Evening star., 1909-09-12

ing white shoulder with his lips.
The woman started back and turned a pair
of blazing eyes on the offender. How dare
your" she gasped Indignantly.
The unwilling witnesses Of the episode did
not tarry for its conclusion.
1T would have been very unpleasant for
somebody if you had been Pinckney," was
Miss Marshalrs only comment as they reentered
1T would, agreed Carleton; but with
a smile, it fortunately happens that I'm not. .
moment later Mrs. Mason followed them,
her face pale as if with some suppressed ex-
citement, Lessing sauntering calmly in her wake.
THE evening sped rapidly for Carleton, and
he was conscious of sense of keen disap-
pointment when his partner whispered to him,
as they stood for breath of air on the veranda
1.-The next figure is the last. Now you shall
see!''
Two footmen were pushing from the con-
servatory large glass tank, supported on a
framework of wrought iron mounted on auto
mobile wheels. Around the top, hanging from
ornamental bars, were rows OF little glass
globes, filled with water, and on hooks between
the globes swung tiny nets of colored silk. In
the tank gold and silver fish and comical tad
poles darted to and fro, and grave green frogs
and baby turtles squatted, blink eyed, at
the bottom, or the rockery that rose from
mondback terrapin solemnly looked forth at
the funny world outside his transparent prison.
Isn't he lovely?" cried Miss Marshall,
clapping her hands as they followed the aqua
rum into the ballroom "A real diamondback!
Oh, must have him!" turning impulsively to
Carleton. Twill you get him for me?"
"You forget-Tm your partner. But if any
one gives him to me, I'll give him to you, OF
course
"Oh, how horrid! Really I'm almost sorry
try and get the terrapin for me?" she cried as
the leader of the cotillion came up to direct the
servants where to place the tank.
Carleton gritted his teeth. How could she
bring herself to demand favors from the fellow
in that pretty imperative way of hers! In vain
he assured himself that he didn't care-what
difference did it make to him if she talked to
Lessing the whole evening? But after that
scene in the conservatory He shrugged his
shoulders.
m Marylander, you know, Mr.. Lessing.
Carleton heard her soft Southern voice say in
wheedling tones, and reckon that terrapin $
mine-if have to steal himl Promise you'll
get him for me!"
IL promise I'd do more than that for you,
Miss Nell,
The familiar "Miss Nell' brought the blood
to Carleton's face. He turned to end a situa-
ton that was fast becoming insupportable to
him, when the music began and Lessing hur-
ried over to the side of Mrs. Pinckney Mason.
Whatever else could be said of Francis Les
sing, as cotillion leader he was everything
that could be desired and his newest idea, the
aquarium figure, was certainly bizarre and un-
usual enough to excite the interest and to win
the applause of the most jaded and blase seek
ers after novelty in social amusement.
He and Mrs. Mason, the leaders, stopped in
front of the tank, selected little rolled pellets
of bread from cut glass bowl and flung them
in. The fish or tadpole, frog or turtle, that rose
or jumped to the bait was deftly caught in one
Of the silken nets, transferred to glass globe,
and presented favor to the partner selected
by the angler for the rest of the figure The
nets were taken by the women and given as
favors to the men.
CARLETON, closely watching Lessing's
movements, saw him thrust his hand into
his coat tail pocket and then hesitate moment
before casting his bread upon the waters. Then
the little white pellet sank swiftly to the bot
tom, and the diamondback hitched clumsily
forward, dived head first with soft splash
after it, and snapped it up. moment later he
was ANONYMOUSLY hauled forth and transferred
to decorated basket that had been provided
for his reception, while his triumphant captor
carried him across the room and literally laid
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