The independent-reporter., 1909-12-23


with The Asissic plague. not te-sos
to-
"Sot 20 live with a. fio. ho. I -.
by Jose.' rusred pepplngha IN araal.iy
.splendsdi Ilaeml eet the point
RipTdngr'
They're not 20 bad. are they. bob
byy' asked Lady Agnes ccolly. going TO
Brownies side az the railing II may
no, have been true tha, I,rowne vas
In love with Lady Depitngham. but II
vas mosA than eviden, that his wife
felt convinced that he was.
''spiendldr' was the sudden cxcls ma.
ton of Drusilia's vagrant lord The
others looked up. Interested. Say.
everybody. Lady Agnes and have hit
upon a ripping scheme It's great"
ITO better our positionf" asked Dep.
bingham.
actly. What do you say to a charity
ball. the proceeds to 60 to the survivors
of the plague we're expected TO haveT'
The princess gave quick. involun-
tary look at Chase's face. Brownies
tall 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 a hard, dark frown
of displeasure. He waited moment
and then looked down at her with un-
mistakable shame and dlsapproval in
his eyes.
I'VE 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 Vicksburg
New Orleans, too-in the civil war!
Think of 'eml Why shouldn't we be as
game and as gay as they2"
But they were earnest In their dis,
tractions." observed Deppingham, with
a glance at his wife's eager face. This
could be nothing more than a travesty,
Jest"
"Oh. let us be sports" cried Lady
Agnes, falling into an Americanism
readily. 1T may be jest, but what
odds? Something to kill time with"
~ don't like Mr.. Browne" whispered
Genevra suddenly. Chase did not re-
ply. She waited moment and then
went ON. He is not like Deppingham
Do you understandY'
Lady Deppingham came over to
them at that instant her eyes spar.
king.
Its to be tonight" she said "A
fashionable charity ball-everythins
except the newspaper accounts. dom
you know. Committees and 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 lool
30 sour! Be nice, pleaser' She pu1
her hand on his arm and smiled up a
him 80 brightly that be could not hole
out against her. She caught the toucf
of disapproval In Genevra's glance
and sharp. quick fash of rebellion
came into her own eyes
What is a charity ball2" asked Ge
nevra after a moment.
"A charity ball Is a function wher,
one set Of women sit In the boxes an(
say nasty things about the women OF
the floor. and those on the floor say
horrid things about the women in th'
boxes. It's great fun"
Charity Is simply hallucination
then?"
"Yes, but don't mention 1t aloud
Mr.. Britt Is trying with might ant
main to prove that Bobby and l hav'
hallucinations without end. IL | hap
pen to look depressed at breakfas
time he jots 1t down-spells of depres
sion and meancholia. do you see
He's a dreadful man."
Saunders was approaching from th'
lower end of the balcony. He ap
peared hustered. His face was rex
and perspiring and his manner distrait
"Well. Saunders" said Deppinghan
as the lawyer stopped to clear hi
throat obsequiously.
~ have found sufficient food of oil
descriptions. sir. to last for month
at least" said Saunders In a strained
unna tural voice.
"Have a cigarette. DeppyT inter
posed Browne. seeing that something
was amiss with Saunders. In solemn
order the silver box went the rounds
Saunders spoke up. as II suddenly
recollecting something. 81 have to re
port, sir, that the stock Of cigarettes
is getting very low. They can't last
three days at this rate. sir"
The three men stared at him.
Good Lordv exclaimed Chase, who
could face any peril and relish the ex
perience If needs be, but who now
foresaw sickening deprivation. "You
can't mean 1t, Saundersr'
81 certainly do, sir. The mint IL
holding out well, though, sir. think
1t will last"
"By George. that is a calamity =
groaned Chase. How is a man tc
fight without cigarettes?
Genevra quietly proffered the one
she had not lighted, a quizzical smile
In her eyes.
MY contribution to the cause" she
said gayly. What strange creatures
men are! You will go out and be shot
at all day and yet She paused and
looked at the cigarette as If 1t were
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