The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-05-06

mark of yours made long ago, that
imam owed it to a woman to let her
know he loved her," has caused me
to write to you tonight,
Perhaps, too, "owe" it to you to
tell you that my love for you began
with the two weeks we spent together
last summer at L.. Since then I
have met you but rarely, but / have
watched from distance your social
successes and have been truly glad
for the happiness am sure they have
brought you.
can only hope that this society
which you enjoy so Well may never
disnppoint you, and that you will let
me say word of farewell to you at
the ball on Thursday, as your devoted
friend, PAUL MosHlER.
1t was the night of the charity ball.
The great hall was ablaze with light /;
the orchestra, in bower of palms at
the far end of the room, played brill
liantly; everywhere there were men in
their ugly conventional black suits,
and beautiful women, dressed in satins
and silks of every color. and gay with
Jewels and flowers.
The dancing had begun an hour
ago, but still Paul Moshier was stand
ing in the little crowd of men always
to be found about the door. He was
waiting for Miss Davis. He did not
think that he would say "good-by" to
her after all-he did not know as he
ever meant she should see him. But
he must get little glimpse OF her .be-
fore he went away to India.
To tell the truth, Paul was hurt and
angry at Miss Davis. He had sent his
letter to her three days ago and he
had had no word from her since. He
thought to himself that she was rude
"a lady should make some acknowl-
edgement, however slight, of letter
like that. But she was spoiled by much
admiration; society had turned her
head.
Nevertheless, he had come to the
charity ball in his shabby dress suit
and his best gloves, simply to see Miss
Davis and to say ''good-by" to her
silently in his own heart.
He waited patiently at the door,
craning his neck to catch sight of each
new face, and paying no heed to the
brilliancy of the ball. Hundreds of
radiant women passed and repassed
before him, the dance music sounded
in his ears, the lights blazed into his
dark eager eyes, but he never turned
his attention from the door.
Once someone spoke his name, but
he did not answer, and many times
he was jostled and did not feel that he
moved.
The minutes dragged by slowly.
Nearly everyone had come, and the
great clock on the wall behind the
matrons struck 12 family through the
music. Still he waited silently, though
he was thinking now that perhaps
she did not mean to come at all. Per-
haps that was to be her answer to the
letter.
Fifteen, twenty minutes, half an
hour went by--she had not come.
Then suddenly the crowd about the
door drew back on either side and
Paul, stepping hastily Out of sight be-
hind the other door. saw that she was
coming.
He watched her with narrow, intense
eyes as she came in on her fathers
arm. She wore plain white dress,
cut low. AID finished about the neck
with fine old lace; her gloves did not
quite reach to the puff of her sleeve
and showed part of her white arm;
one of her little satin slippers had lost
its ribbon rosette. Paul noticed all
these details OF her costume uncon-
sciogsly it was not till later that he