The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-02-23
AN
.ARBITER OF
FATE.

j 1 ''4!''41St'''FS
'Tll teach you, Miss Tattle-tale-see
If I don't!" --.
Tommy stand glar1ng, at me. His
round, freckled, dirty little face is
ehannelled with tears.
One gathers from an uneasy posture
that he has had recent intimate kno"l'
edge of the rod that chastens.
.sYou should learn to take your pun
ishment like a man. I remark, from
the hammock. ........
'sYah-h-h!" snarls Tommy. Still live
lier rage is painted on his countenance
at this heaping of insult upon injury.
"Jast you wait, old smarty-going-to-a'
party-Il show you"
With which cryptic utterance my
small. brother dives darkly cellar-Wards
and leaves me to resume my interrupt:
ed dreams. .r...- .-
Dreams vague enough in all con-
science. Dennis-the ball tonight-mu-
sic, flowers, lights Dennis. l am afriad
It all begins and ends with Dennis
What a long afternoon! In my rest
less wanderings / catch a glimpse OF
Tommy's cropped head hobbing about
In the tomato-house and in the kitchen
garden. But the grim spectre OF war
still extends its bat-like wings over
Tommy and me and go no nearer.
And the night Games at last.
am floating, with bevy OF girls,
down the winding staircase to where,
at the foot, group Of men stand wait
ing for Us.
Truth to tell, out Of blurred mass
of upturned faces of black coats and
white shirt fronts, I see Dennis only.
And then stop, and almost rub my
has offered his arm to Marie Wright
eyes, for Dennis Dennis, If you please
without q glance In my direction, and,
moment later I see them waltzlng
past the door.
'Will you give me this dance, Hell
en?'
I come to life and pull down the Wis
or of pride over the dismayed face OF
wounded love.
"Of course, Alex" answer IN
sprightly If somewhat affected tones.
And sprightliness maintain through
out the evening, which, ] am miserably
conscious, becomes me as little as
French hat and dotted veil would htly
adorn the Venus Of Milo.
Heavens, how 1 chatter! AS elaborate
5ly unaware Of Dennis as he is stonily
unaware of me. / hear him speak but
& word when Fate and our partners
bring US together as we move toward
the supper-room.
"What a perfect ball!" exclaims
Marie Wright, running her arm
through mine, "and I never have seen
you looking better, Helen. Isn't she
q picture in that white tulle, Dennis?"
Lovely mutters Dennis perfume
toriiy, without glancing at me.
But as we go in the door moment
later, our eyes meet for an instant, and
to my utter confounding I read re-
proach, pain, and resentment in his.
It is the last straw.
NV chatter dies away in dlsJolnted
murmers. Ny eyes, to my horror, MI
with tears, and I sit staring, as II tor
dear life, at the salmon outlet and
eroquettes on my plate.
3 And l give you my word that never,
from that minute, have ever been able
to look at a salmon outlet, modestly
dressed in its party petticoat OF frilled
white paper, without a qualm OF SICK
ness. II - . .s.s.a :..
Finally the intolerable time is over.
I am saying my mendacious thanks for
"the loyeliest time" then I am out in
the cool air, am whirling home in the
carriage, and then crying my heart out,
a mass of crumpled tulle on my bed.
Three weeks later father, concerned
at my pale cheeks, has ordered me to
town to buy some furbelows, as he
calls them, with all mans firm be-
lief in the efficacy Of this treatment
for megrims.
"Good-by Helen," says Tommy, as
am about to go. Hope you'll be back
soon.''
This is amazingly polite of Tommy,
who is no great admirer Of the small
formalities of life. But Tommy has not
been quite himself of late. 1 have been
in doubt whether to lay it to the door
of undiscovered crimes or surfelt OF
iam-he suffers at times from each.
Yesterday the balance Of evidence
lay on the side of crime, as he re-
cited his Sunday school lesson with a
rare and surprising correctness and
wholly abstained from the riots he US
ually invites to enliven that hour OF
penance.
Today all doubts fade as my eye falls
UPON his hands and face-they are
clean!
go-I shop return paler than |
left, much to fathers perturbation. He
tries to cheer me with gossipy chat.