The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-10
MODERN DEPRAVITY.

Jack" said Dolly. suddenly; Jack, 1
must give dove party"
What in heavens name is dove partyP"
/ asked, anxiously looking at my pretty
sister.
81 suppose hOrrid man would call it a
hen party,'' she said, regarding the toe Of
her small scarlet slipper. Its party just
for girls-no men allowed. I've been to sew
eral this winter, and l must pay my social
debts"
VERY WE'LL" I said, ''but what kind of
entertainment do you offer the guests of a
dove party? I suppose you have dancing
and angel cake embellishments or choco-
late"
"Danciugl Angel cake! Lemonade"
sneered Dolly. u wonder you don't sug-
gest cup Of tea and pork and beans. My
good Jack, you are not in it. 10 begin with,
we don't want any dancing. we can dance
with men'-thiS with inehaOe scorn we
have far more entertaining business on
hand. the details of which it is not neces-
sary Tor YOU TO know. As to refreshments,
l can arrange all that without any suggeS-
tions," y1,;.., ,,o,,..n.fo,,,, fowl
saw that the small tyTant who runs our es-
adjustment was a trie ann0ye d. GU
have carte blanche. Go ahead and set 1t up
In good shape for the girls"
! thought no more of the dove party
until going home one evening. | found, in
stead of the usual dainty dinner, waiting IN
the dining-ruom, a cold lunch standing on
small table in the SmokIng-roO u, which
opens out of our accustomed sale manager
Doll" l cried, what the deuce does
this mean? Where's dinnerY
There's dinner" said my sister, coming
In wearing her most elaborate tea gown.
4" But this cold stun
"You must manage, Jack. dear; you see
give my dove party tonight and wanted
the dining groom table all ready for the
"Why, you're not going to begin eating
directly they arrive, are yOuY
Certainly not. Who said anything
about eatiug2" ana the little mink chuckled
to herself, crossed the room and swung
back the porttereS.
Hooked into the dining-room. Here and
there on the table stood, neatly stacked up,
piles of red, white and blue poker chipsl l
gasped.
dolly" said as sternly as possible,
"what in sheOl does this mean?"
at means quarter limit" said the little
sinner, demuTeiy.
l fell into an armchair. us that what
your dove party MEANS"
"YesW
do you mean to tell me that you have
been playing poker all winter?"
ayes, and oh, JackI its perfectly fas-
cinating. I've won every time. I've kept
myself in spending money, and your
dressinE-case with all the silver things was
bought with some of my winnings"
Now what could a man say after that
piece of diplomacy.
Dolly" said, IF were to DO my duty
l would not allow this dove party to assem-
Bile, but fancy it's too late now"
Don't be bear said my sister,
sWeetly, ''but take your coffee and sand
witches and then hurry away"
Hurry away? Oh, I've got to get out,
have I?"
''Of course. Do you fancy we want you
around?" with an emphasis on the you
that made me feel very small indeed.
what time can l come home" l
neekly inquired after a few moments
silence.
ave shall stop playing at midnight"
she answered, carelessly; "at least, we
aim to stop then. Sometimes we run over
q little"
l climbed into my topcoat and set out
for the theater. There l passed a very
unpleasant evening. GOOD HeRvensw l
thought what have l been about?" l
should have looked after her better" and
SO | Teproached myself until after II. when
/ decided to 80 home and freeze those far
gamblers out.
l let myself quietly in and stole along
the hall to the sm0blng-roOm. 4 very ll-
miliar odOr greeted my nOstrlls. Some
one was certainly smoking. There was
the smoking-rO0m door suddenly, and
there, at my table, calmly lighting one
of my own special pets, was an awfully
pretty girl. with a frank, audacious face
and lovely, impertinent eyes. She started,
looked ut me, laughed guilty, like a child
that has been caught at mischief, and then
disappeared in the dining-room. l heard
the rattiing Of chips, some suppressed gig
giles whispers and the Shutting of cards. l
looked about
~ I.tFF Io1 ., IL F.,
cheese sticks, brace of cold roast par
tTidges and three quart bottles OF cham
payne.
Iarew long breath, sat down and tried
10 think.
The curtain parted and Dolly entered in
high feather. "Ah, back" she cried.
You've come just in time for supper. We
have by unanimous consent decided to waive
all objections and invite you to tea" aud
before l realized what she was saying she
bad dragged ME into the dining-rOom, intro
duced me TO her friends and seated me next
to the adorable little thief l had caught in
the smOking-roOm.
We supped, aud then l was permitted TO
watch those pretty poker-players. And
how they played Such recklessness. bravado
and blufting had never seen before. had
fancied they would chatter and not pay
much attention to the game. On the con-
trary, they played as if their lives depended
on 1t, and the betting was conducted with
sueh brilliant audAelty as TO make my hair
stand on end.
1t was now nearly o'clock, and it was
settled that after final round of jack-pots
they would stop.
Suppose we let Mr.. Dashing In for the
finish" said the little egarette-smoker. l
won every pot up to the last, and when the
cards were finally dealt had an enormous
pile Of checks before me. Everybody
dropped out of this pct but the girl at my
side and myself.
1t was diamond cut diamond now. 1
was positive She was blufing, aud quickly
tossed all my chips into the center of the
table. Every time she raised her big, def
ant eyes and my bet felt that l would die
before | called her, but at last she forced
me to make her show her hand. had a
king full and that little wretch had four
Jacks. l was her debtor to the extent Of
well, l wont say. but if she wishes to buy a
silver furnished dressing case with her win
niDgs she can.
have hesitated to approach Dolly on the
subject of refrainiug from poker inasmuch
as she won considerably more in five hours
than | lost in ten minutes.-JACK DASH