Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-08

NO, ~ couto MOI mink o. ~
Ing you out In IT,"
"Pleass wait for mo at the door OF
the cloak ROOM" she persisted; and
after he had escorted her there. he
stood little way on. still wondering
at her change of manner.
4 Just then another man came up.
Say, Denison. give me an introduce
ton to your partner. She IL the envy
of all the women and the admiration
of all the men In the room. Where
did you ever find her? What piece
of natural beauty, and how divinely
she dances! Jove. but you two make
a handsome couple! hear she Is the
niece OF New York Congressman;
introduce me. won't you?"
Denison regarded the blase old fell
low half impatiently.
''Wait until after supper. am go
ing to take her in"
The old beau walked of. and then a
1.-THE figure, wrapped up warmly In a
red carriage cloak and a white knitted
fascinator, came out of the cloak
] room.
"Have you your coat and hat?" she
asked. See, have put on my high
shoes and my warm wraps"
"You still insist on the wet air, do
your" eF
EYES," and she smiled family.
When Denison had gone for his
things she sat in the corner and took
in all the brilliancy before her. She
thought of her wonderful entrance
there; her sudden popularity, the adj
miration, the homage. With this she
contrasted the cold, everyday drudg-
cry; her plain home, her common,
though honest people. Now she was
going to take all this borrowed glory
in her hands and throw it away for
ever. She was going back where she
belonged; there was nothing to be
ashamed of in that plain life, II there
was nothing to brag Of. She could not
go'on living this lie, meeting this man
at Mrs. Miller's, pretending to be
somebody, when her family needed
her aid. Better let him know it at
once and drop her, than let him meet
her again and again, and love him
more the more they met. Yes, she
owned it-she loved him with all the
glad, romantic impetuosity of first
love. Tears were yelling in her spark
ling gray eyes when her escort re-
turned. soy
I'VE can stay in the shelter of the
east door," she said. I'VE will not
stay there long-just little while.
think when Mrs. Miller is ready we
will start for home"
The cold rain was beating drearily
against the empty benches, the bushes
in the park, and the trees that lined
the streets. The two yousg people
had left the warmth and the glare Of
the ball room behind them, to face the
dreariness of the black night, and the
modest row Of houses opposite the
park They both felt the difference,
and he spoke of it, tenderly- holding
the red gloved hand as he did SO.
Mr.. Denison-" she began. Oh,
this paradise on which she was going
to turn her back! She, the Cinder-
ella of the inaugural ball, would slip
away from the prince before he found
her in rags. MIR. Denison-" she
started again, and then went bravely
on. You spoke tonight of what
some have said about me. Now I
want to say that to scarcely any of 1t
have right. Mrs. Miller is not my
aunt, and I am not connected in any
way with family that has been rich,
famous, or otherwise prominent. My
father is merely government clerk.
We are people of modest means, and
have nothing to recommend us save
honesty and little coat of smartness.
am a stenographer to Judge TAFT. l
never posed as society girl. i do
not care to now-I could not. l do
not wish you to have wrong impress
sions in that direction. You might
think / was somebody" The girl
was actually sobbing.
1t was then that the chivalrous
scion of famous family put his arm
around the slender figure In the req
cloak.
Hush, my dear girl! Thank God!
OF all things in the world l reverence
truth the highest! / despise all this,
shallowness, this leaning back on ones
ancestors-though am proud OF mine
in a way. But still, / want the world
to accept me, not his dead glories.
Ethel, l loved you from that first day
when / met you at Mrs. Cleveland's
reception. had heard Of your friend,
Mrs. Miller, but found out that she
was not the wife of Mr.. Robert Miller,
M. c. / was rather disappointed In
you, but then l reflected that it was not
you who misled me. / came to the ball
tonight partly to see how you would |
carry yourself under her banner. You
have done better than the rest of them
in there. Still could not help feel
ing there was something wanting. /
wanted to know that you were not |
shallow, wanted to love you, but /
tried to keep myself from loving de-
ceitful girl. Forgive me IL l speak too |
soon or too bluntly-I cannot help 1t. |
Ethel'--the distinguished face bent |
over the red shoulder-"Ethel, do you
think you could love me well enough
to permit me to come and see you in |
your own home? Do you think you
could return some Of my lover"
The girl shrank back in the shadow |
of the great doors; the rain seemed
to melt away, and all that gloomy |
night turn to one of beauty. Was she |
dreaming7 Again the Young man