The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-19
THE HUMOR OF IT.

with a certain nervous abstraction. Now
and then she would stand still, lost in i'm
aginings; then she would set her teeth and
dress frenziedly for spell. Clearly it was
not easy to rehearse a scene of reproach and
scorn and to put in judicious hairpins 81
simultaneously. But she realized that per-
feet confidence in her own appearance
might materially influence her courage
when the moment for the scene came, and
that the moment should come tonight and
at the Havertons' dance she was fully and
desperately determined.
Surely if ever man deserved punishment
at the hands of woman that man was Ashby
Eldon. He had behaved unforgivably.
She had met him for the first time at
Nice in the early part of this winter. She
was there with an enervated aunt. He was
there on mere pleasure and had given her
to understand that he had fed from a hot
house atmosphere of tiresome adulation in
London to battle his soul in pure sunshine.
He had talked culture and personalities in
perfect proportion. He had been charming,
had worn striped linen, a pointed beard and
a smile of fascinating fatigue; he had del
uged her with expensive flowers At first
these flowers had come with mere card.
A little later the card was often inclosed in
q sealed envelope and covered with some
suggestive little quotation from the French
or German poets.
Still later the flowers had come without
word, bearing their own message. and
when he noted a spray or two in her dress
he would perhaps steady his eyes on hers
for moment, hold her hand the fraction
of a second too long for mere convention
or tell her in a thousand wordless ways
that she was a charming woman in his
eyes, and that he knew she knew it. And
never hint sign of his engagement to
that Miss TI> sorsI 1t was incomprehensi-
ble-unspeakablel
If he had not mentioned by chance that
Lady Haverton was his aunt, if on her re-
turn from Nice she had not taken enormous
trouble to cultivate Lady Haverton and
lead her talk on to Ashby Eldon, she might
have dwaddled in her FOOLS paradise to the
day of his wedding announcement.
Well, the days of woman's ''silent suffer
ings'' were over now, thank heavenl She
had been reading a striking article on this
theme in some magazine only last week. A
woman was no longer a mans prey-she
was his equal, his rival, and tonight she
would prove it. She would speak her mind
honestly, grandly, without finching. She
foresaw every detail of the interview. He
would be standing in the doorway of the
ballroom when she arrived She would pass
him by. He would speak to her, and she
would raise her eyebrows in calm surprise,
answering in icy terms. But he should
write his name on her programme. and
when his dance came around she would ask
to sit it out. Silently she would lead the
way to an empty room-the little boudoir
at the back of the conservatory. And
then
How she would tear him with her weap-
ons of scorn and disgust. She would make
him feel like = cur.
The hottest words seemed insufficient
punishment when she thought what suffer
ing he might have caused her 1t was the
merest chance that she had not lost her
/ heart to hiln-5he merest chance. Why did
the face in the glass twitch as she said that?
She would say it again and say it out loud.
1t was the purest piece of luck that she had
not fallen in love with Ashby Eldon. He
had done his best. He was brute. Yes,
he was. She didn't care He was.
How hideous red eyelids could make one
1ookl They took all the poetry out of white
cheeks Why had she been the fool to choose
her pink silk for tonight? And what would
it matter if she wore green baize? Hateful
worldl
1t was packed at the Havertons'. Eleven
o'clock and he was not there.
She danced a great deal.
Half past II and he was not there.
She sat out a great deal.
Half past IL and he was not there.
OQ0 was SoOUlnR 100 U1roQ TO Smile.
She must go home now.
GOOD night, Lady Haverton-a delight
full evening" Yes, she was feeling little
tired Good night once more and out on to
the staircase.
Merciful powersl There he came-slowly,
possessedlv-in the old way. Quick What
was she going to say at the very first-oh,
what?
Miss Feardonl an unexpected pleasureW
A I
She took his proffered hand, and her eyes
fell for one second. Then she looked up
with a brilliant society smile. Her old
resolutions lay about her in ruins. A COM
pletely different set of emotions had taken
possession of her-unconsciously, unQues-
tioningly.
''Ah, you are back in the vortex, Mr.
Eldon-the dear old vortexr'
''Yesr' A faint suspicion of awkward
ness spoiled his usually perfect manner.
Eyes, I am just de retour. How kind of
people to give these little soirees at this
time of the year-when there is positively
no other way of getting warmr'
And l am ungrateful enough to be rum
ming away now. There is so much going
on deces jours-isn't there?"
But you will give me a few words be-
fore you go? Come down stairs and let US
drink to the memory of dear old NIGEL
And-and 1 have news
''Your engagement and was forgetting
my congratulations He took breath.
How objectionable of me, but really so
many of my friends have taken the fatal
step just lately Pm getting quite confused.
Is your fancee here?"
mo, unfortunately"
''Ah, my misfortune, am sure. Well, it
leaves me something to look forward to.
Good night, Mr.. Eldon, and bien des chooses
for your future happiness. There's my
chaperon. l must fly"
She waved a frivolous hand. There was
a look of surprised disappointment on his
charming face. And yet he gave another
deep sigh of relief as he turned into the ball
room.
Wonderful luckl But somehow I
thought she'd take it differently said he
to himself.
And she drove home. Only when she got