The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-06-07

Will AEt~AEssst i41N E4es AAtA AAtEtAAtoA'
n the -vced'n- dress had not been sue
eessf-': the s.l'rt was too short In from
sud h-eher on Oee side than on the 9th
~. showing to plainly the heavy soled
shOes. which ha0 lost Their polish In the
walk through the snow. Tie ribbon TO
settes wcre fully revealed. and as she
glanced NJ thel- reflection she heard
the words. Look at that train and
those rosettesT' whispered behind her
and saw In the mirror two pretty
young women turn away with their
handkerchiefs over their mouths and
retreat hurriedly TO an alcove. All the
feet in ting room except Ariel's were in
dainty kid or satin slippers Of the color
Of the dresses from which they glim-
mered out, and only Ariel wore train.
She went away from the mirror and
pretended to be busy with hanging
thread In her sleeve.
Ariel sat in one OF the chairs against
the wall and watched the dancers with
a smile of eager and benevolent inter.
est In Canaan no parents, no guard
ians, no aunts were hailed forth o
nights to duenna the junketings Of
youth. Ariel sat eonspicuously alone.
There was nothing else for her to do.
1t was not an easy matter.
Once or twice between the dances
she saw Miss Pike speak appealingly
to one of the superhuous, glancing at
the same time in her own direction,
and Ariel could see, too, that the appeal
proved unsuccessful, until at last Ma
mie approached her leading Norbert
will power. Norbert was an excessively
fat boy and at the present moment
looked as patient as the blind. But he
asked Ariel if she was engaged for
the next dance" and, Mamie having
fitted away, stood disconsOlately be-
side her waiting for the music to begin
Ariel was grateful for him.
The orchestra hourished into La
Paloma;" he put his arm mournfully
about her and, taking her right hand
with his left. carried her arm out to
rigid right angle, beginning to pump
and balance for time. They made
three false starts and then got away.
Ariel danced badly; she hoped and
lost the step, but they persevered,
humping against other couples contin-
ually.
She caught her partner making a
burlesque face of suffering over her
shoulder and, turning her head quick
ly, saw for whose benefit he had con-
structed it. Eugene Bantry, flying ex-
pertly by with Mamie, was bestowing
upon Mr. Flitcroft a condescendingly
commiserative wink The next in
slant she tripped in her train and fell
to the floor at Eugene's feet, carrying
her partner with her.
There was a shout Of laughter. The
young hostess stopped Eugene, who
would have gone on, and he had no
choice but to stoop to Ariel's assist
ance.
ut seems to be a habit of mine"
she said. laughing loudly.
She did not appear to see the hand |
he offered, but got to her feet with |
out help and walked quickly away |
with Norbert. who proceeded to live |
up TO the character he had given him.
self.
Perhaps we had better not try it
again." she laughed.
"Well, should think not" he re-
turned, with the frankest gloom.
With the air of conducting her home
he took her to the chair against the
wall whence he had brought her.
There his responsibility for her seem
ed to cease. "Will you excuse meY
he asked, and there was no doubt that
he felt that he had been given more
than his share that evening, even
though he was fat.
Ariel sat through more dances, in
dances and intermissions, In
that same chair in which, it began to
seem, she was to live out the rest of
her life Now and then If she thought
people were looking at her as they
passed she broke into laugh and nod
led slightly. as If still amused over her
mishap.
After a long time she rose and, laugh
ng cheerfully to Mr. Flitcroft. who
was standing in the doorway and re-
1lied with wan smile, stepped out |
quickly into the hall, where she almost
an into her greatuncle. Jonas Tabor.
ae was going toward the big front
loors with Judge Pike. having just
,ome out of the latter's library. down
he hall.
Jonas was breathing heavily and was
hockingly pale, though his eyes were
'ery bright. He turned his back upon
lis grandniece sharply and went out
# the door. Ariel turned from him
ute as abruptly and re-entered the
DOM whence she had come She laugh
d again to her fat friend as she passed
i'm and, still laughing. went toward
he fatal chair, when her eyes caught
light of Eugene Bantry and Mamie
oming in through the window. She
rent to the window and looked out.
he porch seemed deserted and was
aintly illuminated by a few Japanese
lnterns, She sprang out. dropped upon
II g.. H. H.,