The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-08-06
ANITA.


On my first day in long trousers 1
NAV have been more i'll at ease than
Il was that Sunday evening at the
( Ellerslys', but l doubt it.
When l came into their big drawing
room and took a look around at the
B assembled guests. | never felt more
at home in my life. Yes" said to
myself, as Mrs. Ellersly was greeting
me and as l noted the friendly inter-
est in the glances of the women this
Is where l belong. I'm beginning TO
come into my own"
AS look back on it now, can't re-
Il frain from smiling at my own simph-
x city-and snobbishness. For. so de-
termined was to believe what l was
working for was worth while, that |
actually fancied there were upon these
in reality ordinary people, ordinary in
looks, ordinary in intelligence, some
snbtle marks of superiority, that made
them at a glance superior to the COM
mon run This ecstasy of snobbish-
ness deluded me as to the women
only-for, as I looked at the men,
at once felt myself their superior
termed lot | even was better dressed
than any of them, except possibly
Mowbray Langdon, and if he showed
to more advantage than l. it was be-
cause of his manner, which, as
have probably said before, is superior
to that of any human being I've ever
seen-man or woman.
you are to take Anita in" said
Mrs. Ellersly. With laughable sense
that l was doing myself proud, |
crossed the room easily and took my
stand in front of her. She shook hands
with mo politely enough. Langdon NNs
sitting beside her; l had interrupted
their conversation.
Hello, BlackloclJi" said Langdon,
with a quizzical, satirlcal smile with
the eyes only. 1T seems strange to
see you at such peaceful pursuits. -
His glance travelled over me critically
land that was the beginning of my
trouble Presently he rose, left me
alone with her.
You know Mr.. Langdon?" she said
obviously because she felt she must
say something.
"Oh, yes" / replied, 1--WE are old
Friends. What a tremendous swell he
is-really a swell" This with enthu
siasm.
She made no comment l debated
with myself whether to go on talking
of Langdon. I decided against it be
cause all knew of him had to do witt
matters down town-and Monson haC
Impressed it upon me that down towr
was taboo in the drawing-room.
rummaged my brain in vain for an
other and suitable topic.
She sat, and ! stood-she Tranquil
and beautiful and cold, every instan
more miserably self-conscious. WheI
the start for the dining-room wa:
made I offered her my left arm
though had carefully planned be
forehand just what | would do. She
without hesitation and, as know now
out of sympathy for me in my suffer
ing-was taking my wrong arm. wheI
it flashed on me like binding blow
in the face that ought to be on thu
other side of her. / got red, trippe,
in the farsprawling trasn of Mrs
n Langdon, tore it slightly, tried to ge
to the other side Of Miss Ellersly b!
walking in front of her, recovered
myself somehow, stumbled round be
hind her, walked on her train AM
finally arrived at her left side. con
scious in every red-hot atom of m'
that was making a spectacle o
myself and that the whole compan.
was enjoying it. | must have scenes
to them an ignorant boor; in fact,
had been about a great deal among
people Who knew how to behave, an,
had never given the matter of how