Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-02

Jennie was standing near, and overheard
this She turned, and sized the strawberry
blond upwith one look that reached from
her badly rubbed shoes to the rhinestone
diadem In her hair. The blond seemed
embarrassed, showed her upper gum in a
depreeating fashion and mumbled;
"Oh. excuse me; ! didn't know he was
your company"
The muddy girl in yellow giggled, but
Jennie simply gave the strawberry blond
another look from head To heels, and then,
turning away contemptuously, said aud
IDLY:
"Macy's~
The word was instinct with all the scorn
that girl who works in a store on TWEEN
| ty-third street can feel for one who stands
behind Fourteenth street counter. The
strawberry blond flushed and exposed
both gums at once In a bitter smile She
seemed to mediate summary action, but
was recalled to herself by a fresh gigge
from her companion and muttered in
| junction to behave herself.
BY this time the procession Of men was
| making its last lap up the ball, and the
! head was passing a man in an elaborate
calico coat waistcoast and trousers, who
/ held large tray filled with envelopes.
Each man took one, and when he had torn
II open took out the neckte that it con
| tanned, broke ranks and set out to find the
girl with dress to match.
George opened his envelope us the rest
did, and set off with pale pink tie dan
Cling in his hand. lie had peered into
about two groups Of girls, when Jennie
seized him by the arm and exclaimed:
"What are you donggn
Looking for my grin
Say George, do you want any other
girl than me, or don't your"
The form Of the question was little
confusing, and George didu't answer
Put that thing up, quick" said Jennie
"What forP"
"Oh, give it here,n and with an impa-
tient grab Jennie took the pale pink thing
crushed it in her hand, and from some
secret place ia her gown pulled out tie Of
pale green to match her dress. She stuck
this through the button hole of Georges
calico coat tied il into neat bow, took
Georges arm with decision, and started off
around the room with him. George didn't
seem TO half understand it and began to
protest.
Say, do you want to see what you'd
a got into if hadn't grabbed youW said
Jennie.
what do you meanp
Right down that aisle, second turn to
the left, there by that door, said Jennie.
indicating the strawberry blond, who, left
alone in waiting was exhibiting her gums
in an apprehensive smile, and eagerly
awaiting the appearance OF knight with
a pale pink tie. The couples were falling
in line for the grand march, but Jennie
managed to stroll with George around
past that pale pink young woman and
casually drop necktie upon the floor be
side her George still couldn't quite get
through his head how Jennie had worked
IL, aud wanted to know what about the
fellow that got the pale green tic to match
her dress
George, you make me tired, said Jen-
ME candidly. you don't suppose was
going to have some awkward ninny dane
ing with me all night because he got q tie
like my dress, do your If the fellow that
gets my envelope don't like the tie be finds
IN il, he can throw it away for all care
George had never heard OF that sort Of
a calico ball arrangement before; but as he
gazed at the strawberry blond, who had
just discovered the neehtie and was stand.
ing upon it TO conceal Il until she could |
pick it up unnoticed, and quivering with |
rage he accepted the goods the gods had |
provided and said nothing
The column Of couples in the grand
march presently got around to another !
man with a tray, who dealt out big en- |
velope TO each lady These opened, each |
found a neat little calico apron, which. |
promptly put on, gave a piquant effect 10 4
the calico dresses and so set oil the charms 4
Of one young woman who had broken ths /
rules and come in dress of plain black /
stun that she promptly became the obiec,
Of sinister looks and side remarks from all /
the other women.
II did almost as well by Jennie, with her /
dark hair and eyes and clear complexion /
There were two cute little pockets in il /
aud Jennie stood aside after trying il on. |
thrust her hands into them, jerked her /
head demurely on one side aud looked I'll /
George The stupid fellow seemed strug /
Cling with an idea.
say Jennie, you look kind O, kind
Words seemed TO come slowly, and Jen
me, who was waiting hungrily for the /
compliment said in her tensest Cash
herew tone;
kind o. whatg"
George seemed stumped for the word /
but after moment the inspiration came
to him, and all at once he hlurted out:
kind O. homelike Damned il YOU
don'tw
It wasn't just the word Jennie. who had
lived in a cheap boarding house for five
yenrs since her mother died, had expected.
and IL affected her queerly. She swallowed
a lump and her eyes got dewy.
"Oh, ruhbishP she said, with n funny
quaver in her voice, but not as If dis
pleased, and, grabbing Georges arm. set
of with him in a rapid walk to d place
where a set was forming for a quadrile
George said nothing for some time, and
seemed oppressed with heavy thought.
II was o'clock when the ball broke up.
Jennie and George walked home, the street
car was such long time coming. Jennie
was tired and it was no wonder She leaned
heavily on Georges arm. She had to slip
on her gossamer ia the vestibule ia her
wrestle with her pocket in search OF The
key. When she had found 1t she slipped
y IN the lock, and facing about ia the dim
light stuck her hands again ia the apron
pockets and looked saucy. George seemed
70 have an idea again, but il there was any
inspiration connected with il il came too
late, for in moment afterward Jennie's
hand had stolen back TO the key, the door
was opened, and with q good night that
forcibly recalled Cash herem when
cash hasn't been here after the first two
calls, she went inside and the ball was
over.
George walked home with an uneasy
feeling, as il he had lost something with
out just knowing what It was, and Jennie,
up in her room, stood before the glass for
a moment with her hands in those apron
pockets again, laughed little laugh and
gurgled;