Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-27
A SHOW OF HANDS.

So far as the remote past is concerned,
my memory is excellent | should like
to take a piece off behind, so to speak,
and patch it up in front, where the ma
chinery for registering future events is
weak. 1t has stupid habit of recalling
things just after the time for action is
passed.
Thus it allowed me to get four ffths
of the way to Hampstead before re-
minding me to bring a pair of gloves
for the dance. The local shops were, /
knew, all closed; and if / returned home
l should be late, and her programme
would be filled up.
Then l remembered with sudden
exaltation of mood that my host was
learning wood carving, and always kept
his old gloves for finger stalls.
| found him in the hall, but he could
not help me. All his old gloves, with
his fayorite coats and his dear old shoot
ing boots, had been spirited away to
tumble sale.
Come without any gloves?" asked
Jones'
| don't like Jones, but there was
ray of hope in his query. YES" I
replied eagerly.
PITY" said Jones.
What can 7 do?' / demanded fiercely.
Jones pondered His face frightened
suddenly So did mine. There's some
tennis-eourt whitening in the she'd" he
said, "and if you only dance with girls
in white dresses it won't matter if it
does come off a Bit"
Then 1 caught sight of Her in pale
blue.
| She was quite nice about the gloves,
and said that she had kept six dances
for me, but that she really couldn't sit
them ont The floor was too lovely, and
the band simple dream.
l retired to a lonely corner foT
thought. Even the solace of cigarette
was denied me- She objected strongly
to me smoking at dances. AS / might
have the pleasure of driving home with
her afterwards, dared not disobey.
My host unearthed me before the
third dance was over. "Just the very
man l want" he cried heartily, and
dragged me off resisting.
She wasn't exactly wall flower She
belonged rather to some species of Vir-
ginia creeper-doomed to be everlast-
ingly fixed to the wall. | began to
scribble imaginary engagements all over
my programme at frantic speed.
'This poor fellow has come without
any gloves" said my host. His pro-
gramme is empty, and it would be an
act of real charity to sit out with him"
She led me, helpless, to secluded
nook and at once started out to bore
me- My thoughts were elsewhere, and
my answers were vague and irrelevant.
After three-quarters of an hour her voice
took on chilling tone. / pulled myself
together and made desperate effort to
be polite.
81 wonder if you are any relation to
Gen Scroggins ~ / asked.
My name is Groggins,' she replied.
Come and have drink" l said
hastily 1t didn't sound right, somehow,
though the intention was good. Il mean,
can't | get you some elaret-cup or some
thing?"
mo, thank you"
"Or some lemonade or anything of
that sort p
mo, thank you"
but / insist-you haven't had any
thing to drink for over an hour"
NO, thank you"
but | really must insist" l said,
edging backwards till l reached the
stairs. Then l turned and fled back to
my previous hiding place.
An hour later l was discovered by my
hostess. Poor man." she said. "ail
alone? But you won't want gloves for
supper. Come with me. I've got some
one for you to take down"
My heart rose again. Perhaps She
was still free for supper
Thanks so much" ! replied 1--WE
Just been bored to death by my one and
lonly partner" This, of course. was not
a taetful thing to say to hostess)
She stopped suddenly and spoke to
some one round the corner.
I'm so glad you're still here. l want
you to cheer up a poor man who has
been bored to death by his one and only
partner
She turned to me and stepped aside.
let me introduce you to Miss Grog-
gins
Appetite and indignation battled
fiercely for the mastery, and appetite
won. We sat at table from which I
had an uninterrupted view of Her. Also
an equally good view of Jones.
! | became reckless. ! talked merrily
and increasingly. My partner thawed
once when l spoke of Browning. and
froze again with snap when / com
pared his Hunting of the Shark to
Byrons Ancient Mariner.
spent the rest of the night in strict
secIusion, except on one occasion when
my hosts sister-in-law dragged me out
and introduced me to Miss Groggins.
At last the strains of the national
anthem reached my eager ear. / waited