Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/56

 revolving palace a crowd of people stood watching the brightening sky. A small black box suddenly appeared, whirling upwards at a great speed; then came an explosion; and a gigantic uncouth monster, idol or demon, floated slowly earthward, assuming successive clumsy attitudes in its descent, now bowing gravely, again doubling itself up, as in a very paroxysm of infernal laughter at the crowd beneath, who screamed and applauded with shout and halloo.

"It is too ugly," cried Robert; "its horrid shadow must not fall on you. Away! away!"

"Look again!" said Margaret; "see the palette of the cloud-painter."

This time the square black box had thrown out a little group of colors, to the number of seven. These grew and grew, till they seemed like so many tinted clouds floating westward toward the sunset, which now began to flame forth from the crystal sky.

"To the dancers!" cried Robert. "Come while there is yet time; it will soon be night." And taking the hand of his companion, he hurried her toward a spot where a group of people were weaving the intricate patterns of a contra-dance. Thrusting aside the crowd of on-lookers, he quickly found a place for himself and his partner, and they struck into the measure with a frank delight which animated the dancers as a