, 1903-11-04
4 BLESSING
"A in DISGUISE
tOriglnal.l

1t is impossible TO tell what is for
our welfare. | knew a young man who
wrote Il hand so illegible and spelled SO
incorrectly that the firm with which
he was a clerk put him on outside
work. In this he did so well that he
eventually became managing partner.
Had he written we'll he would never
have been more than an accountant.
When | was young | was the pet
Of an aunt who was devoted to fash
ion. | was fond of society myself,
and, being popular, my aunt was so
pleased with me that she made a will
In my favor, be~queathing me at her
death a considerable fortune. | fell
In love with II young lady who, like
myself, was lin the SWIM" but unfor-
tunately poor. My aunt. who vas very
romantic, was not at all ~displeased
with my marriage, declaring that she
had quite enough for both of us. In
deed she gave me an allowance which
enabled me to support a wife and live
a life of ease.
During the winter at the end of
WIFI Jul AISt CullQ WIS DOlA L was
obliged to go into society without my
wife. She vas very ~notional in what
she ate and craved things usually un
~attainable. One evening she was seized
with a desire for some strawberries.
1t was in February, and even if the
berries were to be had the markets
were closed. l was going to a ball
and Uac nh1iUn6 fn Inaxrn nv uyifa
pining for the fruit while I danced. 1t
seemed like ''fiddling while Rome was
burning"
What was my surprise to see on the
supper table at the house where the
ball took place a splendid dish Of
Strawberries. They had been brought
from the south, but instead of being
tasteless, as such berries usually are,
were sweet and juicy. l ate a plateful
Of them and at the same time was
planning to purloin some of them to
take home to my wife. | loitered in the
supper room till every guest had gone,
all the while fearful that the straw
berries would be gone as well. For
tunately a waiter brought in a fresh
ulSH just us lAe TOOIu WAS IelL NdcduI.
Seeing on the foor under a side table
some paper boxes in which bonbons
had been sent to the house, l selected
one about the size of a quart straw
berry box and, hastily filling 1t, slipped
it unseen into a pocket in the swallow
tail of my coat. Then l went to the
hostess to bid her good night in order
that l might at once carry the precious
Strawberries to my wife.
Surely you are not going so early 2"
said the lady. You can't go now. l
need you to lead the cotillon."
l was terrified. Lead the ~cotillon
with my pocket full of Strawberries!
Can you not excuse me?" 1 asked.
II am not feeling we'll"
"You are looking splendid. How
ever, Mr.. Vincent will arrive soon. 1
will relieve you when he comes"
But l have no partner"
81 will dance the figure with you.
Come, the music has begun"
Fancy my feelings at sailing away in
a waltz with my coattails full of straw
berries. Never did l guide a partner
with such dexterity, gliding over the
waxed floor, dreading especially that
l might slip. now eX~tricating her from
between couples closing in upon us,
barely saving my coattails from being
crushed, now backing and stopping
within a few steps to save the precious
berries from being mashed by some
numbering dancer who was in every
body's way. Nevertheless there was an
excitement in exercising my skill that
was by no means displeasing to me.
| was devoted to dancing. and. whirling
about on the slippery floor. passing and
repassing beautiful women in artistic
costumes, | gradually forgot my bur-
den and at the end Of the figure. when
every II was sounding my praises for
its originality and the skill with which
l had handled it, | threw myself on to
q pale blue damask sofa for a rest.
There was a hum of conversation
while preparations were being made
for the next figure. and | was think
ing of some new features | would in
troduce with it when | felt that | was
sitting on something wet. In an in
stant the presence of the strawberries
In my coat pocket and the fact that |
was sitting on them flashed upon me.
1 sprang to my feet, and there on the
robins egg damask of the sofa was
n strawberry blotch not unlike the map
Of North America, with the isthmus
of Panama trickling on to the floor. At
the moment the music began, and the
hostess. Selling me. whirled me away
again in the dance. Presently l no.
ticed that the couples were avoiding
me, at the same time regarding me
curiously. AS | spun round drops of
the juice were scattered from my coat
tail like drops from a carriage wheel,
damaging the costumes of those who
came near me.
My social career was ended. The
hostess reported to my aunt that l had
c+OIoD ho, horriac bod moda mvcoIf q