The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-27
A SOCIAL FAILURE.


~ NNNHN>NNNN% ~
surprise 20 the cousin, holding out. her
hand and making that time worn remark:
! why. / did not recognize you at first
| How charmed Lam TO see youP' The cous-
| in seemed equally charmed, and they en-
| tered into most animated conversation
until finally, recollecting the situation, the
| necessary introductions were made, and
| the cousin, with the tall woman in pink
| gauze, strollcd unconcernedly away, leav-
| ing the poor ugly little girl standing ap-
| palled before 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
| ut each other. He then asked her to dance,
| as duty to be got through With IA
| quickly 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
| 10 relieve him or herself. What could the
| evening have In store for herp She knew
her cousin well enough to expect little
1 from him. This man would scarcely take
upon himself the trouble OF introducing
| her. and, of course, the hands of the host
ess were full. Truly the situation was
| pitiable
They had stopped dancing and were
walking about like two shipwrecked sail
ors on desert island, he looking anxious
ly for some sign OF rescue, she with tho
settled despair of one who knows that
none can come. And SO they walked and
walked. Danaes began and ended, the
music floating mockingly out TO them,
but still they walked on, their converse
| tion, II one may dignity it 10y that name,
! consisting OF spasmodic attempts at little
speeches prompted by common politeness.
Finally In desperation he sought Sc
cluded seat where she would not be seen
ct all, but where his eye could command n
! view OF the entrance to the supper room.
| Hero he placed himself like cat waiting
to pounce upon its elusive prey, while she,
poor little thing, was trying SO bravely TO
reprcss the hard sobs that rose In her
throat and TO keep tho horrible silence
| from settling down upon tfum, as it
threatened to do. So eagerly was his eye
| fastened on the doorway that fortunately
| he did not look at her, else he would have
seen face almost tragic in its misery that
would have stamped itself indelibly 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 failure meant
| to her. and how many bright, sweet hopes
| IL swept away ont OF her life. He could
| not know how, as she looked ahead, the
| days stretched themselves out in endless
| grayness, and there seemed nothing, moth
| ing worth living for.
Oh, she clinched her cold little hands
| and determined on one more effort to re-
| deem herself in this strangers eyes. Il
am very sorry, Mr.. Blake, " s'st said quite
| calmly, "that have been 80 thrust upon
| you, and know have made your even
| ing terrible bore. / also realize now that
| even had known every one here IL would
| have made no difference. There are some
| unfortunately OF which this may be said,
but what can woman do in such posi-
| ton? l want, however. to thank YOU
"Oh, please don't talk .xAfs that, " he in
| tcrruptcd Quickly, still without losing
| sight Of the ttoor, you know / go TO so
many aT lrs"- But he never finished
what he intended to say, for, suddenly
| bounding from his scat, he exclaimed in
| the forgetfulncss OF the moment, "By
| Jove. there is your cousin at last" He
| started forward with n gloam in his exag
| gcratcd eyes which seemed to say, "Ah,
| you shall not escape mo nowp' She fol-
| lowed him quickly, and they joined the
| cousin, happy in the possession OF another
| blond In brilliant red. Mr.. Blake grasped
| tho hand of the latter like a drowning
| man clutches the proverbial straw, thus
I, giving Arabclla nm opportunity Of saying
! In an undcrtone To her cousin, II should
| like TO 60 homo II you please
"What, so carly Why, we have not had
| supper yeti" he cried in astonishment.
You must take mcl' she demanded
| stcrnly, and he saw certain dctcrmina-
ton on her plain features that made him
turn and say 1T is too bad that cannot
have the pleasure Of hcing ut supper with
| you, but Arahella is not feeling well, and
| / must take her home | shall leave you
to my friend. Mr Blake. Good night"
1t was quick work getting into the made
over cloa6, for it Gid not make any differ
| encc now about "a ussing' the dress, ard
they were soon rolli NJ through the white,
snowy street. away from all the light,
warmth, perfume, flowers, music, beauty
and--Gnd-! aprncss 90.
AT humci Dear old homcl Had il ever
| seemed go sheltcrirg beiorel she had
\
/ ing tho drive, but when they reached the
| f-ont lonr she held out her hand, saying
with ~ strange, harsh littlo laugh; ~ was
| not brilliant success, was l. cousin?
! Goot.ay.
| The door closed quickly behind him,
and she EurrcGly turned out tho hall
! light, knowing her rlother would be wait
| ing for ler. Somehow, rs she quickly
! CROPPED her way UP the stairs In the dark
ncss, the situation seemed prophetic of her
whole future liio and she whispered TO
herself those touching words which James
Lane Allen puts into the mouth OF Mrs.
Falconcr, IL shall 60 softly all my days.
The years rolled away o"er vie head of
the poor li,tlc, ugly girl, as thcy will roll
over the heads of al OF MS, until she Is
now q woman OF 90 She has been true TO
her word she has gone softly all her
days but it has been tho soft tread Of
trained nurse In the sicl"oom, where shc
has found that ha91incss which appalls