Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-01-28
LITTLE ONE"
BY FLAvEL SCOTT MINES.

and fro-backward and forward-th
jewels and brighter eyes of the fai
women suggesting the spray that i
thrown upward by the waves and lit b,
the sun. The human tide ebbed an
flowed-a turbulent whirlpool surrounds
by wall of stony dowagers and ancien
beaux. Then there came sudden lull-
the wind died out-the dancers ceased
and all was order The fitting couples
were the gulls darting here and ther,
after the storm was over.
A girl came out into the hall, leaning
on the arm of a much-bedecked cavalier
who was jerky in his walk and voluble il
speech. The man was a type of the
many types of Washington society, but
his partner attracted the eyes of all
She was probably nineteen, rather tall
and very graceful Her features were
classic in their mould, but full of the fire
of life and sympathy that the strongest
chisel fails to carve. As they passed
down the broad hall, the man chattering
like simian, and the girl indifferently
regarding the blase youths that blocked
the way u young fellow came forward
wearing an air of general disgust, and
looking infinitely more bored than his
other miserable felow-creatures. He
stood carelessly to one side to let the
two pass, apparently regardless of them,
but as they approached, the girl ran for
ward with cry.
why" CALCULATED the young man,
aroused from his state of apparent SOM
nolence, cts Lit-it's Nancy!
tnl
answered the girl, blushing ever Sc
slightly. The de trop cavalier looked on
this meeting with an expression of feeble
ness, and stood to one side.
GLOW could | tell your" laughed the
young man, "when imagined that you
were still in Virginia? l was going down
tomorrow.
Didn't you know 1 had come up to
Washington to make my debut, and
Oh, beg your pardon, Lieutenant Frax-
ton, my cousin, Mr.. Wentworth"
The Lieutenant shuffled uneasily and
bowed stitfly, while Wentworth made n
teint at slight nod of recognition.
Come into the conservatory, Nancy
he whispered, offering his arm; and Mis-
tress Nancy, who acted her own sweet
pleasure, turned to the officer with a
smile and bow, and accepted her cousin :
arm. The Lieutenant blinked ut them
MS they went off
"Well, Little One?" said Wentworth,
with questioning smile, as they en-
tered the dim, fragrant room.
Miss Nancy stamped her foot. "Why
do you persist, Tom, in calling me SOP
she objected. "Itwont do for societv?"
well, | reckon not" answered Tom.
"Thats my own especial name, and so.
ciety has nothing TO do with it."
"Of course not" responded the girl
absently. She was thinking of some
years before, and Toms stubbornness
regarding that very subject; she let it
pass now as she had then.
"Tell me, how are you?" remarked her
cousin, leading the way to clustered
seat Suppose | had gone home and
missed youi"
at would have been your own fault I"
replied the girl. "You are so mighty
Independent that your own mother does
not keep track ofyour movements, much
less your humble cousin"
81 didn't think she cared" Tom an
swered, and waited moment for her to
respond, "She dom" (which reply was
Forthcoming in due season.
Don't let's fight" Tom continued.
"How do you like society?"
"Oh," laughed the girl, "it's pleasant,
because society seems to like me. Mrs.
Whorter, an old friend of papas, thought
1t too bad that should miss the madness
OF Washington season, and invited m,
up, Mamma is staying at your house
and do you know, Tom, we are going t,
spend this summer there. Auntie saws
mat the visit is to be indefinitely pro-
longed. Isn't it good of her?'
Perfectly right" agreed the young
man. "Im to spend the summer there
myself"
"Why, l thought you were poipg
abroad?' cried the girl. $50 heard ?
"No, that is, if my HOMECOMING
doesn't scare you all away" was the re
ply of the tickle youth, who ten minute
before would have called upon the min
gods to bear witness to his intende
hegira. 1t was the first capitulation an
the girl must have understood it some
how, for she was uncertain how TO an
season who responded,
well, perhaps not"
Then an intruder came upon the scene
u gentleman with fierce whiskers, whicl
essayed the leonine, but lent rather
feline expression.
"Ihis-er-is my dance, l believe
Miss Hardy" he ventured
And Miss Hardy, responding with a
indifferent as it?" took his arm. The
she turned TO her cousin. "Ill save yo
the next dance, Tom"
The young man smiled and nodded i
the most matter-of- fact way, while Puss
in-Boots glared at the individual who re
ceived such sovereign courtesy with sue
apparent calmness.
Left to himself, Tom gave vent to
whistle. Then he improved the occasio
by growing and mentally dubbing hin
selfa hydra-headed specimen of asininity
1t had been three years since they ha
last met. He was then fresh from co
!ege, with an unlimited good opinion {
himself, and she just in the chrysali
state. They had been good friends WI
were eternally squabbling, and no
-Iom winked slyly at an oleander, an
changed his mental personal designatio
to something more fattering. He d
not consider his instability he did n,
recall his harangues regarding sing
blessedness as opposed to the mi
cry of woman's thral. His memory ,
those college poems full of cynical bite
ness toward the fair sex-so good at tht
time-was completely wiped out. He b.
came slave with the grace of col
queror; but there was enough latent goc
sense in the young man to make him r.
anlhn L l. l. araiIai1.... i.