Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-08-23

The Palace Of Truth.


future fame, returning home the other night
in An uncnyiably bad humor, found certain
little note awaiting him on his mantel- piece.
Il had jus, come, his landlady said, and
slowly tearing open the envelope, Dick read
as fellows:
My DEAR Mr.. TURNER: Many thank. for
Your lovely nowcr>, which have been greatly
admired. / was like vuur thoughtfulnes. 10
remember my birthday when had almost for
gotten II myself was sorry Ia miss YOUR
call ihi> afternoon.
sincerely yours,
FLORENCE REDIFEE."
\ NerN gracious little note. but for some
reason il appeared 10 afford its reader but
small satisfaction. Dick read il twice with
a curling lip. then tossing it into the scrap
basket he iit cigar. stretched himself in an
easy chair and thoughtfuly observed through
the smoke ~reaths that began TO float around
hl> head. What a precious little liar she
Is hs If didn't see her, ten minutes af-
ter he was not al home to me this after-
noon, start out driving with Tom Baker in
that confoundedly jerhy 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 j. the matter with
YOU, III ?"
Snip was the skye terrier, who. failing to
understand why he had been slighteI. was
seeking 10 secure has masters notice by sit
'ins upright and waving his front paws TO
and tro IN gentle and deprecating fashion.
"lDid hart yonr feelings, poor little boy r.
said Dick, tcadcr.y. "Well. | would not. |
assure YOU, for dozen little hirts like Flor
ence Red.irr, but do think, Snip, and ex-
ptct yeu To agree With me. that We would all
be much BETTER of If women, and men. too.
would say out trulhtully what was in their
mind, instead Of this eternal beating around
the bush. Why can't people be little more
candid with their fellow creatures, instead of
foollng them y the top Of their bent and
then laughing behind their back, DO YOU
know, Snip"
Snip didn't know. but he wa, the last dog
in the world 10 confess his ignorance, 50 as.
suming look Of wisdom which Solomon
might have en,ied, he gave Il mysterious lit
lie bark that could mean ANYTHING and com
posed himself again to listen.
Just eight O'clock said Dick. consult
ing his watch. In two hours I've got to
dress and go 10 Mrs Crews ball, the biggest
bore Of the season haven't doubt; but
there j. no escaping il. Aren't YOU glad,
''i4p- YOU uOh nave 10 20 10 Dhlls
Snip barked again. thu, time in an affirm
ative manner. He always accommodated
himself 10 hi, masters moods, and VAS well
accustomed 10 being questioned. Alert and
vlgllant. he watched the cigar dwindle down
by >low degrees. while he waited in we'll
bred silence for a renewal of the conyersa-
tion. But Dick was drowsy and cross, and
when the cigar was smoked out he turned
his mead aside and fell fast asleep, while his
little dog, curled conrentedly around his feet,
looked up into his masters face with a world
Of patient love in his honest brown ewes
Seven. eight, nine. ten. Wss il possible
that he had slept nearly two hours, and the
clock was striking ten? Dick jumped up.
glanced al his watch 10 make sure, and, with
a stliied groan, prepared to induct himsef in
to his dress suit. This was never a very
rapid process with him, and by the time he
entered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly lighted house
the great clock in the hall was pointing to
quarter past eleven.
The rooms were crowded and stitiinglv
hot. The very flowers appeared to droop
under the glare and the neat-all except
some deep red roses which had been ar
ranged in sentence over the doorway, and
whose glowing hearts presented the most
sumptuous and intense bit Of coioring. even
in that many -hued apartment 1t was
strange. but Dick found himself unable to
read that sentence, although composed Of
only three short words. The language, ev-
Ell the letters, were unknown to him, and
for half minute he stood puzzling over the
mystery. Then the incoming crowd gently
showed him aside, and abandoning the effort,
he made the best Of his way towards the
hostess. y pretty little woman, magnif-
Gently dressed, but seemingly already much
tatigued with the work in hand half-smiled
as Dick edged up to her.
Have you just come. Mr.. Turner ?" she
said, Il th.ught you were to be one Of my
early birds"
$50 | would have been,' he explained,
''only, unfortunately, fell asleep and did
not wake up in time
oh that was the case, was it j? Well,
such lengthy nap ought to brighten you up
beautifully for the rest of the evening.
Sometimes, YOU know, you are rather stu
pid."
Dick looked at her TO see if she meant
joke, but her pretty face was grayely raised
to his. 'lou are hattering me-" he said,
shortly
'l don't mean to, indeed" she answered,
quite earnestly. "But there are plenty of
men who are always stupid, while yuu can
be rather entertaining when you are at your
best and she turned gently from him to
greet new batch of guests.
"Was | ever damned with such faint
praise before thought Dick. IL wonder if
| am at my best tonight? -
For minute he stood taking survey of
the scene hefore hin, Tho musici.ps ,rar.
playing waltz, and playing it well only,
strange to say, there was flute among them
which came piping in with its shrill, persis-
tent little treble in manner distracting to
Dicks over-sensitiye ear. He thought of
Mozart's saying that the only thing in the
world worse than flute in an orchestra was
two flutes, and wondered at Mrs. Grey's
choice in music. Nevertheless, as long as
he was there he might as well dance, and
looking around for familiar faces, his first