The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-30

cumming SbChpeu from LnB DhlA
room with a sigh Of relief and wan
dered aimlessly down the softly light
ed corridor The alluring strains o.
waltz music arose above the slip o.
feet on the polished floor and the
rustic Of silks and satins
The ballroom provided so many
cozy anterooms for quiet talk OF
Irritation, that the corridor was quite
deserted At the farther end, Chan
ming paused abruptly before narrow
doorway hung with dark velvet. A
faint pencil of light shot from be-
tween the hangings and from the
opening the music of the orchestra
came softly.
He pushed the curtains aside and,
passing up winding stairway,
stepped into a small balcony over
hanging the ballroom. Behind a high
bank # palms and oleanders he was
screened from the throng below.
Claiming looked down on the NOV
Ing shimmering crowd below, now
and then picking out familiar form
as it whirled along His hostess, Mrs,
Bowring, splendid in violet brocade,
was dancing with Ellery Bee. The
diamonds In her white hair sparkled
with a thousand points of fame as
she nodded and smiled Her daugh-
ters, Evelyn and Florence. fashion
able prototypes Of a fashionable
mother, waltzed their way under his
vision, flashing and sparkling and
very gyUgeous as to raiment.
It was not until he looked about
for a chair that Howard Claiming
discovered that he was not alone.
Sitting among the oleanders, looking
wistfully down into the room below,
was a girl, slender and graceful and
very lovely, with softly tinted cheeks
cupped in her slender white hands.
Her gown was Of some soft green
stuff that melted into the foliage OF
the oleanders and palms It was no
wonder she had been undiscovered
until now.
At the samb moment she looked up
and saw him, and a wave of crimson
swept her face from brow to chin
The wide brown eyes had a frightened
look, and Charming saw that she was
young
81 am afraid I startled you" he
said courteously. 81 did not see you
Il thought I was quite alone"
'T did not hear you come in," she
said in a low, embarrassed voice 1T
did not occur to me that any one
might come here. You need not leave
Il shall go away presently"
1T is your retreat by right of prior
occupancy" he said with one of his
rare smiles. 81 came to get away
from the crowd" He found a chair
and seated himself behind the green
screen.
The girl turned her small, we'll
poised head away from him and re-
sumed her observation of the dane
ers.
Claiming watched her charming
profile, marveling that one so young
and so beautiful should voluntarily
become an exile from the gay scene
below.
Pardon me, but am suro you are
one of Mrs. Bowring's daughters" he
Fentured to say after many minutes
had passed. 81 am Howard Chan
ming"
She turned quickly. T knew that |
i recognized you at once" She
colored adorably at his surprised |
glance.
you are very good" he said puz-
lied. 81 know | could not have for
gotten you If we had met"
I'VE haven't met-I have seen
your picture" she confessed. Mother
las so many photographs, and Flor
snce has told me all about the origi-
is how knew you"
Then you are Mrs. Bowring's
he asked once more.
The girl nodded, with a little
friendly smile that went straight to
hitherto impervious heart
] am Mantle youngest, and not so
,erv young at that! I'm not out yet,
,ou see, 80 l simply have to steal
hese little pleasures. Mother would
lot hear Of my watching the ball from
his balcony. After it had begun, l
ust slipped on one of Evelyn's gowns.
had 10 have a green one so l might
lot be discovered. suppose you
hink ] am very deceitful."
Chanting was thinking at that
moment several highly important
hings. One was that he was glad
hat he had come to the Bowring ball;
mother that he had stolen away to
he balcony, and again he was think
ng that Nan herself looked very
much like pink oleander blossom set
n the foliage of her dark green gown
Now that you are here, you may
s well enjoy the ball." he said hur-
iedly. Next to the dancing one en-
oys something good to eat. At least
do"
II don't have many opportunities to
aste ballroom fare" said Nan mis-
but, of course, you know
chool girls are ALWAYS hungry. and l