The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-06-04

clings to him, so that no needless elbows
or awkward feet may touch it. He
makes his way carefully through the
dizzy crowd, winding in and out, now
backward, now forward, now around,
guiding her perfectly, guarding her
safely from ali danger of collision with
the rapidly changing throng. Allies
eyes never move from that refuge of
black broadcloth where they fed to es-
cape the glowing brightness of the ones
that looked so fondly into them; but
every nerve is sensitive to the direction
Of the arm that guides her, and gently
she yields to its slightest motion, and
follows where he leads her. Their arms
are round each other, their hands
clasped; Charles warm breath plays
against her cheek. They are uncon-
scious of everything save each other,
and the music tells its rapturous story
of love and ecstasy, and the white lilies
give out their sweetest fragrance as they
are crushed into shapelessness between
the two hearts that beat so closely and
passionately against each other. The
lilies are sacrificed, but the enchant-
ment is complete.
Mamma is beginning to be disturbed.
Are they going to keep it up forever 4?
Solomon has taken his place by n am
mas side, and has been contiding to her
his opinion of round dancing. "When
I was young, ma'am-" Then he sud-
denly stops. When Solomon comes to
think of it, he decides that it is really
both unadvisable and unnecessary to
draw attention to the manner in which
he spent his youthful days. But nam
ma agrees with him. The white lilies
have swung past her box once or twice
in their triumphant progress round the
ballroom, led by Charles arm, and
mamma has discovered an expression
in Charles eyes that leads her at once
to the conclusion that waltzing is repre-
hensible and abominable. To be sure,
she knew his mother, aud has great
confidence in him, and his income Is
only thousand year, and he knows
his position. But Charlie is looking
dangerously handsome tonight with
that light in his eyes. He looks as if
he might own the town, and mamma
begins to wonder if her confidence has
not been misplaced. Besides, she sud-
denly remembers that Allie sometimes
proves herself difficult little mortal to
deal with, and altogether a change
comes over the spirit of her dream.
Solomon is scowliug ominously D.; Charlie
and Allie are clear across the building.
If she could only catch their eye. Poor
mamma Allie has no eyes to catch.
They are buried in Charles coat. And
as for Charles, what good would it do?
He would only smile back at you, and
whisk the lace and lilies away from un.
1ar NTH hoort-
lessness peculiar to young men toward
ladies of your age.
Mamma becomes every moment more
agitated. Shenow wonders how she ever
could have tolerated Charlie Horton.
In her distress she appeals to Solomon.
"Dear Mr.. Yellowstone, / feel con-
WINGED that Alice is overwhelming her
self. Could trouble you to ask Mr..
Horton to bring her here for a mo-
ment?"
Solomon is delighted. "I will bring
her Immediately"
moment. You have had the govt, and
locomOtion is difficult business for you,
and Charlie Horton is the best dancer
in the city.
Solomon begins his chase. Charlie
bends until the long mustaches rest on
the brown braids beneath them.
"Your mother has sent for you,
Allie. Money-bags is after us.
"Oh, Charlie | The little hand
involuntarily clasps his, and the unfortu-
nate lilies get another squeeze.
Charlie looks wicked, and the look he
darts at Solomon is a mixture of mis-
n, Of ~ md
are among the thickest of the crowd of
dancers. Solomon is bewildered he
has lost them. Then a sudden plunge
in a straight line, Charlie takes her
right through the moving, revolving
crowd, out under the bunting, and
through a corridor. They are in the
wrecks of the feast-demolished pyra-
mids, half, eaten sandwiches, dripping
ice-cream, and empty bottles.
"AlIie ?"
eyes"
"Do you love me?"
ooh, Charlie
"Tbat's no answer. Are yeu going
to marry Moneybags
No, no, no-no no!
"Me?"
Allie nose retlred into Charne s
dess- coat.
There was war in the family mansion
on Lexington avenue. But Charlie led
the victorious party. Moneybags was
routed, papa vanquished, and mamma
forced to surrender. Young America
won, as it always does in this enlight-
ened nineteenth century. When papa
protested, Charlie asked him how large
his income was when he undertook the
responsibilities of matrimony. Papa
yielded to logic, and took Charlie into
business with him. Mamma remem-
bered that she knew his mother. Then
Allie Rugged them both, and the cards
were printed in Old English.
Charlie" said Allie, a month after
the wedding, {" isn't Strauss lovely?"
eyes. Bless him "
Allie would have replied, but Charles
demands upon her mouth made articu-
lation impossible.