Middletown transcript., 1905-01-21
TROUBLESOME LENORE
BY MARGOT MAUDE
BY MARGOT MA UDE !.

room. She stopped once more befor
the glass, but this time with very differ
ent feelings.
$50 it is to be the. sane ending" sh
said aloud bitterly, "only aui sent ava
at the beginning. instead "f in the mid
die. | wish she had just waited unit
| had seen it all-seen them all ianclh'
and have dan, 9 myself. | have nevr
danced at real ball." Two big tear
ran down her cheeks, but she wiped then
away immediately. ''But she IL right
and won't make it any harder tor her
poor little mother. by grumbllng. SIN
is in a subordinate position here. ant
am only here at all on sufferance. VIII,
should l, then, be allowed to attrac
attention? Hope and Angus M're angr!
very likely, but"-~ith little sob
think it was little mean OF them (! They
have go many dances, 90 many pleasures
while /" She turned away from tlit
glass with the tears streaming down hel
face, unchecked. "Ah, WE'LL will take
off my fine feathers y she said, still
speaking aloud. .'And then l will &c
and find some linen to mend, or some
thing to show mother that ! am not cross
with her for sending me away, but-oh,
it does seem shame y
In few minutes she was in her every.
day gown. She looked out cautiously
to see that there was no one in sight,
and then walked hastily down the cor.
ridor until she came to the door Of her
mothers little private room. 1t had
been Hopes den, but she had turned it
over to Mrs. Daintrey with all the keys.
"You must have corner of your own
to keep all your business papers and
books in," she had said.
Lenore went in and shut the door be-
hind her she could hear the gay dance
music below. Just for a moment she
stood and listened with envious ears, and
then she walked over to big work-bas-
ket which stood by the window, and
began to look for something to do. She
wanted to do something for her mother.
if possible she felt that she hated both
Hope and Angus just then and wished
to do them no service, however small.
She found some of her mothers stockings
and gloves she would mend them. She
carefully found needle and her thimble,
and then, still with that gay dance music
ringing in her ears, sat down to begin
her mending.
Downstairs, among the flowers and
the bright lights, everyone was still happy
in their beautiful dresses. But up there
all was quiet and dusky as she sat in
her everyday dress and mended, as if
no such thing as dance was going on.
Would they miss her? she wondered.
Two or three would perhaps ask for her,
and her mother would give them some
calm easy answer-she would be sup
posed to have headache or to feel faint,
and then she would be speedily forgotten.
They would enjoy themselves just as
much without her, and even Captain Per-
,ival, who had made such fuss because
she had refused to dance more than three
times with him, would not miss her for
ong.
She was missed down-stairs-it could
not be otherwise. During that first half
hour, her beauty had been audibly com.
nented on by friends and strangers alike,
md, when she disappeared, people search
I'd among the crowds of bright faces for
hat one which, in its fresh young beauty,
Iad seemed to outshine all others SO
.asily.
About an hour afterwards Angus missed
ler, and set himself obstinately to watch
or her reappearance. Probably she was
n some corner flirting with Percival, or
Dick, or some newer admirer. But what
business was it of his? lie turned TO
lis partner, and talked rather YEARLY
If the happy effect of the decorations
which she admired SO much. But, when
wo dances later she was still missing.
lis anger rose. Agnes was sitting un-
uffied, dainty and calm, in one corner Of |
be room, and he went up to her.
Where is Lenore ?" he demanded.
With a distinct frown. ''She has not
'een in the room or las not been dancing
or several dances, and should not have
hought that you would have approved
+ indiscriminate sitting out, Agnes
lave you seen her?"
Eyes" Agnes hesitated, and, instead |
t Instantly proposing to find Lenore az |
e lad expected her to do, only said,
DO not trouble about Lenore, Angus
he is all right, assure YOU"
At that moment Captain Percival came
p. He was looking angry and excited. |
"Where is Miss Daintrey?" he asked. |
She has cut one Of my dances already,
nd no one seems to know where she tsp,
"Where is Lenore ?' This time the
uestion came from Hope, who was look.
X vexed and disappearing, for she too
lought that IGNORES absence could only
e accounted for by her well-known love
Irritation. Lots of people have asked
le for her-it seems that she can't be
,und."
Then her mother answered gently
"She has been obliged to 20 upstairs.
he-is not very we'll"
Not very well That gave an entirely
lfferent complexion to her absence. and
aptain Percival's face cleared. So she
a. not amusing herself and annoying
i'm 10y wifuily cutting his dances. lie
'ured fourth host of anxious INQUIRIES.
1t got little information in return
hen he left the small group, Angus, in
$ turn, questioned his cousin. I,
"What is the matter with Leuore ?"
Agnes told the truth to him and Hone.
en"re had got excited, and che thought | /
at she had attracted more attention
an could be considered fitting. She'll
snes-had seen that he and Hope had 9
1ked annoyed, and had thought it bet ,