es
of the opposite sex.

"Run away now, like a good boy," she said to him, as she had to her
father, and closed the door once more.

She ran to her bathroom and filled two vases with water and put the
flower stems in, that they might drink and keep the blossoms fresh.

Then, with a lighter air and tread, she went about her dressing for the
party.

She put up her hair, deftly copying the fashion that Sue Latrop--that
mirror of Eastern fashion--affected. And the new mode became Frances
vastly.

Her new dress--the one she had had made for the pageant--had already
come home from the city dressmaker who had her measurements. She spread
it upon the bed and got her skirts and other linen.

Half an hour later she was out of her bath and ready for the dress
itself. It went on and fitted perfectly.

"I am sure anybody must admire this," she told herself. She was sure
that none of the girls at the dinner and dance would be more fitly
dressed than herself--if she stopped right here!

But now she returned to the dresser and looked at the blazing gems from
the old Spanish chest. If only daddy did not want her to wear them!

A ring, one bracelet, possibly the brooch. She might wear those without
shocking good taste. All were beautiful; but the heavy settings, the
great belt of gold and emeralds, the necklace of sparkling
brilliants--all, all were too rich and too startling for a girl of her
age, and well Frances knew it.

With sinking heart and trembling fingers she adorned herself with the
heaviest weight of trouble she had ever borne.

A little later she descended the stairs, slowly, regally, bearing her
head erect, and looking like a little tragedy queen as she appeared in
the soft evening glow at the foot of the stairs.

Pratt's gasp of wonder and amazement made the old Captain turn to look.

Above her brow was a crescent of sparkling stones. The long, graceful
earrings lay lovingly upon the bared, velvet shoulders of the girl.

The bracelets clasped the firm flesh of her arms warmly. The collar of
gems sparkled at her throat. The brooch blazed upon her bosom. And
around her slender waist was the great belt of gold.

She was a wonderful sight! Pratt was dazzled--amazed. The old ranchman
poked him in the ribs.

"What do you think of _that_?" he demanded. "Went right down to the
bottom of the chest to get all that stuff. Isn't she the whole show?"

And Frances had hard work to keep back the tears. She knew that