Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-02-21

tone, asked. care you sure you can Get
through with itf'
Something. I am sure. must have 10
spired mo. for never before did | play
SO we'll: keeping perfect time. and strik-
ing every note distinctly. My audience
we're evidently both surprised and pleas.
cd for they called for piece after piece,
until my list was exhausted. when one
Of the gentlemen. more thoughtful than
the ladies. suggested the possibility Of
my being tired.
Perhaps she dances. too. Ask her
Bob said a young lady. while Dell
eagerly rejoincd. "Oh. yes. do but Bob
was forcstnllcd by Doctor Clayton. who
for several minutes had stood by my
side, cOmplimcnting my playing, ard
who now asked me to he his partner In
the next cotillOn. his cousin having vol
unteered to take my place Mt the piano.
In my excitement I forgot my shoes,
forgot everything. save that Doctor
Clayton was looking down upon me, that
my hand was resting In his. and ere
was aware of 1t found myself upon the
hoor. | was perfectly familiar with the
changes Of the cOtillOn; but at my right
was John Thompson. who, when II came
his turn to swing with me, refused to
take my hand. treating me with such
marked insolcnce that ! became confused
and made several mistakes. at which he
laughed contemptuously. Besides this.
my big shoes incommodcd me: and ut
last. In the midst of the promenade, one
OF them dropped of. the cotton ball roll.
ed out. ! trippcd. lost my balance. and
after two or three hcadlong plunges. fell
fiat at the feet Of Doctor Clayton. who
stood aghast with surprise aud NORTH.
cation. gathered myself up. and fled
from the room: but not until l heard
Dell Thompson say. ms she picked up
the shoe and passed 1t to Doctor Clay.
ton, ut is Mrs. Ross; she hadn't any Of
her own which she thought suitable, and
no she borrowed"
Rushing up the stairs. I found my
shawl and bonnet; and then. without a
word to any one, started for home, minus
my shoe. which entirely forgot In my
excitement. I had scarcely got outside
the gate when the sound Of footstep
caused me to look around, and saw
Doctor Clayton. his hat In one hand und
Mrs. Ross slipper In the other. This
last he passed to me, and then without
| a word drew my arm within his, and for
n time we walked on In silence. while
cried as II my heart would break. Com.
Ing mt last to mn old oak tree, under
which a rude bench had been construct.
cd, he bid me sit down. and placing
himself by my side, asked me, "What
was the matterY''
"YOu know well enough what's the
natter" I said, angrily. struggling to
rise: but his arm was strong. and he held
me fast, while he tried to quiet me, and
In this he soon succeeded. for he DOS.
sessed over me power which ! could
not resist.
Gradually. as I grew calm. told him
oil: how I believed that Dell Thompson
had invited me only to ridicule me, how
| she had asked mo to come In the after.
noon, and then made fun Of me for do.
Ing SO; while her companions called me
green; and that In the absence of my
own slippers I had worn those Of Mrs.
Ross. thereby meeting with the worst
catastrophe Of oil, to wit, the falling fat
In the dance.
For time the doctor said nothing:
but the arm, which all the time had On.
clrcled my waist, drew me still closer to
his side, while he ut last replied, "She
Ii Jealous Of yOu-jealous because she
thinks I like the little Rosa better than
! do her."
And It's very foolish in her to think
so" ! exclaimed.
II wish you were older. Rosa" said
he, "and had seen a little more Of the
world"
Then followed a long conversation In
which much was said, which had far bet.
ter been left unsaid: for I was warm.
hearted, impulsive child. believing that
l to him was what he was 10 me. And
still he did not once commit himself. nor
In what he said was there aught which
could possibly have been construed into
an avOwal Of anything save friendship.
which was the theme upon which he rang
many a change. Alas. for such friend
ships! They IRE dangerous for ones
pence Of mind, particularly II told be.
heath an old oak tree. with the silvery
moonlight shining down upon you, and
the soft summer air gently moving tho
green leaves above your head. How long
we sat there l do not know; but I was
tho first to propose going, telling him
they would miss him ut the party, and
wonder ut his absence.
LET them wonder then" said he. II
uuNc iutcuttou W 'u0
house. 1t would be intolerable after this
pleasant chat with you, so l shall just
get my horse and go quietly home
We found Mrs. Ross sitting up for
me. sleeping In her chair. while the tal.
low candle ut her side had burned and
spluttered away. until the black. crisped
wick was longer than the candle itself.
why! doctor. IL that you?" she ex.
claimed. rubbing open her eyes. II
thought, mebby, you'd beau Rosa home.
Come In and stay a spell? I'd 40 lief
you'd spark It awhile In t'other room 40
| not"
But tn doctor had no idea Of doing any.
thing so marked as that; and with a
whispered goodnight to me. and an au.
dible one to Mrs. Ross. he departed; just
as the good lady asked mo. loud enough
for him to hear. III I'd dirtied her stock
ings. lost her mitts or broken her breast
pin?"
CrO be cOntinued.)