Linda Carlton, Air Pilot

by Edith Lavell

  CHAPTER XIII

  _The Masque Ball_

  The gay young set at Green Falls to which Linda belonged had plannednothing for that afternoon except the regular swim, for the ball wouldbe late, and the donning of their costumes would take a good deal oftime. Linda, however, even passed up the swim in favor of a nap, forshe was very tired. Besides, she had no desire to meet Ralph at thelake or anywhere else.

  Like all the social affairs at this charming resort, the masqueball--the greatest event of the season, with the possible exceptionof the field day at the close--began early. Dinner at the Carltonswas over by half-past seven, and, after assuring herself that Linda'scostume was to her satisfaction, Miss Carlton left the bungalow. Shewas a patroness, of course, and she wanted to get to the Casino early,to pass final judgment upon the decorations and the music.

  Harriman Smith arrived at half-past eight, in a taxi, for as one ofthe poorer members of the crowd, he did not possess a car of his own.Linda, in the filmy dress of the fairy queen, with a crown of goldenstars about her hair, welcomed him into the bungalow.

  "Linda!" exclaimed the young man, in positive awe. "I never saw anyoneso beautiful in my whole life!"

  She smiled shyly, pleased at the compliment. But of course as yet hehad not seen the other girls in their costumes!

  "It's the dress," she explained modestly. "If there's any credit, itshould go to Aunt Emily. She selected it.... I like your costume, too,Harry. You're Robin Hood, aren't you?"

  "Yes--I'm glad you can recognize me, anyway.... But Linda, seriously, Ijust know you'll take the prize for the most beautiful woman!"

  "I didn't know there was a prize."

  "Of course there is. And for the most handsome man. And the bestdancers--and the funniest.... Probably some more I don't remember....But I guess you never think much about prizes."

  "I do about some prizes," she admitted. "Cups for endurance flights,and high altitudes--and things like that!"

  "Naturally--trust you to be up on anything connected with airplanes. Isuppose you'll be winning some of them yourself sometime. But when itcomes to social events----"

  "Well, you're often the same way, Harry," she teased. "Look at theparties you passed up last winter, just because of your engineeringcourse!"

  The boy smiled, not at all displeased by the observation, for he wasa youth who took his studies seriously. Unlike Maurice Stetson andRalph Clavering, who seemed interested only in the fraternities and thesports at college, he went there with the idea of working. And he likedLinda all the better for recognizing his ambition and understanding it.

  "But we oughtn't to stand here talking, forgetting all about yourtaxi," Linda reminded her companion. "Why don't you dismiss it, andtake my car?"

  "A queen mustn't drive!" he protested. "And you wouldn't like me to runyour car----"

  "I don't mind you, Harry. You're never careless. It's people likeMaurice that I can't bear to see handle it."

  "I don't blame you one bit," he said, and realizing that she wouldreally prefer to go in her own roadster, he did as she suggested.

  All the way to the Casino they both carefully avoided any mention ofKitty Clavering's loss, or, in fact, of anything distasteful--eventhe quarrel with Ralph and the change of plans which had thrown themtogether as partners. Linda asked him how the different members of thecrowd had paired off, and Harry told her as much as he had happened tolearn at the lake that afternoon. Kit and Maurice were of course goingtogether, and Dot Crowley and Jim Valier--the smallest and the tallestmembers of their set. Sara Wheeler had promised Jackson Stiles, andHarry seemed to recall that Sue Emery was accompanying Joe Sinclair. Hedid not mention Louise and Ralph.

  It was just a little before nine when they reached the Casino, gaylylighted with Japanese lanterns, and decorated with flowers andstreamers. The wide French windows of the dance hall were all thrownopen, and the huge verandas were as beautifully lighted as the insideof the Casino. Strains of music floated out from the orchestra, whichwas already in place. Upstairs there would be bridge tables for theolder members of the party and the supper would be served on theroof-garden.

  As the couple entered the wide doors of the Casino, a surging ofpride swept through the young man because of the girl at his side. Inspite of her mask, people must recognize Linda Carlton, so stately, solovely, so charming! With what wisdom her aunt had chosen that costume!The girl was every inch a queen.

  In the dressing-room there was naturally a great deal of excitement,for the girls were all trying to identify each other. Linda spottedLouise immediately--dressed as an Egyptian Princess. Her costume wasunusual, daring; she stood out among all the others as a sunflowermight among a bunch of spring blossoms. And of course she wore huge,odd, earrings.

