The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-18

tan fellow countryman was now lean
Ing against the rail beside her chair.
She saw a look of surprised amuse-
ment fit across his face. succeeded al
most instantly by hard, dark frown
of displeasure. He waited moment
and then looked down at her with I'M
mistakable shame and disapproval in
his eyes.
We might just as well be merry
while we can" Browne was saying.
Think of what the French did at the
time of the commune. They danced
and died like ladies and gentlemen.
And our own forefathers, Chase. at the
time of the American Revolution-re-
member them too. They gave their
balls and parties right under the muz-
zles of British cannon. And yicksburg
New Orleans, too-in the civil war!
Think of 'em. Why shouldn't we be as
game and as gay as they?"
But they were earnest in their dis
fractions" observed Deppingham, with
glance at his wife's eager face. eThis
could be nothing more than a travesty.
jest"
"Oh. let us be sports cried Lady
Agnes, falling into an Americanism
readily. 1T may be a jest, but what
odds? Something to kill time with"
i don't like Mr.. Browne whispered
Geneva suddenly. Chase did not re-
ply. She waited moment and then
went on. He is not like Deppingham.
Do you understand"
Lady Deppingham came over to
them at that instant, her eyes SPAR
king.
It's to be tonight" she said. "A
fashionable charity ball-everything
except the newspaper counts. don't
you know. Committees nd all that.
It's short notice, of course, but life
may be short. Well have Arab aero
battles. Persian dances, a grand march
electric lights and absolutely no money
to distribute. That's the way it usu-
ally is. Now, Mr.. Chase. don't look
SO sour. Be nice, pleasev' She put
her hand on his arm and smiled up at
him so brightly that he could not hold
out against her. She caught the touch
OF disapproval in Generals glance,
and sharp. quick fash of rebellion
came into her own eyes.
What Is Il charity ball" asked &C.
neyra after moment
A charity ball is function where
one set of women sit in the boxes and
say nasty things about the women on
the floor. and those ON the floor say
horrid things about the women in the
boxes. It's great fun
Charity Is simply a hallucination.
them"
Yes. but don't mention it aloud.
Mr.. Britt is trying with might and
main to prove that Bobby and have
Authorizations without end. IL | hap.
pen to look depressed at breakfast
time he jots 1t downs spells of depres-
sion and melancholia. do you see?
He's dreadful man"
Saunders was approaching from the
lower end of the balcony He an
peared fustered. His face was red
and perspiring and his manner distract.
Well SaundersT said Deppingham
as the lawyer stopped to clear his
throat obsecuiously.
Il have found sufficient food of all
descriptions. sir. to last for month
at least" said Saunders in strained.
unnatural voice
Have a cigarette. Deppy?" inter
posed Browne. seeing that something
was anliss with Saunders In solemn
order the silver box went the rounds.
Saunders spoke up. as If suddenly
recollecting something. 81 have TO re-
port. sir. TINT the stock of cigarettes
is getting very low. They can't last
three days Mt this rate, SIR
The three men stared ut him
Good Lord" exclaimed Chase, who
could face any peril ard relish the ex-
perience II needs be. but who now