The rapid, pulsating music, the swiftly whirling figures, the quivering drapery overhead, the bright youthful faces, the glow of numerous lamps, together with the ceaseless voices and merry shuffling of feet, all combined to create a scene sufficiently picturesque.

It was altogether different from what he had anticipated.

He watched the speeding figures, striving in vain to distinguish the particular one whose charms had lured him thither.

He looked upon fair faces in plenty, flushed cheeks and glowing eyes skurried past him, with swirling skirts and flashes of neatly turned ankles, as these enthusiastic maids and matrons from hill and prairie strove to make amends for long abstinence.

But among them all he was unable to distinguish the wood-nymph whose girlish frankness and grace had left so deep an impression on his memory.