@@@@@The high point of the parade had
@@@@@The high point of the parade had come
and
gone, leaving them wet and chilled but exalted
Scarlett heard it from dozens of smiling mouths as people passed her
gate"There's more parade to come," she said to some of them
"Can't top 'Dixie,' can it?" they repliedEven
she didn't feel interested in seeing the floats, and she'd worked very
hard on hersSpent a lot of money, too, on crepe paper and tinsel
that the rain must have ruinedAt least she could sit down to watch
now, that was somethingShe didn't want to tire herself out when
tonight was the Masquerade BallTen endless minutes dragged by
before
the first float appearedScarlett could see why when it got near
The wagon's wheels kept getting stuck in the churned red clay mud of
the streetShe sighed and pulled her shawl more closely around her
Looks like I'm in for a long waitIt took over an hour for the
decorated wagons to make their way past her; her teeth were
chattering
before it was overBut at least hers was the bestThe bright crepe
paper flowers around the wagon's sides were soggy, but still bright
And "Kennedy's Emporium" in silver gilt tinsel shone clearly through
the rain drops caught in itThe big barrels labelled "flour," sugar,"
cornmeal,"
"molasses,"
"coffee,"
"salt" were empty, she knew, so no
damage was done there
And the tin washtubs and washboards wouldn't rustThe iron kettles
were damaged anyhow; she'd glued paper flowers over the dentsThe
only dead loss was the wooden-handled toolsEven the lengths of
fabric that she'd draped so artistically over a stretch of chicken wire
could be salvaged for the penny bargain binIf only anybody had
waited around to see her float, she was sure they'd have been
impressedShe hunched her shoulders and made a face at the last
wagonIt was surrounded by dozens of shouting, capering chil