The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-12
A COSTLY KISS.
Tho Serious Consequences Of Melt
ing an Iceberg.

"Tramp. tramp, tramp" and q
heavy pair of boots came down the
stone steps Of the officers quarters at
Silverbridge. A kick at the door rouses
Capt Kay from the perusal of q writ
just served.
Il say, Lulu, are you going to the
ball tonight"
''Come in, come in; don't stand shout
ing outside. Look at my new por-
there"
A couple Of Clumber spaniels herald
Leigh, the young subaltern of the til
Foot.
He looks cautiously round the door,
and laughs Justify 1T the decoration of
writs and summonses with which Lulu
has just paneled his door.
Il say, Lu, you have good ideas.
That's the most sportin' decoration I've
seen for long time"
''It's all very well, Leigh. to laugh at
it. You're rich fellow. you've got rich
relations to fall back upon; but Pm
deuced hard pressed. If don't find
some sop for my creditors, / shall have
to cut the service. I'm awfully down
on my luck about it."
"What about the ball tonight? I'm
going to drive over some time after ten
If you like, I'll give you lift"
well, don't feel much like danc4
ing" ,
you'll feel al right when you get
there
Very well, III be ready al ten
sharp"
Miss Betty Dormer IL in form to-
night. She looks splendid. I've never
known girl that changes SO much. I
met her last night and she lsoked posi-.
lively ugly"
"WhatI the girl in yellow? Curious
looking; shouldn't oall her ngly by
any means - looks elegant - pretty
stiff"
"Stifn No. can't say that. She's
got plenty 20 say for herself / call her
very amusing, and she dances"-here
the young fellow raised his voice and
eyes to add meaning to his words-"like
an angel"
'HeHoa, Leigh"
Nonsense, helloa! nothing Of the
sort. Come upstairs; FL introduce
you. l warn you. though. you won't
care much about her."
And why not?"
''She's not your sort She'll talk and
she'll laugh and she'll dance, that's
all"
And why won't care about her, if
she does all that?''
my good fellow, we all know YOU"
and, taking his friend confidently by
the arm, he saih, Importantly: 'She
won't kiss you. She's perfect ice
berg; you don't believe me-try for
yourself. I've known her ever since
she's been out. Ask anybody. you'll
hear the same thing-charmin'; but, I
repeat, an iceberg" and Leigh shrugged
his shoulders
Kay looked up the wide staircase
once more at the pretty girl standing
in the doorway of the ballroom, her
simple, long yellow gown whirling
gracefully round her as the movement
of the valse had left it.
She had evidently been dancing quicA.
ly and left off suddenly, for she was
steadying herself against pillar and
the large yellow roses and the ribbons
in the bosom of her gown betrayed her
breathlessness. She was not beautiful,
but there was charm about her that
was very attractive and made her con.
spicuous even in that throng.
Kay stopped on the landing anu med
itatively drew on his gloves.
What do you bet," he said quickly,
''that transform the iceberg into
volcano. before the evening is over2"
Wouldn't bet-can't on a cert ainty,
it nd be Robin YOU" Leigh answered,
laughing.
Leave that to me. Do you take my
bet?"
81 lay you three hundred to one you
don't get her to kiss you
Done with you-that she kisses me
to night"
"Of her own free will, mind you"
"Of her own free will. You know
the glass terrace that runs along the
front of the house-at one o'clock you
be behind the curtain that leads into
the music room. They are not using it |
tonight" Leigh's shouts of laughter
almost drowned the last words Now
introduce me-"
miss Betty Dormer. may Introduce |
Capt Kay to you?"
Miss Dormer inclined her head, and |
said: How d'you do?''
Kay looked into her eyes intently.
May have dance?"
She handed him the programme of the
dances. He took this as a signal of |
trust, and proceeded to write MS name
against several Of the dances. He was |
that she never even glanced
at the programme, but bade him hand |
It on to Mr.. Leigh"
You will forget" he demonstrated,
which you have given me il you do |
not look"
provided you remember. Capt Kay,
[ need not"
$50 the first round has missed"
thought Lulu. a. he moved away to
make room for some other men who
were waiting to talk to her. He went
some distance away and took stock of
his victim.
The first bars Of "Toujours on
Iamais' rang out: she looked cool and
'elt-possessed with the usual busy ball
-oom traffic all around her; the men
-unning about eagerly looking for
heir partners, consulting their pro-
yrammes, SO anxious not 70 mis-
AXE plain for a pretty woman, a
heavy for light dancer; of conversa-
ion there is hardly any question. He
TO her and whisked her sevav:
he greeted him with an anus ed smile.
ike Paid in pfau station on a amman