The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-01-29
In THE PALACE OF TRUTH.
The Remarkable Experience Of Mr.. Rich.
ard Turner at Mrs. Grey's Ball.

In THE PALACE OF TRUTH.
The Remarkable Experience of Mr.. Rich
ard Turner at Mrs. Grey's Ball.
Richard Turner, ESQ.,, lawyer, let
US hope of future fame, returning home
the other night in an unenviably bad
humor, found certain dainty little note
awaiting him on his manteipiece. It
had just come, his landlady said, and
slowly tearing open the envelope, Dick
read as follows:
My DEAR Mr.. TURNER: Many thanks for
your lovely flowers, which have been greatly
admired. Twas like your thoughtfulness to
remember my birthday when l had almost
forgotten 1t myself. l was so sorry to have
missed you this afternoon.
cs Sincerely yours,
FLORENCE REDIFER.
A very gracious little note. but for
some reason it appeared to afford its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick read
it twice with a curling lip, then tossing
it into the scrap-basket, he lit cigar,
stretched himself in an easy chair and
thoughtfully observed through the
smokewreaths that began to float around
his head: What precious little liar
she is! As if didn't see her. ten min
utes after she was not at home to me
this afternoon, start out driving with
Tom Baker in that confoundedly jerky
dog cart of his. Shouldn't wonder if
he had jerked her out before they got
home; and serve her right, too! Why,
Snip, what is the matter with YOU, STRIP
Snip was the skye terrier, who failing
to understand why he had been sighted,
was seeking to secure his masters no.
tics by sitting upright and waving his
front paws to and fro in gentle and
deprecating fashion.
Did | hurt your feelings, poor little
boyg" said Dick, tenderly. "Well,
wouldn't, l assure you. for dozen lit
tie flirts like Florence Redifer, but l do
think, Snip, and expect you to agree
with me, that we would all be much
better off if women and men, too, would
say out truthfnlly what was in their
minds instead of this eternal beating
around the bush. Why can't people be
little more candid with their fellow
creatures instead of fooling them to the
top of their bent and then laughing be-
hind their backs? Do you know, SnipP"
Snip didn't know, but he was the last
dog in the world to confess his igno-
rance, so assuming a look of wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave mysterious little bark that could
mean anything and composed himself
again to listen.
"Just eight o'clock" said Dick, con-
sulting his watch. "In two hours I've
got to dress and 60 to Mrs. Grey's ball,
the biggist bore of the season haven't
doubt; but there is no escaping it.
Aren't you glad, Snip, you don't have
to go to ballsP'
Snip barked again, this time in an af-
firmative manner. He always accom-
modated himself to his masters moods
and was well accustomed to being
questioned. Alert and vigilant he
watched the cigar dwindle down by
slow degrees, while he waited in we'll
bred silence for a renewal of the con-
versation. But Dick was drowsy and
cross, and when the cigar was smoked
out he turned his head aside and fell
fast asleep, while his little dog, curled
contentedly around his feet. looked up
INTO his masters face with a world of
patient love in his honest brown eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten! Was it pos
sible that he had slept nearly two hours
and the clock was really striking ten?
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
10 make sure and with a stiiled groan
prepared to induct himself into his
suit. This was never very rapid proc
ess with him and by the time he en-
tered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly lit-up
house the great clock in the hall was
pointing to quarter past eleven.
The rooms were crowded and sitting
ly hot. The very flowers appeared to
droop under the glare and the heat, all
except some deep red roses which had
been arranged in a sentence over the
doorway and whose glowing hearts
presented the most sumptuous and in
tense bit of coloring, even in that many
hned apartment. 1t was strange, but
Dick found himself unable to read that
sentence, although composed of only
three short words. The language, even
the letters, were unknown to him and
Tor half a minute he stood puzzling over
the mystery. Then the incoming crowd !
gently showed him aside, and abandon
ing the effort he made the best of his !
way towards his hostess. A pretty lit |
tie woman, magnifcently dressed, but
seemingly already much fatigued with |
the work in hand, she half smiled as
Dick edged up to her.
Have you just come, Mr.. Turner?, |
she said. II thought you were to be |
one of my early BIRDS"
$50 l would have BEEN" he ex-
planned, "only, unfortunately. 1 fell
asleep and did not wake up in time" !