It was to be a lantern frolic and a lantern dance and supper, all most
formally and impressively _sans facon_. And it began with a candle-race
for a big silver gilt cup--won by Sandon Craig and his partner, Evelyn
Cardwell, who triumphantly bore their lighted taper safely among the
throngs of hostile contestants, through the wilderness of flitting
lights, and across the lawn to the goal where they planted it,
unextinguished, in the big red paper lantern.
Selwyn and Eileen came up breathless and laughing with the others, she
holding aloft their candle, which somebody had succeeded in blowing out;
and everybody cheered the winners, significantly, for it was expected
that Miss Cardwell's engagement to young Craig would be announced before
very long.
Then rockets began to rush aloft, starring the black void with
iridescent fire; and everybody went to the lawn's edge where, below on
the bay, a dozen motor-boats, dressed fore and aft with necklaces of
electric lights, crossed the line at the crack of a cannon in a race for
another trophy.
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