like this." A couple danced near them. Laura Mae recognized the man, for she spoke to him and smiled. When the music stopped this well-dressed man, to whom she had spoken, came toward them.

"How are you tonight?" he asked.

"I am fine, thank you," she answered. She could feel the blood rushing up into her cheeks. Then she turned to John, "Have you met Mr. Baldwin of the National Bank, John?"

"I think not," he answered simply.

"Mr. Baldwin, this is Mr. Chatterton, John, Mr. Baldwin." She felt queer and weak. Perhaps this man would mention that Gene's name was Whitmer and she would have to confess to John tonight that she had been using a false name. She half hoped that he would, it might lift some of the load she had to carry.

"May I have a dance?" Mr. Baldwin asked the girl. She nodded, and he added, May I have the next one?"

"Surely, you may." She tried very hard to bring a pleasant smile to her face, but she did not feel like being gay, as she had done a few seconds before. The music started up again. "Will you excuse us, John?" she turned to him and asked.

"Certainly." He made a slight bow and started toward the sideline as the couple danced away from him. He felt a little jealous. The first dance had ended too soon. Why did this fellow have to prevent him from having the second or third or all of them? He was sure now that he loved Laura Mae, not as he would have loved a sister, but as he would a sweetheart. Later, they drank sparkling punch from the big bowl in the latticed booth and listened to the special numbers that had been prepared for the program. They danced together several times during the evening and John introduced her to many of his old friends. Laura Mae pretended to feel happy, but she was really very sad, for when she danced with Mr. Baldwin, he told her that Everett Whitmer had not received any word yet from Gene.

When twelve o'clock came, the young couple rode home beneath the starlit sky. John would have liked to have lingered out there in the still simmer night where they could watch the twinkling stars and the round silvery moon while they talked. Laura Mae drew her wrap closer around her and said, "I wonder how my baby is and your darling mother." So, they hurried back to the home on Colonial Heights.

After saying goodnight to John, Laura Mae went to the nursery to kiss her baby and see if she was all right before she went to her room to cry herself to sleep. John went to his room and long after he had snuggled down under the fluffy covers on his bed, he imagined that he could hear sweet music and that he was still dancing with a lovely girl in a black lace dress.