Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27

'swho doubts it? But she's very pictul
esuue figure. 1 like to look at her. Sh
sweeps through life so. Her chief idea 9
being happy is to don q new gown an
meet people, She's tremendous as a.
incarnate idea. / should like to paint he
as that If 1 could? 1t would be a grea
| picture. Her eyeglasses would be hal
| lifted, and her head would be a good dea
thrown back, and there would be pillows o
silk or satin, below her waist, and she woul
have her arms and neck barred, for they'r
really superb, and-well, Fletcher?''
Those two last words were addressed t.
his valet who had Just appeared at the opel
| doorway. Guests had begun to arrive, an,
Alonzo hastened downstairs to receiv,
them. Almost the first greeting he received
! was one from his sister, Mrs. Van Santvoord
"Lonz, she said, "what, on earth do yol
mean by turning up in that scandaloul
coat?"
ut isn't scandalous, Kitty, it's represent
ative." He appealed, in his least reposefu
style, to great lady of fashion who stood
at his sisters side. 'I'm issuing an edict, ,
he went on, with that kind of intimate anC
hysteric loquacity by which he had con,
trived to shock and vet to amuse many as
sociates 81 intend SAYING, Let there be
velvet coats at afternoon teas, and there
shall be velvet coats
The lady, handsome brunette, grande
dame to her finger tips, gave an obstinate
shake of her neat bonneted head.
"No," she declared, 81, for one, shan't
agree to any rule so rowdy."
'RowdyP" shouted Alonzo He caught
one of her gloved hands and peered into her
face with his eyes quizZically twinkling.
Lilly, you're horrid thing, and I'll never
be friends with you any more. You don't
love me, Lilly, you know you don't.
1t was the madness of Stiffness, and i'm
pertinence as well. Lillian Poughkeepsie
was one of the leaders of the most exclusive
set. People rarely addressed her except in
terms of the strictest courtesy, and her
social nod was potent enough to unbar tor
a struggler the gilded and fligreed gates of
the Four Hundred.
Mrs. Van Santvoord, who revered Mrs.
Poughkeepsie' position, drew back with a
gasp of "Oh. ALonzo, how can you?"
Mrs. Poughkeepsie remained speechless,
mind that "You see, " he exclaimed, ap-
pealing to his sister, ''Lily doesn't love me,
and I'm going to receive everybody else in
nv shirt sleeves" He took off the velvet
coat and bundled it under one arm.
"This, he continued. ''is to be nv despair
ing posture for the rest of the afternoon.
He struck so ridiculous an attitude that
Mrs. Poughkeepsie burst into an unwilling
scream of mirth. She forgave him, Just as
everybody else did-just as he had been
forgiven last week at a very select cotillon
for pretending drunkenness and tumbling
fat on his back in the middle of the ball
room And now, while he was reclothing
himself, number of people pressed about
him, principally ladies, inquiring what his
last madness meant and prepared to roar
with laughter at it before they had heard it
explained.
But little group remained apart, and in
this was a young man who detested him,
though glad enough to appear at his festal
summons.
ooh, it's only some new Goldfish prank"
said the young man. "He's always behav-
ing like that"
"But he wakes people up so, said girl
who was not belle and to whom he had
been kind.
''You wouldn't say that of me-" replied
the young man, eff 1 were to carry on so
outrageously."
"The girl gave q pout and toss of the
head you're not Alonzo Iispenard, "ashe
retorted.
'sYou mean that haven't got 50, 600, ,oo0,"
whispered the young man in her ear, ''and
that can't throw away $50. 900 every wear of
my life in dinners and dances and frolics for
my friends.
The girl chose to ignore this burst of BIT
terness. Look" she said, there's Miss
Kennaird Just coming in with her mother"
How sober he gets as he goes to greet her.
They say she doesn't approve of his lark
ing style"
"Well, she may not How beautiful she
isl"
''Do you think SOP" shrugged the girl.
''She's too tall for nv taste, and then I don't
like her eyes. They're like ice."
"Blue ice or green, if you please, with
blaze of sun on it. Besides, the long curl of ,
their black lashes helps them so. And she
has face as delicate as an orchid"
"How can she wear that black velvet
trimmed with sables," pursued the girl
'They say these Kennaird's haven't but
3, 600 year to live on"
'Oh, make it s., ,000."
'Nobody really knows just how much
But still, they're poor. Do you suppose
it's possible that" and here the girl |
lowered her voice, which a sweet clash of |
hidden violins would in any case have |
drowned an instant later.
Kathleen Kennaird smiled right and left, |
but it seemed to certain observers that her |
manner toward her accepted suitor was |
cold. This little afternoon tea, |
rs he chose to call it, was given in her |
honor. Not more than 30 people had been |
lsked, and those were the ones Kathleen |
had specially desired. Tea, it is true, was
served in the most exquisite porcelain cups; |
out this potion proved, as it were, only an |
excuse for other refreshments Almost |
before they knew it the guests found them
selves seated at little tables, eating ter
-apin and slipping frozen champagne.
Then, in little while, soprano voice was
heard singing from Tristan" That's Lii |
Lehman, or I'll be shot" presently |
Lexington, who knew nothing of |
his surprise, SO Characteristic of Alonzo;
md soon the great singer appeared, con-
lucted by the host himself, her beautiful |
ace wreathed in smiles. Nearly all the
women crowded about her with cries of |
graduation and welcome. Amid the genial
,lamOr Kathleen kennaird took the chance
# saying to her lover:
'You have been doing another wild
hing"
"What do you mean?" he queried, with
innocence.
''Oh, last night at the Gramercey Club.
You'll not deny, surely, that YOU blacked
your face and went in at dessert to the large
Inner Harry Madison was giving, as
negro banjo player, and that nobody found
Tou out until wisp of your light hair
to show under your wig"
That's really delicious!" Alonzo said.
My face was no more blacked than yours
S now-and heaven knows there are roses
nd lilies enough there! I'd promised to be
t the dinner, and reached the Gramercey
late. So 1 sent from the club
or my banjo (Which, by the way, detest
s an instrument and play horribly merely +
or the purpose-"
Kathleen shook her head in deplor1ng
ray as he paused. ''For the purpose of