The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-24


80 too, for he never caught glimpse of
the rosebud wreath that it was not IN
close connection with manly arm or
shoulder, either she was dancing or being
led 10 the dance. At length. however. by
some curious chance, this cOurted damsel
came to a standstiu. and, as luck would
have h., was deposited by the side Of the
less fortunate Dcddy, there 10 walt the
advent OF the next claimant for her hand.
The claimant came not; and he heard the
young lady profess in laughing accents her
belief that he had proved faithless. "Of
course he has made q middle Of the 'ex-
tras,'" she said; and it Vas 20 Miss Ma
cauiay she said it. Doddy's heart gave
sudden bound: perhaps his eyes betrayed
hiIn; at any rate before he well knew how
it happened, he found himself being pre-
scented TO the beauty, and hidden TO lead
her Off in lieu of the recusant. The tables
were turned at last.
And it was one Of his favOrite tunes
that was being played! And he had OBJ
tanned the best partner in the roOml A
iig for all that had gone beforei He had
still some merry hours before him, and
il was odds but he would make those
pay for all the gloom and discomfort
which had preceded them. The two
glided gently forth. Doddy, as we have
said, was a good DAGGER, and he. had
studied the lady's step while holding his
solitary watch; he knew he could suit
her-and he did. Once, twice, thrice, the
pair fOated round the entire circle OF the
ballroom; then drew up in distant cor
ner, and the young man thought he
would put forth a few remarks; he Won
dered If Miss Eversle-gh could talk as
well as dance.
a capital hail." he began. "Not too
hot" but alack and alas. the speaker
got no further. Miss Eversleigh, our
dance, / think" said q voice behind, and
turning round. the couple beheld, with
varied feelings. a black moustac che. which
Doddy now knew that he had hated with
a deadly hatred for the past two hours.
Surely. surely he was not 10 have further
cause for bit Cr wrath? Surely this
charming girl would view the intruder
in the light he did2 What was she say
ing-what was that sound which broke
upon his ear? Her gay laushter-his gay
confident rejoinder-and then-then there
fell on the sick heart of Doddy Dunlop
such a sense of numb despair, and fruit
less. unavaiEng desolation as even in afte~
years he could hardly bear to look back
upon. With scarce a glance or an apol-
ogy the wreath Of roses vanished from his
side. and he was again alone.
Smarting beneath the indignity. and
mortified beyond the power Of words to
express-(for the ease with which he had
been thrown aside was patent 10 AID
Doddy for the first minute scarce felt
the ground beneath his feet. He stood
stock still, and the blood rushed all over
his face. Then he turned to hide his
ignominy in the background, whence he
proposed to escape, If possible, unnouced,
and swiftly quit the scene. He could
stand no more; with a choking throat he
told himself he could stand no more.
As he turned dancer flew past, and
the next moment fell against him and
fell over. Making an involuntary move
In nazfcf Nar no fell also. II the
last drop in his cup.
II am afraid you are really hurt"
Doddy felt himself picked up, ana heard
q polite voice in his ear. Come down
stairs and let me see to you. You are
shaken. anyway. Come down ana have
something to drink and the speakers
hand was slipped within his arm. Then
he heard his own mumbled answer-an un-
gracious answer-not the sort Of answer
to inspire further sympathy. Stin the
hand did not quit his arm.
Come along down w4th me-" and
Doddy was being led gently on, and nm
ailv found himself sitting at a small table
at the supper room, by the side OF
quiet-iooking young man OF his own
age He knew the mans face recog-
nized it as having been more than once
in his own proximity during the past
hours; and it added TO his present sense
of humiliation ana discontinue that the
should have been witnessed by one, who
looked what not many others present did,
q gentleman For a moment the rapid
thought darted through his mind that
he would affect inability to eat or drink
rise from the table and be off ere another
word could be spoken. But somehow he
did not; and somehow he was conscious
that his flushed cheeks and trembling lips
were exciting a species of sympathy and
craftsmanship in his new friend which made
him hastily drain the wine glass and hold
it in front of his face as he did so. How
should he look? What should he say!
He could hardly affect to be overcome
by such a trife as a slip on polished
boards. Yet--confound it all-the tears
would keep coming into his eyes!
It was perfectly horrible; he felt he
must make some effort to cut short the
scene. He half rose; L say. aren't you
Dunlop?" said the other quietly. Doddys
jaws Tell a yard apart. Il thought ]
knew you, but ] wasn't sure" continued
the speaker. I'VE used to call you Doddy,
didn't we?"
Then Doddy sat down again. and this
was how he told the tale atterward. ''Y es,
l had . ripping ball; I never enjoyed 4
ball like it before. But the odd thing
was that it WASH at the house I went to
i mean it wasn't the ball was engaged
to. That was beastly enough; you never
saw such a set of people anywhere; / did
not know a single human being in the
rooms, and they never introduced ME to
anyone; but just as I was coming away,
having had as much as I could stand of it.
and rather more. / fell in with an old
chum. whom 1 had not met for eight
years-not since we were little chaps at
school together-and who wasn't sure of
me- nor I Of him. till, by accident we
spoke to each other, and then he said he
had been wondering how it was my face
seemed familiar?
Il can tell you it was a piece of luck;
for Ralph Wellington is the best fellow
going, and he took me back with him
straight away to his own home, where
his mother had q ball. too; and
such ball. Mrs. Macaulay's
wasn't in it beside Lady Wallington's
Ralph had only gone to Macaulay's be-
cause old Macaulay is mis- fathers man of
business. and they have to be civil. But
he wouldn't take his sisters there, and-I
don't wonder. The sisters are-are nice
girls. Awfully pretty, and 50 pleasant and
so kind-and all that. You know what 1
mean; they are so different from the
Macaulay girls they can be. And. by
Jove, 1 had a different time of ii a their
house I don't know, but I fancy their
brother told them how he mad noticed ]