Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-05-09


to Justify the BAH being given, and
number of celebrities were present.
Outside it was dull and chilly, with
thick yellow fog perVading the atmOs-
phere, but within the ballroom 1T was
like fairyland with the brilliant light of
the lamps, the prOfusiOn of bright overs,
and the gay dresses worn by the ladies.
The orchestra. hidden behind a gorgeous
screen of tropical plants, was playing the
latest waltz, a Friend of Mine, and the
sigh and sob of the melody as it stole
softly through the room seemed to in
spire the dancers with a vOIuptuOus Ian
guor as they glided over the polished
floor. The soft frOu-frou OF wOmen's
dresses mingled with the light laughter
of young girls and the whispered conf
dences of their partners, while over all
dominated the haunting melody with its
weird mOdulatiOns and suggestions of
sensuous passion.
Near the door of the ballroom young
man of about thirty years of age was lean
ing against the wall in a lazy attitude,
idly watching the dancers swinging past
him; but Judging from the preOccupied
expression of his face his thoughts were
evidently far away. He was tall, dark
haired, with a short cut, well-trimmed
beard, piercing dark eyes, a firmly COM
pressed mouth, and judging from his
sWarthy complexion together with GER
tain crisp curl in his ha.r, he evidently
had some negro blood in his veins. Sud
denly he was aroused from his medita-
tions by Il touch on his shoulder, and on
glancing up saw before him a stout elder
" gentleman with white hair, a ruddy
face, and rather a Silenus cast of cOun-
tenance.
The one was Spenser EIlersby, only son
of a wealthy West Indian planter, and
the other Horace Marion, a welI-known
society man generally called The Town
Crier, from the fact that he knew all the
current scandals and retailed them with
elaborate embellishments TO his numerous
circle of friends.
Hey EIlersby, my boy, " said The Town
Crier on the alert to acquire new infOr-
nation, have you come back once more
to England, home and beauty-hey? Been
all over the world. 1 suppose, hey? Going
to publish a book of travels, hey?"
Not me, " replied Ellersby, in the slow,
languid manner habitual to him; every
one VINO goes q half a dozen miles nova
days publishes a book of travels under
some fantastic title. 1 prefer to be re-
nOwned for not having done so"
Broke no new ground, hey?"
"No, " indiferently. Il haven't the in
stincts of Columbus, so the old ground
was good enough for me. I've done Afri-
ca in superficial manner, called on oul
American cousins, passed the same COM
pliment to our Australian ditto, in fact
done the usual thing with the usual re-
suit"
"Heyi what's that?"
A sense of being bored-I agree with
Voltaire to a certain extent this is the
best of all possible worlds, " but one does
get q little tired Of it-howeyer, I have
satisfied your curiosity, now return the
compliment. I've been away from Eng
land for two years, so know nothing Of
life in town-cOme. unfOld-tell me all
scandals, deaths, marriages, divorces, IL
fact all the gossip of the hour.
This WAS an occupation after The TOwI
Crier's own heart, so he launched out int
a long description of folly and fashion
varied by sermons and scandal, which
being spiced with a little righteousness
proved quite an amusing discourse
EIlersby listened in silence with a quie
smile on his lips, every now and thel
giving vent to an ejaculation as he hear
some special mOrse1 of news.
@JYou ought to write your memoirs, Mar
ton, he said, dryly; they would be a
gOssiping as Pepys, as scandalOus as D
Grammont, and as amusing as either
but 90 on-anything more? Who are Tia
new beauties?"
Hey OH one was here tonight. Lad
BalscOmbe.
WHAT old BalscOmbe married, sal