Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-20
THIRTEEN At TABLE
BY MRS. BURTON HARRISON.
Copyright 1895, by Bachelor, johnson Bacheller)
Continued from Thursdays Starr
Synopsis of Part II.

girl belonging to an old but impoverished
Virginia family, has accepted position as
private secretary to Mrs. Caldwell, a
wealthy society leader at Newport, who,
though meaning no unkndness, has treated
her with what she felt to be humiliating
GOODNESS. She has, however, formed pleas
ant acquaintance with q young man named
Duncan Moore-a guest of Felicias en-
ployer-who was at first misled as to her
position in the family Nevertheless, this
friendship appears to have developed into
something stronger, though Felicia, morti-
fed by her humble station and somewhat
resentful, has given him little encourage
ment.
That evening one of Mrs. Caldwell's
periodical dinners, for which the invitations
had long been sent out and accepted, was
to take place. Felicia, who was by now
used to such things al second hand, when
sent down to give the butler the dinner
cards and the chart of the seats, fingered,
looking on at the glittering table with its
burden of silver and wax lights and banks
of maidenhar fern and roses. She was
longer so much impressed with mere.
ternals as at first. Grandeur. from her point
OF view, had begun to pail on her. But she
had quaint, wistful ina ginings of what it
would be to be led in to table by such man
| as Duncan Moore, for example, and sit there
as part of it. In this crisis of her rash
fancies Hortense, Mrs Caldwells maid,
came in search of her.
Hurry, madcmoiselle,' said Hortense,
with touch of authority Madam must
see you immedia tely, dams chambre."
Madam, in her tea gown, sat before her
mirror, the picture of perpleXity-an open
note in her hand.
Can you imagine anything more vexa-
tious?' she exclaimed pathetically. Miss
Clayton has a headache. and cannot come.
| That girl is spoiled beyond all endurance
by being set up as the seasons beauty: and
l don't believe in her headache in the least.
l have racked my brain to think of some
one to replace her. and failed. I should not
mind, but Mrs. Mammon, who thinks it such
a tremendous condescension if she comes to
you at all, will not dine thirteen on any ac-
count. She would not hesitate to call for
her carriage and go home if she found out
we We're thirteen There's nc. help for it,
MISS charlton. you must come down and fill
the vacant place. Dress is, l suppose your
df11culty. but Hortense is invaluable in sug-
gestlon for such an emergency. In all my
thlngs she can surely find something you
can wear
Felicia wanted to rebel against the whole
of the program. but against the latter part
of it she did not rebel
Il have pale blue crepon that is very
nice, she said, quietly. 1T has low bodice
trimmed with a fall of just such old Malines
lace as you have on your pearl color, but
Hner 1t was my mothers lace" she added
seeing Hortense stare IF l may wear that,
Mrs. Caldwell. to obige you 1 will come
down"
Certainly. certainly cried the relieved
lady, breathing freer. '1-er-slppose YOU
won't wear ornaments, Miss Charlton?'
Don't be afraid of that" exclaimed the
GIRL lightly, and then ran off to her ROOM
Resentful of her enforced position, Ie-
llcia gliied down stairs just as the guests
were falling into line to go into the dining
room. From the shadow under the stair
way she was intercepted and captured by
Duncan Moore.
Il am actually and without solicitation
to take you in to dinner" he said, Offering
Ter his hand. Il have been looking for
you ever since Mrs Caldwell gave me no.
tee of my good luck"
He did not tell her the notice was ac-
companied by profuse apologies at impos-
ing this service upon very good friend"
In mis- heart. he rejoiced at escaping that
conoeited Irene Clayton, who could think
and speak of nothing but her own sue
cesses III the social world at Newport; and
as the dinner progressed. he observed, with