Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-08-09
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

The appearance OF the man who
ppened the door for Anita and me
suggested that our ring had reused
lim from bed where he had deposit
ID himself without bothering to take
off his clothes. At the sound of my
voice, Ball peered out of his private
smokingroom, at the far end of the
hall He started forward; then, see
Ing how I was accompanied, stopped
with mouth ajar He had on a ragged
smoking-jacket, pair of shapeless old
Romeo slippers, his ordinary business
waistcoat and trousers. He was wear
black pipe was between his fingers.
We had evidently caught the house
hold stripped of Tugs" and sunk in
the down-to-the-heel slovenliness
which is called comfort Joe was
crimson with confusion, and was
using his free hand to stroke, alter
nately, his shiny bald head and his
heavy brown mustache. He got him
self together efficiently, after a few
seconds, to disappear into his den.
When he came out again, pipe and
ragged jacket were gone, and he
rushed for US in a gorgeous velvet
Jacket with dark red facings, ana
snowy pair of slippers.
Glad to see you, Mr.. Blackjack
in his own home he always addressed
every man as Mister, just as Mrs.
B." always called him Mister Ball,
and he called her Mrs. Ball" before
company" Come right into the
front parlor. Billy, turn on the cleo
trio lights"
Anita had been standing with her
head down. She now looked round
with shame and terror in those ex-
pressive blue-gray eyes OF hers; her
delicate nostrils were quivering. |
FASTENED to introduce Ball to her.
Her impulse to fly passed; her life
long training in doing the conven-
tional thing asserted itself. She low
cred her head again, murmured an in
audible acknowledgment of Joe's
greeting.
"Your wife is at homer" said [. II
pne was at home in the evening, the
other was also, and both were always
there, unless they were at some the
ater-except on Sunday night, when
they dined at Sherry's, because many
fashionable people did it. They had
40 friends and few acquaintance. In
their humber and happy days they
had had many friends, but had lost
them when they moved away from
Brooklyn and went to live, like I'M
of ,.1o rricf in hAir
grand house, pretending to be what
they longed to be, longing to be what
they pretended to be, and as discon-
tented as they deserved.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. BIS at home" Joe
answered. Il guess she and Alva
we're about to go to bed" Alva was
their one child Shs had been chris
tened Malvina, after Joe's mother
but when the Balls ''blossomed out
they renamed her Alva. which they
somehow had got the impression was
smarter"
At Joe's laundering confession that
The females of the family were in no
condition TO receive, Anita said 10 me
IN low voice: Let us go"
pretended not to hear. "Rout EN-
put" said l to Joe. Then. take my
electric and bring the nearest parson. (
There's going to be wedding right |
here" And | looked round the long
salon, with everything draped for the I
summer departure Joe whisked the I
cover off one chair, his man took off /
another. TN have the women-folk
down in two minutes he cried. Then (
to the man: Get move on you,
Billy. Stir EN- up in the kitchen. DO
the best you can about supper-and
put lot of champagne on the ice.
That's the main thing at a wedding.
Anita had seated herself listlessly
in one of the uncovered chairs. The
wrap slipped back from her shoulders
and-how proud | was of her. Joe
gazed, took advantage of her not look
ing up to slap me on the back and TO
jerk his head in enthusiastic approval.
Then he. too. disappeared.
A few minutes of silence. and there
was a rustling on the stairs. She
started up, trembling. looked round,
as if seeking some way TO escape or
doorway holding aside one of the cur
tains There entered in a beribboned
and befiounced tea-gown, a pretty. if
rather ordinary, woman OF forty, with
a petulant baby face. She was trying
to look reserved and severe. She
hardly glanced at me before fastening
sharp, suspicious eyes on Anita.
Mrs. Ball." said /, this is Miss
Ellersly."
Miss Ellerslyi" she exclaimed. her
face changing. And she advanced and
took both Anita's hands. Mr.. Ball is
so stupid" she went on. with that
smusingly affected accent which is
the Sunday clothes" OF speech
Il didn't catch the name. my dear"
Joe stammered.
BE on" said l. aside. to him. Get
the nearest preacher and hustle him
here with his tools