  "Linda, you're sweet!" she cried, starting forward to kiss her chum,and stopping just in time as she remembered the make-up on her lips,and the amount of time she had consumed putting it there.

  "Sh!" warned Linda. "Don't give me away!"

  "I won't, darling. But everybody will know you anyhow. Come on--youcouldn't possibly improve yourself! And we must hurry. I hear themlining up now for the grand march."

  A laughing, happy group, the girls made their way back to the ballroomwhere their partners claimed them. It amused Linda--and yet it hurther a little, too--to see Ralph Clavering lead Louise away without evenseeming to notice her. But Harry Smith was right there too, as if toprotect his partner from any unpleasantness.

  The music of the grand march rolled out triumphantly, and the couplesfell into step, circling the big room, and walking past the committeeon the raised platform, whose members were to pass judgment on thecostumes for the awarding of the prizes. As Linda walked demurely atHarry's side, past this intent, solemn body of men and women, she neverlifted her eyes. She was all the more amazed when, a couple of minuteslater, she heard a childish voice cry out above the music.

  "Does 'ou fink me cute?" and, turning about, Linda recognized DotCrowley, dressed as a little school-girl, and actually callingattention to herself. Of course everybody laughed; you just hadto smile at Dot. And her long-legged partner, Jim Valier, dressedappropriately as Uncle Sam, looked so out-of-place at her side.

  The costumes were really marvelous; if Linda had not come for anyother reason than to see them, it would have been worth while. Therewere several hundred people at the ball the proceeds of which weregiven entirely to charity, and though there were naturally manyrepetitions--numerous George and Martha Washingtons, Pierrots andPierrettes, clowns and gypsies, there were also many unusual ones.But although she did not realize it, there was no one in that wholeassembly so charmingly beautiful as Linda Carlton.

  The grand march consumed almost an hour, after which the judgeswithdrew to make their decisions, and then the dancing began.

  The floor was perfect and the music excellent; Linda fell into stepwith her partner and gave herself up to the enjoyment the pastimealways afforded her. Whenever she had a good partner like Harry--orRalph--she always experienced a marvelous sensation of floating alongto the strains of the music, a sensation that somehow reminded herof flying. And then they passed Ralph and Louise, and Linda wonderedwhether the former would ask her to dance.

  After that she danced with all the boys she knew, in turn--all exceptRalph. Even when Harry managed a dance with Louise, while Linda wasdancing with a stag, Ralph did not cut in. But this did not spoil hergood time, for she felt that she had been in the right, championingTed, even though her father was on the other side.

  Ralph's avoidance of her niece had not escaped Miss Carlton's eyes,and she sighed. Why was there always some drawback to rich people, shewondered? But perhaps Ralph would get over his childishness when hegrew older. And in the meantime Linda did not lack for attention.

  Just before the party went up to the roof for supper, the prizes wereawarded. Linda Carlton won first prize for the women--and, ludicrousas it was, Ralph Clavering, as King Arthur, was selected first amongthe men. They walked across the floor togeth
er, Linda giving him a shysmile. To Louise and Harry, and Miss Carlton, who knew about the tiff,the coincidence was very amusing.

  Two other guests whom Linda did not know were awarded the prizes forthe funniest costumes, and, to their own amazement, Louise and Ralphwere called out as the couple who had given the best exhibition ofdancing. There was no shyness as these two stepped forward. Ralph,looking roguish, held out his arms and whistled a tune, and as Louiseslipped into them, they waltzed across the floor.

  The supper was gorgeous in every detail: the food was excellent,the service perfect. Linda felt that she had never been to quite somagnificent a party before.

  "You do like all this, don't you, Linda?" asked her partner, as theyfinished their ice-cream, molded in fancy forms, like small dollsor figurines, in pastel colors. "You really like parties? Because Isometimes wonder----"

  "I love them," replied the girl, her eyes shining. "That is, when theycome once or twice a summer, like this. But I would get awfully tiredof them if I had nothing else."

  "But next winter," he reminded her, "when you are a debutante----"

  "I'm going to try not to be," she interrupted. "If I can slide out ofit, without hurting Aunt Emily's feelings. I want to go to a groundschool, and study aviation seriously."

  "You mean make it your life work?" he asked, respectfully.

  "Yes--seriously."

  But it was no time to talk; the music had started again, and everybodywanted to make good use of the last, best hour of the party.

  And so for all that evening, Linda Carlton was the care-free, populargirl that her Aunt Emily loved her to be.