Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-08

her head would be a good deal thrown
back, and there would be pillows of
silk or satin below her waist, and she
would have her arms and neck barred,
for they're really superb, and-wel,
E1etcher?' These two last words were
addressed to his valet, who had just ap-
peared at the open doorway. Guests
had begun to arrive, and A1onzo hast
ened downstairs to receive them. AL
most the first greeting he received was
ono from his sister, Mrs. Van Santvoord.
''Lonz," she said, ''what on earth do
You mean by turning up in that scan
dalous coat7''
'It isn't scandalous, Kitty; it's repre-
sentative" He appealed, in his least re-
poseful style, to a great Lady Of fashion
who stood at his sisters side. 'sI'm is
suing an edict," he went ON, with that
kind Of intimate and hysteric loquacity
by which he had contrived 10 shock and
yet amuse many associates, 81 intend
saying: Let there be velvet coats at at
ternoon teas and there shall be velvet
coats"
The lady, a handsome brunette,
grande dame to her fnger-tips, gave an
obstinate shake of her neat-bonneted
head
'tNo," she declared, ''I, for one, shant
agree to any rule SO rowdy.' 'Rowdyl''
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, Lily, you know you
don'ti''
It was the madness of Stiffness, and
impertinence as we'll Lillian Pou9h-
keepsie was one of the leaders of the
most exclusive set. People rarely adj
dressed her except In terms Of the
strictest courtesy, and her social nod
was potent enough to unbar for a strug-
gier the gilded and fligreed gates of
the Four Hundred.
Mrs Van Santvoord, who revered Mrs.
Poughkeepsies position, drew back
with gasp of: "Oh, Alonzo, how can
your"
Mrs Poughkeepsie remained speech
less, with hardening face. But Alonzo
didn't mind that. 'sYou see," he ex-
claimed, appealing to his sister, Lilly
doesn't love me, and I'm going to re-
ceive everybody else in my shirt-sleeves.
He took OF the velvet coat and bundled
1t under one arm 'sThis,n he con-
tinued, sis to be my despairing posture
for the rest of the afternoon" He
struck 30 ridiculous an attitude that
Mrs Poughkeepsie burst into an unwill-
ing 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 drunken.
ness and tumbling fat on his back In
the middle of the ballroom. And now
while he was re-clothing himself, q
number of people pressed about him
principally ladies, inquiring what his
Last madness had meant, and prepared
to roar with laughter at it before they
had heard it explained
But little group remained apart,
and IN this was young man who de
tested him, though glad enough to ap.
pear at his festal summons.
"Ohi It's only some new caddish
prank, said the young man. 'eHe's al
ways behaving like that"
sBut he wakes people up So" said 8
girl who was not belle and to whom
he had been kind
You wouldn't say that of me-" No
piled the young man. Elf I were tc
carry on so outrageously."
The girl gave pout and toss of the
head "You're not Alonzo Lispenard. =
che sstorted