CHAPTER XI
A Surprise for Cinderella
The Ryeville Courier reported that the county was “agog” over the ball to be given by the veterans of the Rye House porch. Invitations were delivered with the same expedition that they had been printed and by nightfall of the day the scheme was hatched everybody who was anybody, and a great many who made no pretense of being, had received a notice that he or she was expected to come to the skating rink on Friday night to a debut party.
“We’ll show ’em,” boasted Judge Middleton, who with Colonel Crutcher had driven about town in his buggy, delivering invitations. “First, we’ll stop at the Buck place and ask Judith. We can’t have a party without our Cinderella.”
Judith had returned from her peddling trip, and was busily engaged in preparing the motormen’s supper, when her old admirers arrived.
“Hi, Miss Judy!” they called from the buggy. 124
“Hi, yourself!” she cried, appearing around the side of the house with floury hands and flushed face.
“We’re gonter give a ball and we want to ask you to come to it,” said the Colonel. “It is to be this Friday night coming.”