The Yale expositor., 1907-02-08
CHATTER xxl-contlnued

the appearance of the man VINO
opei.ed the door for Anita and me
sugsested that our ring had reused
him from a bed where he had deposit
ed 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 | was accompanied, stopped
with mouth aiar He had on ragged
smoking-iacket. pair of shapeless ola
Romeo slippers, his ordinary business
waistcoat and trousers. He was wear
ing neither tie nor collar, and short
black pipe was between his fingers
we had evidently caught the house
hold stripped of Tugs and sunk IN
the down-to-the-heel sloVenllhess
which is called comfort Joe was
crimson with confusion, and was
using his free hand to stroke, alter
natelv. his shiny bald head and his
heavy brown mustache. He got him.
self together sufficiently, after a Few
seconds, to disappear into his den.
When he came out again, pipe ana
ragged Jacket were gone and ne
rushed for us in a gorgeous velVet
Jacket with dark red facings, ana
SNOWY pair OF slippers.
Glad to see you, Mr.. Blacklock =
I'm his own home he always addressed
every man as Mister just as Mrs.
b." always called him Mister Ball,
and he called her Mrs. BALI 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. i
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
greeting.
Your wife is at homer" said |. II
one was at home in the evening, the
other was also, and both were always
there, unless they were at some the
they dined at Sherry's, because many
fashionable people did it. They hat
no friends and few acquaintances. lr
their humber and happy days they
had had many friends, but had los
them when they moved away from
Brooklyn and went to live, ike un
easy. out-of-place visitors, in thell
grand house, pretending TO be VIVA
they longed TO be, longing to be VIVA
they pretended to be, and as discon
tented as they deserved.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. BIS at home Jo'
answered. Il guess she and Alvi
were about to go to bed Alva wa
their one child. She had been chris
tened Malvina, after Joe's mother
but when the Balls "blossomed out
they renamed her Alva, which the
somehow had got the impression wa
smarter.
At Joes laundering confession tina
the females of the family were in
condition to receive, Anita said to m
In low voice Let us go
pretended not to hear "Rout 'el
out" said | to Joe. Then, take m
electric and bring the nearest parso
There's going to be wedding rigl
here And | looked round the Ion
salon. with everything draped for ii
summer departure. Joe whisked II
cover off one chair, his man took
another. "Ill have the women-fo
down in two minutes" he cried. The
10 the man: Get a move on yo
Billy. Stir 'em up in the kitchen. l
the best you can about supper-ai
put a lot of champagne on the ic
That's the main thing at a wedding
Anita had seated herself listless
In one of the uncovered chairs. II
wrap slipped back from her shoulde
and-bow proud | was of her! j
gazed. took advantage of her not loo
ing up to slap me on the back and
Jerk his head in enthusiastic approx
Then he, too, disappeared.
few minutes of silence, and the
was rustling on the stairs.
started up, trembling. looked roul
as II seeking some way TO escape
some place to hide. Joe was In
doorway holding aside one of the
tgins. There entered in beribbor
and befiounced tea-gown, a pretty,
rather ordinary, woman of forty, W
a petulant baby face She was try
TO look reserved and severe.
hardly glanced at me before fasten
sharp. suspicious eyes on Anita.
Mrs. Ball." said /, this is NJ
Ellersly."
Miss Ellerslyl" she exclaimed.
face changing. And she advanced
took both Anita's hands. Mr.. Bal
80 stupid" she went on, with
amusingly affected accent which
the Sunday clothes" of speech.
II didn't catch the name, my de
Joe stammered.
BE on" said /. aside, to him. :
the nearest preacher and hustle
here with his tools"
had one eye on Anita all the q
t.o~ oo1o fOlloW IOQ As