The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-23

overcome with laughter at the spec
tacie Of iho fat maa's disgust because
the nose, to which be was ESPECIALLY at
tracted. did not ft that they fen side
ways across the dressing table, nearly
knocking the chcval glass over, IN
united parcxysm sf mirth
Mrs Marchmont aad Margot mad
their way silently towards .he ballroom.
They had box, bus the elder woman
Intended her lesson to be complete.
Towards the tiers upon tiers Of filed
boxes she gavelonly a passing glance.
Their occupants aid moi interest her. It
was the world below, this-the world
which IS to mos. women fortunately q
world Invisible in which the mon whom
ti.oy meet Socially find their distrac.
tions, which was the keynote CT hcr
sermon.
Ia vie un carnaval. on lon est
touiours mieux on nal masque But as
the evening wore away the elder woman
asked herself if she were right in her
methods? If Mareot had been her own
child would she have thus given her to
eat Of witches apples? The girl was too
old to pass unscathed through such an
experience. Bat The masked face gave
no clue to Margot's emotions. the close
ly domlnoed form neither shrank nor
swerved from the pressure Of the crowd.
The girls own first conscious impress
sion was that every one she knew was
present Her next, that the room was
full Of soldiers Wen set-up. straight
limbed, clear-browed men-the men
who would lead TO the forefront of
battle, who would clear Dargai heights;
who would serve as patriots and die as
heroes.
Her second was the dominant hope
lessness that lined the women's faces
Wreathed smiles were there, parting
lips, mocking repartees, eyes which had
been tutored to melt at will; but in all
the reyels and laughter there was no
single laugh which had not a false ring.
There was no true mirth, no absolute
enjoyment. This orgie Of mems pas
sions struck her as more serious than a
funeral, more sad than deathbed, AMI
she could have foand it easier to dance
over the ashes Of what had once been
living men and women
It was a phantasy. a nightmare, a fes-
tival behind which despair lurked The
electric light was switched on to its full
brllliancy Jewels glittered. voices rose
high, women's white skins cleaned, and
Of their satin settlag exquisite perfumes
blended. There was the simmer Of
silk, the softness of lace; the mockery
OF mirth, beautiful limbs whirled past,
as now one woman, now another crossed
her line of vision in the maddest, and
yet in certain cases the most enhancing,
dancing which she had ever seen. 1t
was a medley Of passion, gigantic game
of emotions. where artificial hearts were
tossed in play. Tender glances were
tured towards the man who piloted her
through the crowd; words echoed in her
ears now and again, whispers the full
meaning of which did not reach hei
senses till later. Blinded by light, daz-
zled with color, stunned with sound. she
groped her way through a throng in
which she recognized many familiar
faces.
In The alcoves there were people sit
ting. She looked once and did not look
again. At the bar men and women
stood together waiting for drinks; many
OF them drank out Of the same glasses.
Some women were leaning on the arms
Of the mems chairs; two women sat by
one mamie semed favorite. -.
The gowns were magnificent, II STRAIT
ling. 1t is only the inhabitants Of such
worlds as this who can afford to dress
in perfections. The scenery represented
Spithead; the band played upon the
model Of a ships poop. Men in uniform
the attendants-stood beside In tho
'Iancers" the men seized the women by
their waists and twirled them above
their heads in the air, or lifted them
bodily OF their feet, and set them down
again. In the crowd eager eyes peered
close, trying to pierce the disguise OF the
masks; thick voices spoke hoarsely.
Men pressed near, and once Jack
Arbuthnot put his arm round the girls
waist to withdraw her suddenly. There
was a clash of broken glass; Some Of
the dancers paused; the rest continued
laughing. There was a rush in the di-
rection Of the companion ladder a
woman stood upon Il, smiling, her arms
bare TO the shoulder ouistretched One
OF the attendants was behind her He
tried to hold her back She was at
tempting to make her way to the poop
: where the band was playing A knot o
! men gathered below and waved on her
+ Two out of the three principal figures