The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-01-20

stupid; then Miss Vincent, do You know
her? She is dancing now with Tom
Stern.''
g don't know her; but never mind!
What did she say to you?" >,...-,sz.
She told me that | was awkward
and a bad dancer and intimated that l
| could never thoroughly learn"
Florence Redifer burst into laugh
as clear and merry as silver bells. but
You know, Mr.. Turner" she said,
''your best friends do not claim for you
that you dance well.n a....~ ...'s
Dick gasped and then recovered; he
was getting hardened now. Il always
battered myself | did," he said boldly.
She looked at him in some surprise.
"Of course | don't mean to say" she
explained, THAT one cannot get around
with you at all, but only that you are
not very graceful or sure-feoted.v There
are plenty of men here who dance worse
Mr.. Simpson, for instance,''
- should hope so," said Dick, as
Simpson, a little weak-eyed man. who
held his fair partner as if he feared she
was packed with dynamite and. was IN
danger every minute of exploding,
moved laboriously past the door, "1f
that is the best you can say for me,
Miss Florence, | shall never have the
audacity to ask YOU to dance again."
and with a heavy heart he left the con-
servatory, now fully satisfied he had
had enough of Mrs. Grey's ball.
He took a glass of champagne in the
supper room, where its quality was be-
ing freely discussed by the young men
VINO fingered there and went back to
pay his parting respects to his hostess.
There were still plenty of people about,
but a chill seemed to have fallen on
them, the dancers were few and eyery-
body looked bored or discontented.
Mrs. Grey was saying the last words to
a party of guests who were about taking
their departure.
Such pity it should have been a
failure" he heard one of them whisper
in a tone of.sympathy. .,And after ALI
the expense you have gone tor'
II am sure, then, it must have been
the fault of my guests returned Mrs.
Grey, "for | did my part as well as
could. Why. Mr.. Turner, are you go
ing so soone wonder if you,' too,
found my party a stupid one?''
She looked so harassed that Dick for
got the grudge he owed her, and would
gladly have declared her ball both
brilliant and delightful. but the words
he wished to say stuck in his throat-he
absolutely could not give them utter
ance. An awful impulse was upon him
and to his own secret horror and dis
may be heard himself assuring her the
painful truth that it was the most dismal
affair he had ever witnessed in his life.
Then overwhelmed with shame at his
involuntary rudeness he turned away
and his eyes fell pom the crimson roses
still blooming freshly .overethe door
way.
What an idiot he must have been!
There in plain English letters were
the three words, 9 Palace of Truth"
As he looked and read the magic flute
peaed forth SO loudly and so shrill a
triumph inits tone that Dick fairly
jumped and in the violence of his start
kicked the sleeping Snip, who leaped
out OF his masters way and gazed at
him with replUachable. wondering eyes,
Eleven clock. as l am Il living
man. said Dick, yawning. Three
hours asleep and no ball for me to-
night. Snip, you little villain, why
didn't you awaken me?" 80 -
Snip was silent. He felt the arrant
injustice of this remark and bore it with
the equanimity of stole.
Well" said his master, slowly as
he lit his candle. 3" since you did not,
and as | have had all the dissipation
and all the caudor need for one niuht
| think, little dog, that you and will
60 peaceably and gratefully to bed."-
PHILADELPHIA Times.