The Appeal., 1906-08-04

sl ne MendIelgn mouse ball Is over,
my blue chiffon gown is crushed, the
lilies in my hair and on my breast are
dropping, the stars are paling, my
birthday is past, and-my life has be-
gun!
| hardly know how to chronicle It
all-but l must! One cannot break
faith with diary that is only written
once year!
When we arrived he was there
waiting for me at the top of the
stairs. His greeting was stimulating
ly restrained as usual; and after put
ting down his name couple Of times
on my programme, he bowed and
crossed over 10 Erica who is begin
ming to look terribly matronly, poor
thing! (such a pity when Nigel is
six months younger than she is! But
they are supremely happy, so l sup
pose a dawning double chin doesn't
matter!)
At last came our waltz, and almost
before the music had fully come to
life we were reversing down the IA
nous ballroom, while. dead and gone
rufaed and doubleted Mendleighs
glared down at us from the walls.
Generally speaking, i don't like a
man who. dances well, but with him
It doesn't seem to matter somehow;
he takes the thing SO seriously with
out speaking a word or observing any
conventional that, to him,
Waiting might be an affair of inter
national Importance! There is moth
ing frivolous about his dancing. He
begins the instant the music starts,
hardly going through the form Of of
fering his arm, and continues scien-
ti1cally till the end.e.2It is desper-
ately attractive method unique and
eminently artistic, even though it
mayn't sound SO!
Directly the waltz was over he took
me to small ante-room- more
than recess is only known
to the Mendleigh house intimates; and
then, sitting down by my side, waited,
as usual, for me to begin to walk.
"By the by, before we discuss the
the-fo0r or the music, or attack any
other polite subject of conversation,
let me thank you for the sweet rose
and the beautiful box" I said, with
a brave effort at CHEEKY friendliness.
George smiled swiftly (his teeth are
perfect), and looked less Napoleonic
than have ever seen him.
Many happy returns of your birth
day, Della" he said, with passion
ate tenderness in his voice.
1t was wonderful to hear him speak
like that, and his eyes-oh! could
those be the eyes that were so care
less and cold as a rule?
For half a second forgot
madame" in Heidelberg, and let my
glance meet his own.
Della" he said, bending over me,
and speaking without emphasis, and
yet putting more strength into the
words than if they had been doubly
underlined. Della, love you much
more than ever meant to love any
woman. Ifnever intended to love, be-
cause I never intended to marry; but
now-good heavens! / find romance
in the idea of paying rates, and poetry
in the notion Of writing checks for
rent. And it's you who have taught
me, dearie! Della, Viii youwin
you +s.s s5 4 s:I ~ }fs.ss
Then suddenly I remembered
Gretchen with the two plaits, and per.
haps-who knows-there might be a
little Heinrich, or small Lottchen,
or something terrible like that!
"How dare you be absolutely
wicked!" l cried, dashing up from the
seat and standing Indignantly before
him.
At first he did not speak, but re-.
mained sitting down and looking at
me in a way that made me feel more
of a schoolgirl than ever felt in my
learning days.
Then, Safter a most inconsiderate
pause, he rose and faced me.
81 had no intention of being wicked,
assure you;'' he replied in the same
voice that he asks elderly ladies id
they'll take tea or coffee. What have
1 done?"
"a good many things that it
wouldn't be v-v-very reputable to-
print, I've no doubt; but 1 should
think it's about the worst when you
"a m-m-married man-ask me-a girl
Ito be your wife,"
For second he looked contempla-
tive, then answered quietly:
Il don't fancy l did ask you to
be my wife, and feel quite certain
am not married quite sure!"
Then how about madame in
Heidelberg, whom you won't bring
over again? And how about Lady
Barnchester calling you a bad hus-
band'?"
But as madame happens to be
my cello, which I once took up with
such fervor that every one called her
my wife Cor .madame'), can't see
how it matters! Lady Barnchester
can answer for me, because she has
both seen, and heard, madame be.
fore took her back to Heidelberg!"
1 can hardly remember what hap
pened next. Ionly known felt that
the world was sort Of environ of
Paradise!
t''The-then I---I-beg your pardon
oh! SO m-m-much," stammered.
pray don't apologize! Shall we go
back to the ballroom?"
(Did he mean it? Yes, his face was
4 < =. = = :. :. =
grave, cold and inscrutable! had
lost my happiness! My heart must
try to go to sleep againD
4 ssVac Thanks tigs lE-st-...l