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

were on the floor contending with their fel-
lowcreatures for a little room to whrl around
in, and seemingly successful in their strug-
gle, until slight lurch sent them rather
suddenly against another pair Of dancers.
THAT was stupid, wasn't it ?" said Dick.
as they stopped to take breath after the con
cussion.
EYES," replied she of the brown eyes, rais-
ing them frankly to his face. "You are
rather poor dancer. Perhaps YOU are out
of practice"
'Ipdeed, ought not to be-" protested
Dick. in unutterable indignation at the
charge. 81 never danced more in my life
than have this winter"
'ls that so? II must be awkwardness
then, said his companion, gently "Some
people never can thoroughly learn think
it is natural gift"
Dick wondered if he could have heard
Alright, or if that wretched little flute, still
piping away so complacently, had absolute
ly bewildered him. If there was one thing
he prided himself on more than another
one gift, natural or otherwise. which he felt
sure of possessing-it was his dancing
Was the brown-eyed damsel out of her
mind, or was she simply an ill-bred little
thing who did not know good dancer from
bad one? Whichever was the case, he
lost no time in getting rid of her. and mute
with amazement and disgust, took refuge
among group Of men at the door
.iou here, Turner" said one Of them
II hardly recognized you at first, YOU look
so yellow
"Do !, ?" said Dick, shortly, and
wondering what he was doomed to hear
next.
Il should rather think YOU did," was the
friendly answer. IL just said to Smith
here. asyou came up, that between your sal
low skin and that bald spot on your head
YOU were beginning to look like an old man
before your time. Why don't YOU take to
country life and early hours and freshen up
bit ?"
why don't YOU mind your own affairs
and kindly leave me TO attend to mine ?" re-
torted Dick now thoroughly aroused, and
withou, waiting for another word, he veered
around and left the group, who one and all
seemed profoundly astonished at his ll-,em-
per.
BY this time h. began TO feel little un-
certain who approached next Having been
told already that he was stupid. ugly, and
bad dancer. what was there left for him TO
hear? He certainly had never met so many
dlsagreeable peoplC in his life. and he had
serious thoughts Of beating a permanent re-
treat, when he caught sight Of a blonde head
half hidden behind the azaleas in the con-
seryatory. IL was Florence Redifer, whom
he had never expected 10 meet tonight, and
whom two hours ago he would have indiy-
nsntly avoided. But for some reason his
contempt for her fsttery and falsehood had
been strangely modified in so short a time,
and he felt positive yearning to listen to
her pretty nothings and 10 see her blue ewes
uplifted with that tender glance of admiring
trustfulness TO his. 1t must have cost her a
great deal Of time and patience 10 cultivate
that glance up to its present perfection, and
II Was unknd. after all, TO sneer at the re-
suit Of such honest and enduring toll
The next minute he was by her side She
did look very pretty, her hair tumbled in
some mysterious fashion on the top of her
shapely little head; her bright face lit up
with smiles. and her white silk cleaning un-
der the colored lamps with soft and shift
ing radiance that pleased Dicks cultivated
eye. lie was not one Of those TO whom a
woman's gown IS u matter of Indifference
II came in here for little air." she said
''the rooms are so terribly hot. and the
whole affair is very stupid. Don't you think
so r.
ut has been worse than stupid for me-"
he answered laughing. II have been insult
ed wherever | went. First, Mrs. Grey told
me was often very stupid then Miss Vim
cent-do YOU know her She is dancing
nov with Tom Stern
Il don't know her; but never mind
What did she say to YOU ?"
"She told me that | was awkward and
bad dancer. and intima,ed that could new
er thoroughly learn"
Florence Redifer burst into a laugh as
clear and nierr. as silver bells "But YOU
know, Mr.. Turner" she said, "your best
friends do no, claim for you tha, YOU dance
well"
Dick gasped and then recovered he was
getting hardened now. Il always fat,ered
myself that did," he said boldly
She looked at MIN in some surprise ..Of
course don't mean to say" she explained,
THAT one cannot get around with YOU al all,
but only you are not very graceful or sure
footed. There are plenty of men here who
dance worse. Mr.. Simpson, for instance
II should hope So" said Dick, as Simp-
son, 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. "lf that is the best YOU can say for
me. Miss Florence, | shall never have the
audacity to ask YOU to dance again" and
with heavy heart he left the conservatory,
now fairly satisfied he had had enough of
Mrs. Grey's ball.
He took glass Of champagne in the sup
per room, where its quality was being freely
discussed by the young men who fingered /
there, and went back TO pay his respects to
his hostess. There were still plenty OF peo-
pie about, but chill seemed to have fallen /
on them. the dancers were few, and every
body looked bored or discontented. Mrs. /
Grey was saying the last words to party
Of guests who we're about taking their de- /
parture.
"Such pity it should have been fail
ure," he heard one of them whisper in a tone
Of sympathy. "And after all the expense YOU
have gone to.'
81 am sure, then, it must have been the /
fault Of my guests returned Mrs. GRAY.
''for did my part as well as could. Whv, |
49, AoiHei' "c you SoihS 81 soOu +. 1
wonder if you. too, found my part, stupid
ole ?"
She looked so harassed that Dick forgot
the grudge he owed her, and would gladly
have declared her ball both brilliant and de- |
lightful, but the words he wished to say
stuck in his throat-he absolutely could not
give them utterance. An awful impulse was |
upon him, and to his own secret horror and |
dismay he heard himself assuring her the |
painful truth that it was the most dismal af
fair he had ever witnessed in his life. Then, |
overwhelmed with shame at his own invol- |
untary rudeness, he turned away, and his
eyes fell upon the crimson roses still bloom
ing freshly over the doorway.
What an idiot he must have been. There
in plain English letters, were the three
words, "Palace Of Truth" As he looked |
and read, the magic flute pealed forth SO
loudly and with so shril triumph in its |
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 reproachful. wondering
pvps