The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-31
A Social Failure

4 AHoAS w the great UuuclCu.Ieut OF SOci-
| ETY.. while It's surface Is ever Of the same
heartless brilliancy. We beg for "woman's
| rights" yet IT seems TO me that they
Ike charity, should begin at home or in the
homes OF friends, where often. invited as
an honored guest. she is the vsriest slave
to conventionalty.
| A cousin under obligations 20 her
mother has been asked 10 take her. a
heavy snow has fallen. which, though me
| the distance was not great, necessitated
carrias-. fact not adding 10 the
| cousins good hunor. No flowers need be
| sent. however. SO there was some consola-
ton in that. When they had fitted through
| the long awning like hurrying phantons q
| the night, a great wave of light from he
| opening door had enguifed them. They
| found themselves borne resis,lessly along
with the crowd surging up rhe broad stair
way and dropped finally into their respect
| i've dressing rooms-the one ali full OF
eager, chatrering voices. soft. fluffy wraps
| fur-iined shoes. etc, the other staid, So
| Der study in black and white, blurred by
| much smoke
| Arabella. for that was her name. quickly
| freed herself from the old made over cloak
in order TO display the dainty. lace trim
med muslin which showed a mothers def
| touches. Then she went to the mirror,
| where all the others went, but the con-
| trast between her own homely face and
| the happy, pretty ones that peeped over
her shoulders TO get a last glimpse OF
recommendation was too great. So she
turned away with little sigh, Joined her
cousin. who waited outside. and went SOL
EMMY down the wide stairs. AS they made
the first turn vision so wonderful spread
itself below that she impulsively grasped
her companion's arm, eXclaiming, 20, how
beautiful while he, to cover his annoy
ance said laughingly: But you must
appear very used to it all You must not
let everyone know that 1t is your first
party"
So she accordingly became very quiet,
but she could not help thinking that the
long expanse of polished floor appeared to
be saying. Come, dancing feet, I'm wait
ing, and / long to be caressed by the soft
touch of downy skirts" that the massive
chandeliers stretched out their arms in
silent benediction over the fair scene,
which the mirrors never wearied of repeat
ing. Then the music. so provokingly at
tractive. Would anyone ask her to dance?
Her eyes sparkled. but they were not
pretty eyes. So nobody noticed them.
At this moment a tall blonde in pink
gauze swept by, but turned in affected sur
prise to the cousin. holding out her hand
and making that time-worn remark:
why. 1 did not recognize you at first.
How charmed I am to see you,' Tho
cousin seemed equally charmed. and they
entered into most animated conversation.
until finally, recollect;ng the situation, the
necessary introductions were made, and
the cousin, with the tall woman in pink
gauze, strolled unconcernedly away, leav-
ing the poor. ugly little girl standing ap-
palled before a great hulking fellow, with
glasses which so exaggerated his eyes that
they seemed starting from his head In
wonder.
They stood for some moments staring at
each other. Then he asked her to dance,
as duty to be got through with as quick
ly as possible. and she found herself being
whirled rapidly through the rooms. but
somehow the pleasure had gone out of il
all. Her young brain was on fire with
the thought that she was with strange
man, who did not seem in the least inter-
ested in her, and that she knew of no
way to relieve him of herself What could
the evening have in store for her?
Finally in desperation he sought a Sc
cluded seat where she would not be seen
at all, but where his eye could command
view Of the entrance to the supper room.
Here he placed himself like cat waiting
to pounce upon his elusive prey, while
she. poor little thing. was trying so brave
ly 20 repress the hard sobs that rose in ner
throat and to keep the horrible silence
from settling down upon them. as II
threatened to do SO eagerly was his eye
fastened on the doorway that fortuna tely
he did not look at her, else he would have
seen a face almost tragic in its misery
that would have stamped itself indelbly
upon his mind. But, then. he could not
know that this was the party OF which
she had dreamed and talked. for which
she had actually lived these many days
past. He could not know what this fail
ure meant to her. and how many bright
sweet hopes ii swept away out of her
life. He could not know how. as she
looked ahead. the days stretching them
selves out in endless grayness. and there
seemed nothing, nothing worth living for
o, she clinched her cold little hands and
determined upon one more effort TO re-
deem herself in this strangers eyes ct
am very sorry, Mr.. Blake" she said quite |
calmly, that / have been so thrust upon |
you, and / know / have made your even |
ing a terrible bore. l also realize now |
that even had known everyone here II |
are some unfortunately of which this may |
be said, but what can a woman do in |
such position? I want, however, to |
thank you
20. please don't talk like that he in |
terrupted quickly, still without losing |
sight OF the door. you know I go 10 so |
many affairs" But he never finished |
what he intended to say. for. suddenly /
bounding from his seat. he exclaimed In /
the forgetfulness of the moment, BY Jove
there is your cousin at LAST He started /
forward with a CLEAN in his exaggerated
eyes which seemed 10 say. All you shall |
not escape me now" She followed him
quickly, and they joined tn cousin. happy
in the possession OF another blond in bril-
liant red. Mr.. Blake grasped the hand
of the latter like drowning man clutches
the proverbial straw. thus giving Arab
a chance Of saying in an urdertone 10 her
cousin, Il should like to go home. II you
please"
What. so early7 Why. ve have not
had supper yetr' he cried in as,onIsh-
ment.
You must take me-" she demanded !
sternly. and he saw a certain determine
ton on her plain features that made him
turn and say: II; e too bad that canno;
have the pleasure OF being G; supper with
you. but Arabeiia Is not feeling well, and
must take her home. I shall leave you
TO my friend. Mr.. Blake. Good night"'
A; home, Dear old home She had
dared trust herself 10 speak Gurinz
the drive. but when they reached The from,
door she held out her hand, saying with
a strange. harsh laugh: II was not bill
iant success. was I. cousin? Go0d-by''
The door closed quickly 5ehint him. and
she hurr,edly turned out TIRE hal light; !