And how the rose-leaves began to flutter! Susan Jenks had handed out the

bags, and secretly, and with much elation had leaned over the rail as

Constance passed down the steps, and had emptied her own little offering

of rice in the middle of the bride's blue hat!

It was Barry, aided and abetted by Leila, who brought out the old

slippers. There were Constance's dancing slippers, high-heeled and of

delicate hues, Mary's more individual low-heeled ones, Barry's outworn

pumps, decorated hurriedly by Leila for the occasion with lovers' knots

of tissue paper.

And it was just as the bride waved "Good-bye" from Gordon's limousine

that a new slipper followed the old ones, for Leila, carried away by the

excitement, and having at the moment no other missile at hand, reached

down, and plucking off one of her own pink sandals, hurled it with all

her might at the moving car. It landed on top, and Leila, with a gasp,

realized that it was gone forever.

"It serves you right." Looking up, she met Barry's laughing eyes.

She sank down on the step. "And they were a new pair!"

"Lucky that it's your birthday next week," he said. "Do you want pink

ones?'"

"Barry!"

Her delight was overwhelming. "Heavens, child," he condoned her, "don't

look as if I were the grand Mogul. Do you know I sometimes think you are

eight instead of eighteen? And now, if you'll take my arm, you can

hippity-hop into the house. And I hope that you'll remember this, that

if I give you pink slippers you are not to throw them away."

In the hall they met Leila's father--General Wilfred Dick. The General

had married, in late bachelorhood, a young wife. Leila was like her

mother in her dark sparkling beauty and demure sweetness. But she showed

at times the spirit of her father--the spirit which had carried the

General gallantly through the Civil War, and had led him after the war to

make a success of the practice of law. He had been for years the

intimate friend and adviser of the Ballards, and it was at Mary's request

that he was to stay to share in the coming conclave.

He told Leila this. "You'll have to wait, too," he said. "And now, why

are you hopping on one foot in that absurd fashion?"

"Dad, dear, I lost my shoe----"

"Her very best pink one," Barry explained; "she threw it after the bride,

and now I've got to give her another pair for her birthday."




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