The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-09


~ the music aided Miss Carewe in
stopping the declaration before II was
altogether out: and at that point
Franks own father came to her rescue,
though in a fashion little saving OF
her confusion The elder Chenoweth
was one OF the gallant and kindly
Southern COLONY that made il natural
for Rouen always 10 speak OF Miss
Carews as Miss Betty. He was
handsome old fellow whose hair, long
moustache and imperials were as white
as he was proud of them. Nlrglnian
with the admirable Southern fearless
ness OF being thought sentimental
Mounting a chair with complete dig
nifty, he lifted a glass of wine high in
the air. and. when all the other glasses
had been filed. proposed the health of
his young hostess. He made speech
Of some length. prOnouncing himself
quite as hopelessly in love with his old
friends daughter as all could see his
own son was: and wishing her long
life and prosperity, with many allu-
sions 10 fragrant bowers and the
Muses..
Il made Miss Betty happy, but it
was rather trying, too, for she could
only stand with downcast eyes before
them all trembling little, and re-
ceiving a mixed impression of Mr..
/ Chenoweth's remarks, catching frag-
ments here and there. And may the
blush upon that gentle cheek, lovelier
than the radiant clouds at set of sun,
and Yet the sands of the hour glass
must fall, and in the calm and beau
tous old age some day to be her lot,
when fond mem'ry leads her back to
view again the brilliant scene about
her now, where stand fair women and
brave men, wine cup in hand to do
her honor. oh, may she wipe the silent
tear" and the like. AS the old gen.
tleman finished, and before the toast
was drunk, FanchOn Bareaud, kissing
her hand TO Betty, took up the song
again; and they all joined in, lifting
their glasses to the blushing and happy
girl clinging to her fathers arm:
Thou wouldst still be adored as this
moment thou art.
Let thy loneliness fade as it will:
And around the dear ruin, each wish
of my heart.
Would entwine itself verdantly
still"
They were happy people who had
not learned to be self-conscious enough
to fear doing pretty thing openly
without hooking themselves for it;
and it was a brave circle they made
about Betty Carewe, the charming
faces of the women and their fine fur
bellows, handsome men and tall, all so
gray, so cherily smiling, and yet so
earnest in their welcome to her. No
one was afraid to ''let out" his voice;
their song went full and strong over
the waking town, and when it was fin
ished the ball was over, too.
The veranda and the path to the gate
became like tropic gardens, the fair
colors of thewomen's dresses, balloon
ing in the early breeze, making the
place seem strewn with giant blossoms
They all went away at the same time,
those in carriages calling farewells to
each other and to the little professions
departing on foot in different direc-
tions to homes near by. The sound of
the voices and laughter drew away.
slowly died out altogether, and the 81
lence of the street was strange and
unfamiliar to Betty. She went to the
hedge and watched the musicians,
who were the last to 60, until they
passed from sight; little black toilsome
figures, carrying grotesque black
boxes. While she could still see them
il seemed to her that her ball was not
quite over, and she wished to hold the
| least speck of it as long as she could;
but when they had disappeared. she
faced the truth with a deep sigh: the
/ long, glorious night was finished in
/ deed.
What she needed now was another
| girl; the two would have gone to
| Betty's room and danced it all over
| again until noon; but she had only her
| father. She found him smoking a
| Principe cigar upon the veranda, so
| she seated herself timidly, nevertheless,
with hopeful glance at him, on the
steps at his feet; and, as she did so,
| he looked down upon her with some
| thing more akin to PENALTY than any
thing she had ever seen in his eye be-
fore. 1t was not fieniality itself but
| might be third cousin to it. Ineed, in
his way, he was almost proud of her.
| though he had no wish to show it.
Since one was compelled to display the
fact that one possessed a grown
daughter, it was well that she be like
this one.
They did not know each other very
we'll, and she often doubted that they
would ever become intimate. There
was no sense of companionship for
| either in the other; she had been una
Bile to break through his perfunctory,
| almost formal, manner with her; there
| fore. because he encouraged no affec-
ton in her, she felt none, and wonder
ed why, since he was her father. She
was more curious about him than in
| terested and, though she did not know
it, she was prepared to judge him
should occasion arise-precisely as
|
quaintance. This morning. for the first
time, she was conscious of a sense of
| warmth and gratitude toward him;
the elaborate fashion in which he had
introduced her to his friends made it
appear possible that he liked her; for
| he had forgotten nothing, and to re-
member everything in this case was to
be lavish. which was often the appear
| ance of generosity.
And yet there had been a lack; some
small thing she had missed, though she
was not entirely sure that she identi-
fed it; but the lack had not been in
her father or in anything he had done.
Then, too, there was something so un-
expectedly human and pleasant in his
| not going to bed at once, but remain
ing to smoke on the veranda at this
hour, that she gave him credit for a
little of her own excitement, innocent
| ly fancying that he, also, might feel
the need of a companion with whom to
talk over the brilliant passages of the
night. And a moment ensued when
she debated taking his hand. She was
too soon glad that her intuition for
babe the demonstration.
1t was all so beautiful papa" she
said, timidly. Il have no way to tell
You how l thank you"
You may do that" he replied, even
| ~, with no unkindness, with no kind
| ness, either in the level of his tone.
by never dancing again more than
twice with one man in one evening""
Il think l should much prefer not.
myself she returned, lifting her head
face him nrraValW haliaxa 7