Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-12

crowd, composed of representatives Oh
class of people who are well-to-do yet
not such strict adherents to the canons
of society as to be prohibited from at
tending to a few trifing matters that
had been put off till the last minute.
Ladies' under the protection OF their
escorts braced themselves for the COM
ing performance with various SOFT
drinks that were served rapidly by the
skillful attendants; ladies VINO had
tucked their safety under the SHADOW
of their own wing and had discarded
masculine supervision altogether, nag
gled over the price of boxes OF bon
bons and scowled at the clerk, VINO IN
sisted upon receiving the regulation
price for all such dainties, and ladies
whose escorts were yet TO appear
leaned YEARLY against the heavy show
cases and impatiently watched the av-
enue entrance through which they were
every moment expecting the other hall
of the combine to put in an appearance.
The latter class was not without
plentiful shrinking of men. The one
who of all the waiting, pushing, pass
ing crowd was first to arrive was
gentleman. He came in at $50 and
took up his station at the corner OF the
cigar stand near the door, position
from which he could get fair view oil
every newcomer, and there he stood,
good-looking, dark mustached, fash
ionably -attired monument OF patience
till the minute-hand on the CLOCK op-
posite. pointed to s o'clock. Then ne
shifted his position a little. At tive
minutes past he shifted again, Al
ten minutes past S he got desperate
and leaving the counter, which for the
last forty minutes had served for
pedestal for his WEAKNESS. he cut
wide swath through the then decreas
ing crowd and made his way toward
the far end of the store.
There were but five ladies left in tn
public trysting place at that time. ON
was middle-aged and had two Ittl
girls with her; three of them were &C
companied by gentlemen; the only on
} for whom he could possibly be LOOKING
was the tall blonde in the rear OF tn
= room. He stopped and studied her fur
: lively again before addressing her. Sh
was very pretty. Her hair was tina
= rich, beautiful brown that shines in tn
!. light; her eyes were large, long-lashe
i and white idded. and her complexio
t was touched with that exquisite tin
y that reaches its rarest perfection whe
brought in contrast with somber col
!, ors. The lady undoubtedly realized tn
/ possibilities of her face and the ric
g black of her costume was relieved onl
Il by the ermine lining of her wrap.
e rhe gentleman hesitated momen
{ She doesn't tally exactly with tn
: description given" he decided, con
i pairing the pretty picture before hi
i with a photograph which he EVIDENT
y carried in convenient pocket in h
mind. THE fact is, she is decided
=, prettier, but perhaps desire to ayo1
If all show of egotism prompted her
,e go a little slow on the enumeration
ii her many charms. A woman as GOO
e, looking as she is can afford to spea
rs family in her own praise. 1t must
w. she. I'll risk 1t, anyway"
n. A relieved look passed over the lady
face and she arose as he came neare
Pardon me-" he said, but ! a
looking for lady I have never see
= Have made mistake, or is this Mi
e Gilbert"
A perceptible shade of disappoin
ment flashed in her blue eyes and s.