Evening journal., 1901-04-20
| Am a Hero
For One Moment


fectly certain that 1 shouldn't. Now, il
there is any occasion upon which a man
is absolutely justified In taking care OF
himself, it is at a dance. Dancing" as
Horace Parker says in "a Message From
Mars" was invented by and for wom-
en-" and I never scruple to take a little
well earned rest land refreshmenu when
the band begins TO tune up for the Ian
GERS. This may serve to explain how it
happened that whenever we approached
set we found it just completed. oh.
viously, there was then nothing for It
bur the dear old window seat In the hail,
an ice and two glasses Of champagne.
Miss Maisie. seating herself comfort
ably, said that she didn't like window
seats.
But there Is no draft" urged.
'As IL that matteredr' she rcjoined
MEN are always thinking about COM
fort"
''Tor others-yes. What would you
like? An ice?"
"No. For themselves"
called the waiter and asked him to
bring me two glasses of champagne and a
vanilla ice.
"It's really too disgustingw said Miss
Maisie disgustedly.
1 called the man back and changed va
nilla for strawberry.
vanilla, please" said my partner TO
the man. you know l didn't mean
that" she added as soon as he had gone
II had to find out" l suggested meek
ly. "And please don't look so Cross"
"Why shouldn't look CROSSE"
Because people will think we are flirt-
ing. Remember my reputation"
You might have thought OF that be-
forew she exclaimed with some alarm,
especially when you know how partic
ular mother u.s."
looked at Miss Maisie.
"'Before' -
Before choosing such a place MS this
for sitting out"
"You are quite right" I agreed. Put
the mistletoe saves us"
She looked up.
Saves you, you mean"
"Saves us both. It hangs there. over
our heads, imony of innocence"
''I'm not convinced in the least. Peo
pie are so stupid"
THAT makes it all the better. They
will think that one OF US had motive in
choosing this seat"
"One Of us"
II will say both. IL you prefer IT,"
She held out a hand for her fan. I
gave it TO her. There was pause
I'm glad I'm not a man." said Miss
Maisie at last.
$50 am I" ! said.
"There is nothing" she ccatinaed.
ignoring my feeble display OF white hag.
''that is worth quite so much as self re-
Epect."
Except, perhaps, respect for others"
Miss Maisie looked at me-m0inly. I
imagine, because she had nothing ready
to say. At that moment the waiter ar
rived with the ice and champagne.
vanilla all gone, miss" he said. I've
brought strawberry"
Never mind" said Miss Maisie II
don't think want any now"
/ gave him a nod, and he walked off,
leaving the ice. AS he went. he looked
back at US.
~ don't like that man." said my part
ner. She was eating the ice.
''Nor /. BE appears to draw particular
conclusions from general instances.
How's the icer
'Oh. don't botherl That set seems to
be over"
The dancers were streaming through
the hall. Each couple that we by shot
a glance in the direction OF tie window
seat.
''How INNOCENT they all nreP whis-
pered Miss Maisie.. "This seems TO be
a favorite place"
"Or stupid" l suggested and was re-
warded with the slightest suspicion Of O
blush.
'You said that made it all the better
she asserted.
For one Of us-yes."
81 am woman" she retorted.
81 will defend you with my last
breath" promised.
"Oh, but they couldn't" she pleaded.
S'YOu forget that am stranger TO tbs
architecture Of the house"
sDo you really think there is any dan
ger?
stupidity knows no limits"
''But it was your suggestion"
"Of courseF'
s'Then you must suggest remedy"
/ pretended to think hard and then
ST have itw / exclaimed.
zone moment" She slipped a littl
champagne. snow"
II must kiss YOU"
Snow. But once only"
''Thank you. That decides me-"
"Then r.
sMay not. Take me back to mother
please."
Every well. But II were you woul
think OF the morrow"
'I do. mean that has nothing TO d
with it."
'"That has everything TO do with It.
am sure your mother would see"-
"Don'tw
--'the force of my suggestion. 1t
the only chance. I win clinch the matte
afterward by giving oral evidence Of m
unyielding will"
s'But-but"-
"rhey are going in. It will be too lai
kn a minute"
"Oh, r.
As we passed into the ballroom agal
our waiter was standing near the doc
way. He shot glance OF sympathy
my partner.
II wonder if be saw. she said.