The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16
final touches to our plan Of saetion and
passed up the broad avenue to the manor
CHATTER NV.
How Our Piece Missed Fire at Marn-
don Acres.

How Our Piece Missed Fire at Harm
don Acres.
For a doorkeeper some ono or another Of
tho ofhcer guests had set q Sergeant on
guard; but, though the night was yet
young, the man passed rs into the great
entrance hall with hiccoushs and j wink
that spoke thus early Of an opsn house
and freely flowing good cheer.
Az We had hoped 10 md Il, this rout At
Master Harndon's was-a sttn1ns Jam, and
q good half OF the guests were in civilian
plain clothes, neither Paris nor London hav-
ing as yet reached % far into the Carolina
pIantationDlto prescribe homsspun and To-
prescribe the gay .toggeries Of the courts.
This for thu men, rhasteu to add; for thsn;
az now. our 1nerican danes and maids
would Put years cropping Of . plantation
on their backs. thinking nothing Of II: and
stin brooades, Of high piled coifturss paint,
patches and powder 1t this merrymaking ct
Harndon Acres
Lacking an fntroducer. and wanting.
moreover, nothing save the leave to have
staudingrroom in the throng as lockers -on.
| We gave Mr.. Marmaduke Harndom, . sleek,
round little gentleman. Sinking and bow
ing and tapping the LID Of his silver snun
box, wide berth: and with an ag1Nement
to meet later for the comparing Of notea
| Jennifer and went apart ct the door Of
the ballroom. each to lose himself in ths
d1S0IUUlSQ C0Wp6uY II An 0II6x 8klD1 I0I0 L
| pool, namely, without rufding Il.
! Twas essily done. WlnnsborouSh had By
this time become refuge camp for IN the
(, loyalists In the region roundabopts, and
there were many in the present company
| who were strangers one to another. uneasy.
shifting figures in the gay throns. beneath
| the notice alike OF haughty danes and
prinking dandy oficers. Beneath the mo-
tice, say: yet would quality this. for
more than one Of the epauleted macaronis
trod upon my toes or hustled me rudeiy IN
the crush TIL ttrembled. not for my own
self-control, but for Richards, making sms
that the LAD was having. no more gentle
| manly welcome than /.
| Twas with some notion Of finding ampleI
room for my feet that edged away
through the fringing wall crowd in the
| dancfng-room toward a 'curtaified afcfiway
at the back AS yet had overheard naught
! save the silly persidage of the bellies and
beaux-a word here and another there-and
/ WAS beginning to fear that this was as
| poor place to look for information as was
tho pothouse. when a thing befell to set me
a-quiver with aft the thrillings the human
heart-strings can thfum to in one and the
same instant Of time
! had shouldered my way out Of the ball
| room medley and into the less crowded room
at tho back. This proved to BE- reaz
| withdrawing-room serving for the noncs q
! q refectory. There were little groups and
4 knots OF chatterers standing about; fair
/ maids. each with her ring Of relocated
l courtiers. Laughing and testing or picking
daintily at the viands on the great oalEen
4 table in the midst.
Rounding the promontory OF the tables
1 end to come to another in some quiet eds
where ] could listen unnoticed for the word
/ cas- thirsting for, I must needs entangl>
1 the button Of my coat-cu6 In the delicate
4 lace of q lady's Hleeve In passing.
y -na pox ~ hu hAp hnAk