Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-01-31
WON AT BRIDGE
WHIST

Tie steamer naQ Dul II coupe OF uuys
more before reaching port when the
sun. which we had not seen since our
departure, broke through the clouds
and bathed us all In delicious warmth.
Something else burst forth at the same
time-iIc sunshine. for me, of face.
She came on deck for the first time.
and her dignified father put her In a
steamer chair, arranged her wraps and
sat down beside her like q shepherd
dog beside a lamb. Perhaps he saw
me looking at her. At any rate. that's
what was doing, for / couldn't keep
my eyes off her. Such refined dignity
such repose, such gentleness. 1t must
have all come down from generations
Of gcntility.
Why had the weather kept her be-
low till the voyage was nearly finish
cd? must make the most of the brief
period left TO secure an acquaintance.
Alas, the sun went down in clouds. and
50 did my hopes, She did not appear
on deck again. | did not even see her
leave the ship.
Winter came and the usual round Of
gayeties. An invitation bridge whist
at Mrs. Peabody's-came. among 9th
ers, for me, and resolved to accept.
On entering the card room the iirst
face / set eyes on was the steamer
girl | was surprised and, though de-
lighted at my luck In meeting her
again. panied to see her in the com
Al 10, nj ro 70 oh
able. aud the people she entertains are
very smart that is, the women
drink cocktails. smoke cigarettes and
gamble. If you ask why | go with
such people. reply | am man and
can 90 anywhere without soling the
feathers of my angelic masculine
wings, but had n wife she should not
go to Mrs. Peabody's.
| Mt once sought an Introduction to
the steamer girl. Miss Delaplain, and
soon saw that she was out of her ele-
ment When cocktail was handed
her she started and declined 1t.
caught Mrs. Peabody frowning ut her
as she did so with an expression which,
being interpreted, meant. You don't
get invited here again" Several young
bloods had been chatting with Miss
Delaplain when | was introduced to
her. and they must have been putting
on their up to date society manners,
for she looked ruliled, and when | adj
dressed her deferentially she figurative-
ly nestled to me as one would cling to
lifebout.
Miss Delaplain and I were Mt first
partners. | saw at once that she knew
very little about the game, and / soon
suspected she didn't know she was
playing for money. When we changed
partners her new vs-a-vis soon made
her aware OF her temerity in playing
game she did not understand At
every misplay he would scowl al her
and DID not scruple to Indicate t i he
was wroth.
After The evenings Amusement was
about to take my departure IN
met Miss Delapain wearing u ate
nance that told OF trouble.
what shall | do?" she said. Il
have been told that my loss Mt bridge
playing for money"
"And my gain Is exactly the same
amount. Though knew that we were
playing for stakes do not feel at lib
erty to accept my winnings"
"Why 500"
"You for one did not know that you
were risking anything. The money
you lost may have gone TO me. You
are In an unpleasant position. So am
l. There is n way out for both. Let
me turn In my winnings to cover your
loss
There was no trouble in persuading
her to accept the terms, at least tenn
porarily, for she had no money with
her, and she told me she would need to
break the matter to her father who
would be greatly shocked at hearing
that she had been gambling | babe
her good night after asking permission
to call and. going to the hostess, paid
her loss
Two days later upon opening my
morning mail | found note from
MIS-. L NtppAs lliNi'olhS a ilpNt anu a
check for Sos from Mr.. Delaplain in
payment of his daughters loss nj
bridge whist. Mrs. Peabody called my
attention to the fact that the amount
was 81 more than the loss | supposed
this to be an error until, referring to
Mr.. Delaplaiu'S note, | saw In n post
script on the second page. The So Is
to cover the supper"
What should | do with this amount
1t did not belong to me and was in
tended as Stub for Mrs. Peabody
Should | return it to her, calling her at
| tention To the snub? Such crime
would preclude the possibility of my
attending any more entertainments at
| her house, | thought the matter over
and concluded to accept the cousc-
| quences. | inclosed a check for the
surplus amount with Mr.. Delaplain's
note, understanding the POSTSCRIPT with
| Il blue pencil.
\ week later met Mrs. Peabody
| face to face on the steps of ST. James
| church. She gave me the dead cut
My decision was more than one relat.
ing to Mrs, Peabody 1t Included the