Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-09
ALI
ANITA.

On my first day in long trousers l
may have been more i'll at ease than
l was that Sunday evening at the
Ellerslys', but l doubt it.
When / came into their big drawing
room and took a look around at the
assembled guests, l e felt more
at home in my life. Eyes" said l to
myself, as Mrs. Ellersly was greeting
me and as I noted the friendly inter-
est in the glances of the women, this
is where | belong. I'm beginning to
come into my own"
AS | look back on it now, | can't re-
frain from smiling at my own simpl1-
city-and snobbishness. For, so de-
termined was | to believe what was
working for was worth while, that |
actually fancied there were uponthese
I'm reality ordinary people, ordinary in
looks, ordinary in intelligence, some
subtle 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 | looked at the men, l
at once felt myself their superior.
They were an inconsequential, pat
termed lot. l 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 a laughable sense
that l was doing myself proud, l
crossed the room easily and took my
stand in front of her. She shook hands
with me politely enough. Langdon was
sitting beside her; I had interrupted
their conversation.
Hello, Black1ock!" said Langdon,
with a quizzical, satirical smile with
the eyes only. 1T seems strange to
see you at such peaceful pursuits"
His glance travelled over me critically
and that vas 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" l replied. I'VE 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. l decided against it be-
cause all l knew of him had to do with
matters down town-and Monson had
impressed 1t upon me that down town
was taboo in the d~rawing-room. !
rummaged my brain in vain for an
other and suitable topic.
She sat, and I stood-she tranquil
and beautiful and cold, I every instant
more miserably self-conscious. When
the start for the dining-room was
made | 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, when
It flashed on me like a binding blow
in the face that I ought to be on the
other side Of her. got red tripped
in the far-sprawling train Of Mrs,
Langdon, tore it slightly, tried to get
to the other side of Miss Ellersly by
walking in front Of her, recovered
myself somehow, stumbled round be.
hind her, walked on her train and
finally arrived at her left side, con.
scious in every red-hot atom Of me
that | was making a spectacle OF
myself and that the whole company
was enjoying it. l must have seemed
to them an ignorant boor; in fact. ]
had been about a great deal among
people who knew how to behave, and
had l never given the matter Of how
TO conduct myself on that particular
occasion an inetant's thought, l should
have got on without the least trouble
1t was with a sigh Of profound re-
lief that / sank upon the chair be
tween Miss Ellersly and Mrs. Lang
don, safe from danger Of making
breaks SO | hoped, for the rest Of
the evening. But within a very few
minutes | realized that my little mis-
adventure had unnerved me. MY
hands were trembling 30 that could
scarcely lift the soup spoon to my
lips, and my throat had got SO fal
beyond control that ! had difficulty ir
swallowing. Miss Ellersly and Mrs
14anEdcn : each busy with the mar