Middletown transcript., 1903-03-28

| ulOGIl6T Ill Ul1S OIdWluS- OOAnj 1ilN
greeting their guests as they filed
| up to them, and was onher way to
| Maud's side when voice startled
her and, turning, she saw an ell
derly man smiling at her.
1t is-why, of course, tits Miss
Page. How are you? But I need
not ask, for, as usual, you are the
picture of health and beauty.
| And, before she knew how it was
| done Eloise was swept through
the crowd to a secluded corner,
| where Captain Dennis question
ed and cross-questioned, fiatter-
ed and complimented until she
longed to escape. Dancing was
| in full blast now, and reading the
longing in her eyes the captain
proposed that they should join in
| with the merry-makers, and a
two-step that nearly carried her
to the seventh heaven-madeher
forget her unhappines, that after
all, had been only temporary.
It was not until the dance was
over that she realized how out
of place she was in this throng of
good d-natured pleasure seekers.
Captain Dennis brought up
several men, but even the dances
she had with them did not COM
pensate for the knowledge that
all must look upon herin the light
of a bore. Even Mand's sweet
introductions when she had a
moment stimetogive toherfriend
were powerless to break the spell
of Indifference that had come
over her. She tried hard to be
merry and gay, but each time q
dismalfailure was the only result.
She was obliged to ask Captain
Dennis to repeat the pleasantly
he had just wasted upon her
as she thought Of the way in
which David had made her part
of the fun and merriment, instead
of quiet onlooker at the pleas
ure of others. She was glad
with a fierce gladness that he
was not there tonight to.witness
her humiliation; glad that he was
not there to joinin with the throng
that followed the bevy of popu-
lar girls, of whom the tall Miss S
Donegan seemed the belle. Maud
had often limited of her brothers
admiration for the divine Cerise,
and as Eloise watched the admir-
ing glances that were bestowed
upon her she felt just one ray of
comfort-David was not there to
make her the queen he had made
anothergirl on another occasion,
and from this assurance she tried
to draw meagre consolation that
diminished as the evening waned.
i Maude insisted that she and Miss
| Donegan, who was also spending
| the night with her, should go in
to the library and talk it over
which is almost the better part Of
| it, she declared. from the depth
of the cushions she had piled be-
fore the fire.
! 1t was fine, dear, Miss Done.
gan remarked indolently, from
rdivan. Ihad a splendid time,
with only one drawback Cap
tain Dennis, you know I can't
see why that old fossil won't let
me alone. Only fancy, Maud, I
had to dance with him-a whole
dance at that. I had arranged
it so beautifully with Tony, too,
but he was SO tender hearted he
wouldn't break away from his
partner, who was some kind OF 9
stick, but gave her the whole
dance, and he was so pepitent,
poor fellow, that had to forgive
him, though ] was SO angry.
| A glow of Indignation was fol-
lowed by one Of shame on Eloise's
cheeks as she realized that in all
probability she had been the very
girl, and that she was listening
to abuse Of Captain Dennis, who
had been kinder to her than all
the others had been, She hated
herself, and, overcome by her
self-accusing thoughts, she was
Lying back among the cushions,
hardly hearing the exchange of
pretty compliments and speeches
between the other two girls,
| when Maud; seized with a sud-
den spirit of eontrition, turned
to her with little cry.
| You poor child! she exclaimed.
You're tired to death. Of course
you are, after your trip and the
dancing-no, don't deny it. Let
me see-I was going to suggest
we three sleep in the big bed in
the back roon, but if you so tired
No more girlish gossip for her.
And. scorning herself for letting
the untrHth about her Journey go