"CAMOUFLAGE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

"CAMOUFLAGE."

(Winning entry by Eden Coombos, .'" ■ . .". Taumarunul, age 13.) The girls of Bewville High School were seated under their favourite tree on the lawn, eating their lunches. For once, the topic of conversation was not , sports, etc., but the great masquerade ball to be held that evening in the. Theatre KoyiU. There were prizes galore for costumes and dances. It was not to be entirely a. grown-up affair, for it was in aid of the fligh School's sports, so, naturally, the girls took a keen interest in it. ',';'■■ '. .*: •■ "I think I know who'll win first prize for the 'Children Under Sixteen Waltz,'" remarked .Cleta Harnet, an excellent dancer, who, as! all her friends suspected, treasured hope 3 of winning it herself, "It's Valeric Baxon." A loud burst of laughter followed this announcement Holding her sides in mock dismay Daphne; Morris gasped: - "Sure! She'll win—easy. . Slap us up a treat.", ■ "... ... ■ \. ■ "That is, if she condescends to go," remarked another. ■' •'.-.• . And Valerie Eaxon was a washout. She had. been at the High School three days, and in'that time showed that she was ,no sport—wore her hair clasped tightly back, leaving her forehead bare, and her shoes were heavy and clumsy. She could not.play tennis,land seemed to take no interest:in anything. Cleta, seeing that her joke had been recognised, continued:'

"Her feet couldn't possibly dance without getting tangled tip." . And, sitting alone, under another tree, Valerie Eaxpn heard every word. ' :[. Frowning at the 'clumsy shoes —hurt —and not a little angry, she toyed with a twig. Suddenly, she snapped the frail stick in two, and, brushing the crumbs from her dress, stood, up. She would teach. Cleta Harnet a lesson. Avoiding the group under the tree, she, walked through the gates, and home. As she entered the front door, a boy, much like Valerie, appeared in the passage.' It was easy to , see they were twins. . '.':■ ■", . :•' '" . ' '•■ '•■

"Hullo, Val," he., grinned. "Decided you can't stick it out, eb.2" "Yes, it's all up. You bet me I could not go to school for a week in-this rigout—arid you've won," answered Valerie. "I want never to see these -wretched shoes again. Oh, arid Berry, .while I'mbrushing my hair into a sensible position, sec if you cau find those pieiTot costumes we wore at the fancy dress ball for the old school. We'll go tb the masquerade to-night." Berry nodded and departed, while Valerie entered her room to brush her hair until it waved over her forehead arid rested softly over her ears. Light shoes were put on in place of the others. She regarded her reflfsefcion in .the mirror and laughed. 'There now, .Cleta Harnet. It is— Valerie Baxon transformed." 'Here they are, Val," Berry called to <!? r ' , °. nein ask missing, that's all." ?»? the kitchen.where her Wn 4e P° El ted the red and yellow .°^ e ?_°n.the table.: Bells needed Sade' fr n ™- h \ n > lle * niask had been

scene olepaikltagS to admire the guided their I' JS?* * ierrot s the maze oISSr pa ** e ™ among happy—belle tmkled tai^ er y°»a -wae

makes masquerades so immensely popular. Somebody tried —unsuccessfully— to flick off the large absurd "beauty spot" on Valerie's chin, and she started. Berry led her to the door of the dressing room to take off her' coat. ' When she emerged once again he was waiting. They danced. Berry, like Valerie, was a, dancer born. -_ As they glided among the other dancers, Valerie tried to recognise, Cleta. •After several dances' the' master of ceremonies suggested a competition. All children tinder 16 were to take their partners for a waltz. A good many, entered for this, but only five couples were Iwlected. to dance again for the prize. Berry and Valerie were chosen. Again the orchestra struck up. Lightly, whirling round and round, skilfully avoiding the other contestants, they did their very best. Passing close to a pair in red and green Valerie looked into the eyes of the pierrette. Surely she knew those eyes—the dark brown, nearly black eyes. It was—Cleta! . The music stopped. . In perfect silence the assembly waited for the judges to announce the, winners. The M.C. beckoned, to Berry and Valerie. As they moved toward the platform a burst of applause congratulated them. Before, the prizes were presented Berry and Mβ twin had to. give their names end take off their, masks. As the M.C. spoke: r - Valerie and Master Valentine Raxon—" Valerie glanced down and eaw a red and greenpierrette gasp in astonishment at the familiar name, and beneath the- mask and ruffle, turn scarlet ' when flhe saw. Valerie's eyes on' her. Valerie smiled. She had beaten Cleta, and, revengo is sweet. Proudly carrying an interesting-look-ing book each, the twins left the platform and the dances continued. ■Eventually, the. M.C. called to the pierrots to take their partners for the lances. Knowing that it was a lengthy dance and being unable to do it, Valerie slipped outside to stay a while in the cool night air. The street was lit up eo she made her way round to the back of the theatre. Somebody had opened the exit to the cloak room and a broad beam of orange light fell on the grass outside.. From inside came the sound of scuffling and a moment later a pupi dragging something, scampered out. Valerie called him and the impudent little animal run to her. Valerie patted him and picked up tho bundle he had dragged out. It was a coat. A few seconds later Valerie was inside the room and about to hang the coat on a nail when the door opened and Cleta stood in the room. "I say, that's roy coat," she said. "And —now where's my ,brooch? It should have .been pinned, on this." The dark eyes were! turned accusingly on Valerie, who explained, p "Puppy, puppy, indeed! I've never known a pup to unpin a brooch." Clet'a's eyes blazed. "If may have come unpinned," retorted Valerie. "We can look, anyhow." She led the way outside) but, although they searched well, could find no trace of the missing jewellery.. Cleta was sarcastic, suspicious. Valerie righteously indignant. "Are , you quite sure you haven't seen the brooch, Valerie" llaxon?" asked Cleta, after a while. .

"You're insinuating, Cleta. And I have not seen the—" •

"Looking for something?" a voice interrupted. The girls-wheeled round to face a pierrot, who held a pup under his arm. . : : . ..■ • .

"Yes," answered Cleta.. "It's a brooch. It was pinned to my coat—" "Remember pinning it to this ?" asked the pierrot, passing Cleta a-silk choker —and pinned to it was a gold brooch. ' "I—-yes, I do, now," Cleta looked very embarrassed. "Thanks. ■ Er—where did it come from?"' • , .

"I caught this young scamp with it." He glanced down at the pup. "He followed me here and it wouldn't be he if he didn't get up to some mischief. I'm taking him home." The pierrot left them then; . . • Showing the better side of her character Cleta apologised. ''' ; Before .Valerie could reply somebody burst into the cloak room and called: ""Cleta! We've finished the lancers. Where are you, Cleta?" "It's Daphne. 11l have to go." whispered Cleta, but still she iingered. "We're friehde, Valerie?" : " . ':■ Knnnbig lightly np the steps oh those leet that "couldn't possibly dance with-