The morning call., 1890-08-22

made me more confident and less careful, for the
next moment we found ourselves In heavy col
lisIon with another couple.
Never mind!n she exclaimed. at couldn't
be heped-the room is so crowded, you known"
i went lurching on with my sweet partner 10
my arms-haT happy, half miserable; felt that
/ was making myself ridiculous, and that must
he attracting attention and remark. Nor was l
mistaken. AS We whlIled round the room,
more than once heard a litter and indeed some
thing louder, proceeding from the groups OF
spectators; bur the worst humiliation oil all came
when, passing the spot where Allen Curtis stood
bling bis lip and looking very savage, saw MN
turn TO a laughing companion and heard him say:
Yes, quite so-Beauty and the BEAST"
There could lie no doubt that the insulting
compa risOm was intended for me, and felt as
though could have left my fair partners side
and ieled the insolent puppy TO the ground. AS
It was nerved myself 10 fresh tXertlons, as
though determined TO get through the dance by
sheer force OF Will
But a worse disaster was In store for me. At
that lime 1t was the fashion for ladies' TO wear
rather long dresses and loop them up Ove- their
arms when they danced. Elinors was made OF
some light, gauzy material, ana ID The excite
mept of the waltz she must have let some por-
ton of IL trail on the ground. whether II was
my fault or hers know NOT, hut just as we were
once more passing my sneerlng rival iIod
heavily on the border OF my partners robe,
which was in>tan lily half torn frOm her waist.
We stopped at once fun OF shame and rage
at The misfortune l had caused. and that too I'M
der the very eyes of him whom hated. Miss
Ayton was at once surrounded by crowd OF
sYmpathiZers, among whom Allen Curtis was the
most prominent.
.AiIow me- Miss Ayton" he said and, almost
as though by magic, Inc dandy produced small
pin cushion, from which he extracted two or
| three pins, adding: am always prepared lor
| such accidents"
THANK you very much" said Elinor, as, with
The help of some female friends, she repaired The
| rent garment well as she could.
Meanwhile l stood sheepishly by, with many a
repi oachful eve upon me. believe had stam-
mereu out some apology, but dld not KNOW
what was the right thing 10 say or do In The cir
| cunIstaUces.
AS soon as Miss Ayton had had the damage
| Temporarily repaired she turned to me, ana, OBJ
| serving my Tue1u and iemOrseful countehance,
| broke INTO little laugh, and said;
" There Is mol much harm done. | shall get on
| very We'll now. Don't MIND il; II was not al all
| your fault These nile accld nts often happen"
But she did not seem disposed 10 resume the
| dance with mt-nOl that would have tempted
| fortune again even II size had been willing 10
| give me another TRIAL. so slunk away into my
old corner, profoundly ashamed OF myself and
bitterly Tepenting the weakness that had led me
! 10 undertake an effort for which | was wholly
| uuftted- indeed / was han Inclined 10 quit the
| house altogether and 20 home.
Would 10 h. ayen had done so. But a sort OF
| fascination riyeted me 10 the Spot. l feIt an
| desire 10 witness The sequel OF my adVentufe-to
see what Miss Ayton would do after The accident
| to her dress. had certain mlSglYng iuat Al
| len Gurus, having established a claim on her
| fayOT-sliEnt as II was-wOuld follow up his ad-
vantage aud ask. as his reward, her hand IN the
vet unfinished dance. Willy not? Jealous fool
mat WaS-cUud anything be more natural?
a he Continued