The Washington times., 1906-08-05

house seeking q door by which I could
enter without passing the unfriendly
Gibraltar of a host and hostess on
guard 10 welcome belated guests
4 long conservatory filled with trop-
zeal plants gave me my opportunity
PTomenaders went idly through and
out into another part Of the house by
an exit ! could not see. A handsome.
spectaclcd gentleman opened a glass
door within a ward OF where I stood.
shifted the air, and said 20 his COM
pan.cn. as De turned back with a
shTIg into the conservatory:
There's no sign OF snow. II isn't
Christmas weather at all"
lie stTolled away through the palms.
and 1 instantly threw of my ulster
and hat. cast them behind some
bushes, and boldly opened the door and
entered.
The ballroom was on the third floor.
buy the guests were struggling down
to supper and I took my stand at
the foot Of the broad stairway and
glanced up caTelessly. as though wait
ing for some one. 1t was a large and
brilliant company and many a lovely
face passed me as / stood waiting. The
very size Of the gathering gave me
security. and ! smoothed my gloves
complacently.
The spectacled gentleman whose
breath of night air had given me a
valued hint of the open conservatory
door came now and stood beside me.
He even put his hand on my arm with
intimate fTieudliness.
There was a sound Of mirth and
scampering feet in the hall above and
then down the steps. between the lines
of guests arrested in their descent.
came a dark laughing girl in the Farb
Of Little Red Riding Hood. amid gem
eral applause aud laughter.
It's Olivia. She's won the wager
exclaimed the spectacled gentleman.
and the girl. whose dark curls were
shaken about Ser face ran up 10 US
and threw her arms about him and
kissed him. II was a charming pic
ture-the figures on the stairway. the
pretty graceful child. the eager. happy
faces ali about. ! was too much in
terested by this scene Of the comedy to
uncomfortable.
Then, at the top Of the stair, her
height accented by her gown Of white.
instant, as a bird pauses before taking
wing, and then l3ughingly running oc-
tween the lines 10 where Olivia faced
her IN mock AFFECTION To the charm
OF the girl 10 the woodland was added
now the dignity of beautiful woman
hood, and my heart leaPed at the
thought that ! had ever spoken 10 her,
that ] was the because she had
taunted me with the risk Of coming.
Above. on the stair landing. a deep
toned clock began To strike midnight,
ard every one cried Merry Christ
mas" and "Oliva's won't and there
was more hand-clapping, IN which I
joined with good will.
Some one behind me was explaining
what had just occurred. Olivia, the
Youngest daughter Of the house, had
been denied a glimpse of the ball; Miss
Devereux had made d wager with her
host that Olivia would appear before
midnight: and Olivia had defeated the
plot against her. and gained the main
hall at the stroke of Christmas.
Good night, Good night. called
Olivia-the real Olivia-in derision TO
the company, and turned and ran back
through the applauding, laughing
throng.
The spectacled gentleman vas Oliv-
las father. and he mockingly rebuked
Marian DevereuN for having encour-
aged an infraction of parental dlscip-
line, while she was twitting him upon
the loss of his wager. Then her eyes
rested upon me for the first time. She
smiled slightly, but continued 4 king
placidly to her hose. The situation
did not please me- I had not Travelled
so far and burglariOusly entered DR..
Armstrong; house in quest of a girl
with blue eyes merely 10 stand by
while she talked 10 another man.
l drew nearer. impatiently; and was
conscious that four other young men
in white waisJcoats and gloves quite
as irrepreaehable as my own stood
ready 10 claim her the instant she was
free. / did not propose TO be thwart-
ed by the beauN of Cincinnati, SO /
stepped toward DR. Armstrong.
Il beg your pardon, Doctor" I