Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-03-24
AN
ARBITER OF
FATE.


channelled with tears.
One gathers from an uneasy posture
that he has had recent intimate kncwl-
edge of the rod that chastens.
"You should learn to take your pun
ishment like man" | remark, from
the hammock.
"Yah-h-h!" snarls Tommy Still live
lier rage is painted on his countenance
at this heaping of insult upon injury.
Just you wait, old Smarty-going-to-a-
party-I'll show you!"
With which cryptic utterance my
small brother dives darlxly cellar-wards
and leaves me to resume my interrupt
ed dreams.
Dreams vague enough in all con-
science. Dennis-the ball tonight-mu-
sic, flowers, lights-Dennis. am afriad
it all begins and ends with Dennis.
+ What long afternoon! In my rest
less wanderings | catch glimpse OF
Tonmy'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 l 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, see Dennis only.
And then l stop, and almost rub my
has offered his arm to Marie Wright
eyes, for Dennis-Dennis, if you please
without a glance in my direction, and,
a moment later see them Waiting
past the door.
"Will you give me this dance, Hell
emp
| come to life and pull down the Wis
or of pride over the dismayed face CT
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 a
French hat and dotted veil would fifty
adorn the Venus of Milo:
Heavens; how chatter! AS elaborate
ly unaware of Dennis as he is stOnily
| unaware of me. hear him speak but
| a word when Fate and our partners
bring us together as we move toward
the supper-room.
I What a perfect BALI" exclaims
Marie Wright, running her arm
through mine, land l never have seen
4 you looking better, Helen. Isn't she
picture in that white tulle, Dennis?'
Lovely" mutters Dennis perfume
torily, without glancing at me.
But as we go in the door a moment
later, our eyes meet for an instant, and
to my utter confounding l read re-
proach, pain, and resentment in his.
1t is the last straw.
4 My chatter dies away in disjointed
murmers. My eyes, to my horror, fill
With tears. and / sit staring, as if for
i dear life, ct the salmon outlet and
Z croquettes Oh my plate.
And / give you my word that never,
from that minute, have ever been able
Fto look at salmon outlet, modestly
dressed in ito party petticoat of frilled
white paper, without a qualm of sick
ness.
Finally the intolerable time is over.
| am saying lay mendacious thanks for
"the loveliest time" then am out in
the cool air, am whirling home in the
carriage, and then crying my heart out,
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
i calls them, with all mans firm be-
lief in the efficacy of this treatment
for megrims.
"Good-by i5elea," 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. have been
in doubt whether to lay it to the door
of undiscovered crimes or surfeit OF
jamie suffers at times from each.
Yesterday the balance of evidence
lay on the side of crime, as he re-
| tll6u Ills 0NllONJ 0CAAOOA ACooOh W1ttk q
rare and surprising correctness and
wholly abstained from the riots he u.s.
ually invites 10 enliven that hour OF
penance.
Today all doubts fade as my eye falls
upon his hands and face-they are
clean
a | go-I shDr--I return paler than
left, much to fathers perturbation. He
tries to cheer me with gossipy chat.
The next day Tommy drives with
me in my pony phaeton
Be it said that Tommy, as driving
companion, IL about Is agreeable as a
bunch OF young cells. Now hanging over
the back, trailing stick in the dust;
now standing, the better to see some
thing, his tgsrty little feet soon trample
my clean nrualin into the semblance Of
soiled ras
But | pay him scant attention to
day.
Flying fragments only Of his. en-
livening discourse dart across the un
happy circle of my own thoughts
such as:
Look at that rabbit, Helen. Gollyl
look. at him run Wish | had gun
Bet you there's another in those black
berry bushea Here's the ford, Helen
: My word! the waters Hight
This last speech brings me back tx
material thipes and drive Goldie care
fully into the unusually swift current
acif nm rrnna,,3vf,s command