The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1903-06-19
At the nizurd
COtil1ion
BY NEnnIE
CRHXEY GILMORE

-Oooooooooo . .
Copyright, 1905. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
r HE crowded corridors, parlors and
yerandas of the Royal Poinciana
presented scene scarcely to be sur
passed anywhere for wealth and splen-
dor. There was the usual flash and
sparkle of jewels; the magnificent dis
play of costumes. beautiful women,
bare of bosom and shoulder, and impos-
ing men.
The quintessence of ingenious taste
reigned supreme. The ballroom,
schemed to typify tropical wildwood,
presented a vast aspect of tangled TO-
1iage, brilliant with native blossoms.
Fastened to the network of vine and
tree, with slender, almost invisible
cords, the world of Lacertiliae disport
ed itself at will. Some, gorgeous in
their livery of brilliant green, were
sprightly, inquisitive. courageous, but
entirely harmless. Others, shy and
crusty-coated, nibbled assiduously
upon the food provided for them, or
shrank' back in modest retirement.
There were flying brakes. frilled, blind
and hedge lizards, monitors, geckos,
some of the water species and innumer-
able little house lizards, bright and
variable in color.
Tayares and his friend Jack Erickson
made their way toward the ballroom.
The first figure was already in prog
ress.
''We1l watch this out" said Tavares,
"and afterwards 1 intend presenting
you to Mrs. Mainwaring. She is that
tall, lovely blonde standing just
outside the door talking to the man
with the orders on his coat"
Erickson followed the others gaze,
and his heart gave a sudden, tumultu-
Gus bound as he recognized the wom-
an. The light from the rose-eut chan
delier above fell directly over her,
changing the pink, flesh tint of her
neck and arms to dead white marble.
The gown she wore was of delicate
mauve, and dropped about her in be-
witching cascades. Decidedly, Mrs.
Mainwaring was woman who not only
could carry such things, but become
them.
y
himself possible meeting with the
girl who had made all the lovedreams
of his youth and later manhood, but
it had never been anything like this.
The reality far eclipsed every investi-
ture of the ideal.
But Mrs. Mainwaring was another.
mans wife!
At the conclusion of the figure,
Tavares dragged him across the floor
to where she stood. Ericsson had framed
a dozen commonplace remarks with
which to greet her, but they all seemed
to stick stubbornly in his throat as
he once more gazed into the purple
pansy eyes that had kept him bach
elor for the past ten years.
"This is an undreamed of pleasure"
he managed to say at last. clasping the
hand she extended.
At the sound of his voice, Mrs. Main
waring bent a swift, startled glance
upon him, her color changing quickly.
slack Ericson-of all people!" she
exclaimed. "Why, ] thought you were
in Germany studying She broke off
and bit her lip in some vexation for
having betrayed the fact that she had
given so much thought to any one man,
and that man-him.
81 have been in Germany for a good
many years." he explained, taking up
her words, Engaged in the study of
mineralogy. I have but just arrived,
and tomorrow shall leave for the
west, where I hope to make practical
use of the knowledge have spent years
trying to perfect"
Tavares had vanished, and they stood
there longer than either knew, talking
and taking no note of time. Presently
Mrs. Mainwaring recalled herself with
. a start.
"You must let me find you a part
ner," she apologized, II quite forgot
Tor the moment that was monopoliz-
ing you, when all this time am sure
YOU have been dying to join the
dancers"
But Ericsson made a decided protest
against any such inclination.
"Indeed, / would far rather not" he
insisted, eagerly, ''that is, if you think
YOU can put up with my society little
while longer"
"Oh, perfectly well,' she responded,
with a smile, "but for the next half
hour shall have to devote my self to
come of the guests. When you see me
disengaged, come"
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